Draft:Thomas G. Rhame

Thomas Gene Rhame (27 January 1941-27 June 2023) was a United States Army Lieutenant General who served as the Commanding General of the First Infantry Division (“The Big Red One”) during Operation Desert Storm; the Chief of the US Training Mission to Saudi Arabia; and as the Director of the Defense Security Assistance Agency.

After retiring from the Army, Rhame served as a Vice President of the Association of the United States Army; President/Vice President of the Society of the First Infantry Division; and Chairman of the Board, US Army War College Foundation. As President of the Society of the First Infantry Division, he led the renovation of the Division’s monument in downtown Washington, DC. He graduated from Lecompte High School in 1959. He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University. Rhame took part in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) while at Louisiana State University and at graduation was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry in 1963. Rhame held a Master of Business Administration degree with a Comptrollership specialty from Syracuse University. His military education included the Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the US Army War College.

Military Career During his military career, Rhame served two combat tours in Vietnam, in 1968 and in 1971. In 1976 to 1978, Rhame served as Battalion Commander 2/41 Battalion, 1st Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, in Fort Hood, Texas. From June 1981 until November 1983, Rhame was Commander of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division in Kitzingen,Germany. Rhame commanded the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), from July 1989 until August 1991, leading the Division in combat during Operation Desert Storm. He returned to Saudi Arabia in August 1991, where he served as the Chief, Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia until August 1993, when he became the Director, Defense Security Assistance Agency (DSAA) under the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Post Army Career and Later Life General Rhame retired from the Army on September 30, 1997. Rhame joined the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) serving as Vice President, Membership and Meetings and then Chief Financial Officer to promote Army readiness and Army family welfare from 1998 until 2014. General Rhame was inducted into the Louisiana State University Alumni Hall of Distinction and recognized by the Army War College as an Outstanding Alumnus. Rhame also served on the Board of Governors, University of Arkansas (UA) Grantham, and Chairman of the Board.

Personal Life and Death Rhame married his high school sweetheart, the former Linda Saunders of Lecompte, Louisiana, in 1961 and they lived in Woodbridge, VA. They had two children, Becca (Saul) and Gregg (Pam) and three grandchildren, Taylor (Scott), Ashley and Emily. Rhame died on 27 June 2023 at the age of 82. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on 6 December 2023.

Awards and decorations Rhame’s awards and decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge Expert Infantryman Badge Parachutist Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge Army Staff Identification Badge Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Army Distinguished Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters Silver Star with oak leaf cluster Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star with V device and 2 oak leaf clusters Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters Air Medal Army Commendation Medal with V device Meritorious Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal with service star Vietnam Service Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 bronze stars Army Service Ribbon Overseas Service Medal with award numeral 4 Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Bronze Star Vietnam Campaign Medal Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal First Class Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

[1] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Maj._Gen._Thomas_G._Rhame,_USA.jpg [2] Rhame, Thomas G., Department of Defense DD 214, September 30, 1997 [3] Rhame Thomas Gene, Department of the Army Officer Record Brief, July 14, 1997 [4] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Rhame [5] https://www.ausa.org/news/longtime-ausa-vice-president-dies [6] https://www.1stid.org/past-presidents-and-executive-directors [7] https://usawc.org/ltg-ret-thomas-g-rhame-res-81/ [8] https://www.1stid.org/memorials [9] https://www.1stid.org/past-presidents-and-executive-directors [10] https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/thomas-rhame-obituary?id=52366891 [11] Rhame Thomas Gene, Department of the Army Officer Record Brief, July 14, 1997 [12] Rhame Thomas Gene, Department of the Army Officer Record Brief, July 14, 1997 [13] Rhame, Thomas G., Department of Defense DD 214, September 30, 1997 [14] https://www.ausa.org/news/longtime-ausa-vice-president-dies [15] https://lsu.edu/accolades/alumni.php#letter-R [16] https://usawc.org/ltg-ret-thomas-g-rhame-res-81/ [17] https://www.uasys.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2021/10/2021-08-11_Board-Minutes-spc.pdf [18] https://www.uagrantham.edu/in-the-news/page/6/ [19] https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/thomas-rhame-obituary?id=52366891 [20] https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/index.html#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVSaGFtZRIGVGhvbWFzGgFH/ [21] Rhame, Thomas G., Department of Defense DD 214, September 30, 1997