Tom Rice

Thomas M. Rice (15 August 1921 – 17 November 2022) was a Staff Sergeant who served in the United States Army during World War II.

Early life Tom was born on August 15, 1921, on a small wooden shack that his father, Marcus Rice built, in Coronado, California. He spent his childhood in Coronado with his parents and siblings. During the Great Depression his family passed through tough times. On May 29, 1934, Tom lost his father (Aerial Mechanic) due to a plane crash in Panama.

He graduated from the Coronado High School in 1940 (he joined the U.S. Army the same year at Fort Rosecrans) and then enrolled at the San Diego State College in 1943, being regarded there as a top tier athlete. together with people like Vincent Speranza and Colonel Howard R. Johnson, this brought him to serve as a platoon sergeant and command 12 paratroopers until he jumped on June 6, 1944, over Normandy for Operation Overlord and Operation Market Garden.

Life after the war Tom was honorably discharged on December 21, 1945, and soon after he resumed his studies at the San Diego State College and married Doris Rice. He was a teacher at that same school, where he taught social sciences and history for nearly 44 years, teaching notable people like Donnie Edwards.

Personal life Rice is father of five children and has married a total of three times. His mother, Katherine died on February 26, 1973. He is remembered as a hero by the inhabitants of Bastogne.

He wrote his memoirs, named Trial by Combat: A Paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Remembers Division the 1944 Battle of Normandy in 2004.

To celebrate his 100th birthday, in August 2021, he went skydiving over his town in Coronado, California.

Death On November 17, 2022, at 12:33 am, local time, Tom Rice died of natural causes, aged 101 at his home in Coronado. Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters Invasion Arrows (2x) Combat Infantry Badge Bronze Star with Cluster Good Conduct Medal French Fourragère Belgian Fourragère Parachutist Badge WWII Victory Medal