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LACY -- Brig. Gen. (ret.) Thomas E. Lacy Thomas Lacy, beloved father, grandfather, husband, friend, and patriot, passed away in Claremore, Oklahoma, on October 15, 2010 after a short illness. General Lacy was born in Long Beach, Mississippi, in 1927, and graduated from Maryville College, TN, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He received a master's degree in political science from Auburn University in 1971, and is a graduate of the Squadron Officer School, 1955, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 1965, and the Air War College, 1971. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1950, attended Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He entered basic flying training and received his pilot wings in October 1952. He left for the Korean War in 1953, where he served as a fighter pilot and flight commander with the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron. At George Air Force Base (AFB), CA, he served as a jet fighter pilot with the 531st Fighter Bomber Squadron, 435th Fighter Bomber Squadron, and the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1958 he attended the Tactical Reconnaissance Course at Shaw AFB, SC, and joined the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Phalsbourg Air Base, France, in 1959. He served with the 66th Wing at Phalsbourg, Toul-Rosieres and Laon Air Bases, France, and Ramstein Air Base, Germany, until 1962. General Lacy returned to George AFB in 1962 and assisted in the activation of the F-105D equipped 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, and served as a flight commander with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron until 1964. Upon completion of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Quantico, VA, 1965, he rejoined the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1965 General Lacy served as operations staff of Headquarters Seventh Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Airfield, Vietnam. In 1966 he was assigned to headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, and served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans as operations staff officer, project officer, and studies and analysis officer in the General Planning Division. From 1969 to 1970 he served as commander of the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron and assistant deputy commander for operations, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam. General Lacy assisted in the activation of the F-111F-equipped 347th Tactical Fighter Wing while at Mountain Home, ID, where he was deputy commander for operations and vice commander of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1973, he became vice commander of the F-111A-equipped 474th Tactical Fighter Wing and remained commander when the wing was deployed to Thailand. He left Takhli, Thailand, in 1974 for Kirtland AFB, NM, where he assumed duties as deputy commander, Field Command, Defense Nuclear Agency, and in September 1975 became the commander. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1975, and retired in 1976. His numerous military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He also received the Gallantry Cross with palm Unit Citation Emblem from the Republic of Viet Nam. He was a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours flying time. He flew 67 combat missions in F-86s in Korea; in Viet Nam he flew eight combat missions in the F-105, 227 combat missions in the F-100 and A-37,and 48 combat missions in the F-17. General Lacy is survived by his daughter Janet Lacy and husband Joe Bunt; daughter Dr. Diane Strollo and husband Dr. Pat Strollo; daughter Margaret Lacy; son Dr. Tom Lacy and wife Jennifer Stowe-Lacy; son Steven Lacy; and grandchildren Patrick, Kyle, Hilary, Sara, Ryan, and Kristen. Memorial services will be planned at a later date.
        Published on: Sun October 31, 2010