Thomas A. Schwartz
{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{About||the historian|Thomas Alan Schwartz||}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Thomas A. Schwartz
| image = General Thomas A. Schwartz (1998).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = As Commander of the United States Army Forces Command
| nickname = Tom
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|3|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Army
| serviceyears = 1967–2002
| rank = General
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = United States Forces Korea
United States Army Forces Command
III Corps
4th Infantry Division
| battles = Vietnam War
| awards = Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
| relations =
| laterwork = Chairman, Military Child Education Coalition board of directors
}}
Thomas Allen Schwartz (born 7 March 1945){{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=662|title = Release}} is a retired United States Army four-star general who commanded the United States Army Forces Command from 1998 to 1999 and United States Forces Korea from 1999 to 2002.
Early life and education
Schwartz was born on 7 March 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota.[http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=662 General Officer Announcement 583-95 October 31, 1995] He attended Cretin High School (now Cretin-Derham Hall High School) in Saint Paul, Minnesota.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} While there, Schwartz was in the school’s Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and was the school’s 46th cadet colonel in 1963. [https://www.cretin-derhamhall.org/files/3217/0845/4068/CADET_COLONEL_LISTING_THROUGH_2024.pdf CDH JROTC Cadet Colonel List as of Fall 2024]
Military career
Schwartz was commissioned in the infantry following graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1967. He served as a platoon leader and company commander with the 2nd Battalion, 505th Infantry in Vietnam from August 1968 to October 1969, earning both a Silver Star and a Purple Heart.[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=25556 New Chairman Aims to Help More Mobile Military Children] In addition to Forces Command and United States Forces Korea, Schwartz also commanded III Corps and the 4th Infantry Division from October 1993 to November 1995.[http://www.army.mil/CMH/matrix/4ID/4ID-Cdrs.htm 4th Infantry Division, Division Commanders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319112009/http://www.army.mil/cmh/matrix/4ID/4ID-Cdrs.htm |date=2007-03-19 }}
Schwartz holds master's degrees from Duke University and the Naval War College.[http://www2.apan-info.net/pacc/pacc_ii/BIO-GEN%20Schwartz.doc USFK Assumption of Command notice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194454/http://www2.apan-info.net/pacc/pacc_ii/BIO-GEN%20Schwartz.doc |date=2007-09-27 }} He is also a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, and the Armed Forces Staff College.
Awards and decorations
| 125px |
| 80px |
| 80px |
| 60px |
| 80px |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
| 80px |
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| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters |
| 80px |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Army Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px
|National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px14px
|Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}}15px
|Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 2 |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=80}}20px
|Vietnam Gallantry Cross with bronze star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=80}} |
He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Maryland University College in 2002.[http://www.umuc.edu/fyionline/may_02/fyionline7.html UMUC Confers Honorary Degree on Senior Allied Military Officer in Korea During Change of Command Ceremony]
Post-military
In 2004, Schwartz became chairman of the board of directors of the Military Child Education Coalition an organization co-founded by his wife Sandy and other military spouses. He sits on the advisory board of Azbell Electronics.[http://www.azbellelectronics.com/AboutUs/AdvisoryBoard.htm Azbell Electronics, advisory Board] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923072519/http://www.azbellelectronics.com/AboutUs/AdvisoryBoard.htm |date=2007-09-23 }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schwartz, Thomas A.}}
Category:United States Army generals
Category:United States Military Academy alumni
Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Military personnel from Saint Paul, Minnesota
Category:Duke University alumni
Category:Recipients of the Air Medal
Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)