Thomas Wade Herren

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by West Point 1955 on July 6, 2019:

Thomas W. Herren Jr. 1955 Cullum No. 20597-1955 - August 12, 2017 Died in Jacksonville, FL Cremated. Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, VA Thomas Wade "Tom" Herren Jr. was born on April 17, 1933 at Fort McPherson, GA, one of two sons of then Captain Thomas W. Herren and Lillian H. Herren. An Army brat, Tom grew up on various Army posts throughout the South. He learned how to ride horses and hunt quail from his father, a skilled horseman, champion polo player, and avid bird hunter. In 1946, his father, who had fought in World War II in France and Germany, was ordered to Seoul, Korea to be the chief of staff to the CG, Army forces. His family followed him, spending three years there and another six months in Japan. Tom attended the American School in Seoul and Meguro High School in Tokyo, returning to the United States in 1949 to finish high school in Washington, DC. Prior to his entry into the West Point Class of 1955, he attended Sullivan's Prep School in Washington, DC. Tom's cadet years were in Company L-2, where his easy-going good nature fit right in. He maintained close contact with them after graduation. He managed to give academics its due, but was more interested in extra-curricular activities, such as the Pistol, Ordnance, and Skeet clubs. He was captain of the Skeet Team his last two years. He was happy to have his brother John follow him into West Point in 1953 and also to have his family close by at Governors Island, NY, where his father was the CG, First Army. Tom's military career began at Fort Benning, GA, where he attended the Infantry School, followed by airborne training. His first duty assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 50th Infantry, 4th Armored Division, Fort Hood, TX, and in 1957 he deployed to Erlangen, Germany with the division. His three years there were in various troop assignments. Off-duty activities included an introduction to Porsche automobiles and racing instruction at the Ni?1/2rburgring motorsport complex with two famous instructors, Wolfgang von Tripps and Sterling Moss. His love of cars, particularly Porsches, continued throughout his life. He passed his racing skill on to his son Wade, who also owns and races Porsches. Tom returned to Fort Benning for the Infantry Officer Career Course in 1960, and for the next two years he was an instructor with the Weapons Department. It was during this period that he married his first wife, Patience, a Navy brat. Next was a one-year tour in Korea, highlighted by command of a company in the 1st Cavalry Division. His son Wade was born during this tour. In 1964, he was assigned as an ROTC instructor at the University of Rhode Island and while there obtained a master's degree in economics. His daughter Kyle was born during this assignment. From ROTC duty Tom was ordered to Vietnam in 1967: "From teaching it to doing it!" Now a major, he joined the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment and moved with them from Fort Hood to Vietnam by ship. They were the first armored infantry battalion assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. Shortly thereafter he transferred to the lst Cavalry Division to be the S3, 2nd Brigade, just prior to its advance to the DMZ and the relief of the lst Marine Division at Khe Sanh. His brigade had some hard fighting against regular NVA forces, crossing the DMZ until the end of his tour in 1968. His actions with the brigade earned him a Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He was happy to rejoin his wife and both children in her family's home in Annapolis, MD. In 1969 Tom attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. During his free time he obtained a private pilot's license through the base-flying club. This was a wonderful pastime for him for the next 15 years. Tom's next assignment was with the Army Operations Staff at the Pentagon, and his family settled in Falls Church, VA. One of his significant accomplishments at the Pentagon was his work on the Army Unified Command Plan, which earned him the Legion of Merit. In 1975, after three years in the Pentagon, he became director, Infantry Weapons Development Branch, in the Operational Test and Evaluation Agency. During this time he and Patience were divorced. Tom retired from the Army in 1976, after 21 years of service, to work as a consultant with Systems Planning Corporation. In 1978 Tom met and married Peggy Hanawald, whose previous husband, Len Hanawald, was a West Point grad who was KIA in Vietnam nine years earlier. Peggy brought two lovely young daughters, Sarah and Jennifer, into the Herren family. Tom continued working as a consultant with MITRE Corporation. Retiring in 1993, Tom and Peggy decided to move to a Jacksonville, FL golf club community, close to Peggy's twin brother, the beach, and Tom's lake properties near Dadeville, AL. Tom actively pursued his interests in skeet shooting, Porsche racing, golf, and flying throughout his life, and he loved to teach driving and skeet shooting to many of his family. He became the president of the Jacksonville Porsche Club and served as a race-driving instructor. Tom loved his L-2 classmates, and he was an eager participant in company reunions, cruises and social get-togethers. Jim Darrah wrote, "Tom was his oldest and best friend. He never placed himself above others." Tom's time on earth has been blessed by friendships and experiences of service in the Army. Disappointments have been countered by unparalleled joys of accomplishment and a loving family. Tom leaves Peggy, his wife of 39 years, his brother, son, three daughters, grandson, and four granddaughters. We will all sorely miss Tom. - His brother, John, and L-2 classmates

admin