Tom Rice

Tom Rice is a proud World War II Veteran, having served in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.  He joined the Army following high school in Coronado, California in November 1940. He deployed to England in 1944 before jumping into Normandy on the evening of June 5th.  Following operations in Normandy, Tom and his unit refit before engaging in Operation Market Garden and he ultimately participated in the fighting at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden, Germany. After his honorable discharge on December 21, 1945, Tom then resumed his studies at the San Diego State University. He taught social sciences and history for nearly 44 years in California. Father of five children, he wrote his memoirs, published in 2004 under the title “Trial by Combat: A Paratrooper of the 101st Airborne Remembers Division the 1944 Battle of Normandy”.  In 2019, at 97 years-old Tom parachuted into Normandy again 75 years after his initial jump.