Thomas Eugene Watson's Obituary
Colonel Thomas E. Watson Jr., U.S. Army Retired, passed away peacefully at his home in DuPont, Washington, on July 30, 2009.
Tommy was a true soldier of the greatest generation, placing his boots on all the major beaches of Europe in WW-II, receiving the Silver Star in Korea defending the Yalu River crossing, and prevailing in hand-to-hand combat in Vietnam.
Tommy is survived by his wife, Katharine Fuller Watson (Kitty), his brother John E. Watson, and his three children, Josepha Louise Jewett, Gerald Alan Watson, and Austin Geoffrey Watson, and by his six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Tommy was born on December 27, 1919 in San Francisco, the son of Lieutenant General Thomas E. Watson (USMC) and Priscilla Ellicott Watson.
Tommy grew up in the military life and attended Charlotte Hall Military Academy in high school and the University of Maryland where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in class of 1941. He was an ROTC honors graduate and received a Regular Army Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army upon graduation.
During WW-II, Lieutenant Watson was deployed, leading a mortar platoon, to Algiers, North Africa, Salerno and Anzio Italy. After a brief home return to refit, and a promotion to the rank of Captain, Tommy was redeployed to the Ardennes in Northern Europe where he participated in the Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944-1945.
Following WW-II, Tommy was promoted to Major and became an Artillery man serving in various command positions at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1951, Major Watson was deployed to Korea with the 159th Field Artillery Battalion where he received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Silver Star medals.
Returning from Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Watson served in Holland and Germany as an advisor and then Commanding Officer of the 6th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Armored Division.
In 1958, Tommy served in the Pentagon, was promoted to Colonel, and then attended the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island. While there, he taught sailing lessons to Navy personnel.
In 1962, Colonel Watson commanded the 4th Division Artillery at Fort Lewis, Washington, and was on alert for deployment during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following this tour of duty he transferred to the Panama Canal Zone as Chief of Intelligence, US Southern Command.
Tommy was sent on a short mission to Vietnam and then deployed for a one-year term, during which he was Chief Military Advisor to the Saigon military District during the Tet Offensive in 1968.
Returning from Vietnam, Colonel Watson became the Commandant of the Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His final tour of duty was at Fort Lewis, Washingtonâ"€ a post he loved and made home several times during his 30-year career.
Following retirement from the Army in 1970, Tommy and Kitty moved to Fircrest, Washington, and Tommy forged another successful fifteen year career as a Stockbroker in Tacoma.
Tommy was always active in the community as President of the Tacoma Knife and Fork Club, Sir Boss of the Daffodilians, and Clinic Leader of the McChord-Fort Lewis Master Gardener Clinic. He was a member of The Tacoma Rose Society, The Military Order of the World Wars, The Association of the US Army, and The Anzio Veterans Association. Tommy and Kitty attended the Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood, Washington, where Tommy sang in the choir. Tommy and Kitty moved to Patriots Landing in DuPont, Washington, in 2006.
Tommy is remembered for the All American work ethic he instilled in his family, his allegiance to his country, devotion to family, and his great sense of humor at social occasions. We honor him in his passing.
A private family service is planned at Mountain View Funeral Home in Tacoma, Washington.
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