Major General Thomas Harrison Tait, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, granduncle, friend, and leader, passed in his sleep at the age of 88 on Monday, November 30, 2020 at the Benjamin Borden Health Center at Kendal in Lexington.

Tom was a first-generation American, born on April 4, 1932, in Glen Cove, New York to the late John Dawson Tait and the late Agnes Nilsson Tait (a Swedish immigrant).

He was the beloved big brother of the late Linda Inga Christine Tait Dwyer. Tom grew up in Glen Head, New York. He graduated from VMI with his fellow Brother Rats in the great Class of '55, earning a BS degree in civil engineering. He later earned a master's degree in political science from Auburn University.

Following his graduation from VMI, MG Tait began his career as an Armor/Cavalry leader at Fort Knox, Ky., and spent almost 35 years on assignments around the world, accompanied by his lovely wife, the late Caroline Wood Gauss Tait, and his four girls.

Following three company commands, two of which were in Korea, he was executive officer for the 3d Squadron 4th Cavalry in Viet Nam in 1968 where he was wounded in combat. He later commanded the 1st Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the 3d Brigade 8th Infantry Division, and 2d Armored Division-Forward, where he acquired his renown command post (which had a striking resemblance to a fence post). The general, noted for his leadership in mounted operations, became the commander of U.S. Army Armor Center and School at Fort Knox, Ky.

Tom inspired loyalty and respect by commanding and leading his units from the front and participating in training with his troopers. He had a no-nonsense approach to problem solving, a power down approach to leadership and a sense of humor that was a salve in the most trying of situations. When you did a great job performing your duty, he would with his booming voice, pronounce "Good on ya" and return a salute with a resounding "Treat 'em Rough!"

A former soldier, James Patrick O'Neil so aptly said, "Rarely on our trail comes an armored cavalry leader larger than life. So was Tom Tait - physically and mentally. He always led, charged from the front, and engaged the Armor Corps decisively - he was our compass, pace man and scout for decades. He hugged the corps - physically and mentally. We will all miss his spirit."

After the passing of Caroline, Tom had the great good fortune to marry Margaret Anne Jones Tait. They lived in his favorite town, Lexington, home to his beloved VMI. Tom loved ball games (despite fouling out in VMI basketball more than any other player), attending VMI basketball and football games, watching the Cincinnati Reds on TV, and talking to anyone interested about the games of the day. He contributed in other ways with VMI, taking his children and grandchildren to see parades, the museum, and his medals hanging in the Hall of Valor in VMI's Center for Leadership and Ethics. Tom was particularly pleased in being able to teach a course on ethics at VMI. He loved learning and educated himself throughout his life by avidly reading about wars, politics, and military history. He had an incredible memory, easily recalling a person's entire military career upon seeing that person again after years apart.

At 6'6" he was larger than life, not just in stature, but in his presence and humor. His mythological fence post accompanied him later in his career; he told the German press it was for beating off the women. The Germans liked to call him the Duke after his favorite hero of westerns, John Wayne. Despite chronic pain due to service-related injuries, his enormous, jolly laugh filled a room, such as when he would cut a cake at a formal function with the end of a bayonet.

Nothing could outshine his smile and his love for his family. He loved holding his young grandchildren on his knee, laughing, and telling stories about tanks, heroes, and basketball. Fundamentally, he lived what he believed, that freedom and liberty are ideals worth fighting for, and he was willing to lay down his life for all that our country represents. He was a hero himself.

Always serving, Tom was the driving force behind the establishment of the George C. Marshall Military Officers Association of America chapter, beginning way back in 2006, and delighted in being a member of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) of Lexington and other civic organizations including the Kiwanis. Tom was a member of the Manly Memorial Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, his daughters, Elizabeth Hunter (Kris), Julia Lathrop (Brian), Laura DeBonis (Michael), and Kristin Dunnan (Greg); Margaret's children, Royce Jones Jr. (Jane), Craig Jones (Tammy), Patricia Affronti (Lewis), and Laura Kindley (Ron); 16 grandchildren, three great-granddaughters, two nieces, two grand-nephews, and innumerable dear friends.

Due to restrictions imposed by the Coronavirus outbreak, services will be held later at Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home and Crematory.

Memorial donations may be made to the Major General Thomas H. Tait '55 scholarship in the VMI Foundation, P. O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450.