Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C.  Middleton Jr.

Ended his heroic Battle against Cancer March 17th, 2018

Growing up in Jefferson S.C.;  Tom Middleton said he was on the wrong path when he was in his mid-teens. “My parents sent me to Staunton Military Academy for my junior and senior years in high school,” said Tom. “That was a turning point in my life. I learned a lot academically, but more importantly I learned discipline and that turned my life around.”

Tom went to Presbyterian College from which he graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor’s degree and a commission in the U.S. Army. “I was a member of the ROTC program at Presbyterian and was commissioned as a second lieutenant when I graduated,” Tom said.

Assigned to Fort Still, Okla., Tom spent two years as an artillery office before being transferred to Army Intelligence.

Tom also developed an interest in criminal justice. He earned a master’s degree in that discipline from the University of Baltimore. In 1974, Tom was selected by the Army to attend the FBI National Academy.

Through his military career, Tom had foreign tours in Okinawa, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea. He served stateside at Fort Holabird, Fort Jackson, Fort McPherson, Fort Stewart and Fort Meade.

Tom earned his jump wings while on Okinawa and later was awarded Thai and Vietnamese jump wings.

“I did a lot of jumping out of airplanes in 1969” said Tom. While in Vietnam, Tom was involved in the “Green Beret Affair” (Read pg1 of stars & stripes 1969 article; Read pg2 of stars & stripes 1969 article) as he called it, a spy story which is told in the book “A Murder in Wartime” by Jeff Stein. READ MORE..

Tom retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1984. He started his second career in Real Estate in the Fort Meade, Maryland area.

In 1991, Tom volunteered for duty as the Army was building up for Desert Storm. He was recalled and served with the U.S. Army Escort Detachment at Fort Meade for four months.“I felt I wanted to do my part as the country was getting ready for Desert Storm,” Tom said.

After being released from active duty, Tom moved to Myrtle Beach where he renewed his real state career with Grand Strand Reality. Tom was later asked to be “Broker in Charge” for Paradise Reality. He still is active in the local real estate business.

IT’S ALWAYS A HAPPY HOUR IN TOM’S WORLD

Tom is also known for the popular Wednesday Night “Let’s Party” events he and his lovely wife, Dee, have hosted for over 15 years up and down the Grand Strand.

“We have met thousands of people throwing these parties,” said Tom. “We have seen lots of couples who met at one of our events later get married.”

Credit: By: Paul Gable, Myrtle Beach Herald (9 years ago I think) RB

“I have been blessed with a great life,” said Tom. “I love my best friend and wife, Dee. I enjoy golf, beach, beach music, shagging and meeting new friends.”

“There are big ships and small ships; But the Best ship of all is Friendship!”

On February 28th 2019 Tom was honored at Arlington National Cemetery