Tom Boyle

In loving memory of our father, Russell Thomas Boyle, Jr., (86), of Alexandria, Virginia, who peacefully passed on January 18, 2023. Tom was born in Kansas City, MO, to Colonel Russell T. Boyle and Virginia Curtin Boyle in 1936. His father served in the Army which took the family to Arlington, VA, Kyoto, Japan, and Baltimore, MD. Tom received an appointment to enter the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point in 1955 and graduated in 1959. He was commissioned a second lieutenant, Infantry and sent to Ft. Benning, GA for Infantry, Airborne, and Ranger school. He was then sent to Ft. Bragg, NC, where he became a platoon leader in the 503 Airborne Battle Group of the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1962, he received orders to South Vietnam. He was assigned to the Vietnamese ranger units in Binh Long province. After returning to the U.S. he was assigned to Special Forces in Ft. Bragg, and then to Ft. Benning for Advanced Infantry School. In 1964, he married Ann H. Patterson of Dayton, OH. They moved to Ft. Knox, KY where he was a company commander of a basic training company. In 1965, he was assigned to the Office of the Army attache in London, England. Their first child, Samantha, was born during this time. From London, he went back to Vietnam as the senior advisor to the Commander of the Danang Special Sector. The tour was extended and he was transferred to the 101st Airborne Division north of Danang at Firebase Bastogne. He was the Operations Officer and Executive Officer with the 2nd Battalion 502 Infantry. He spent a lot of time flying in helicopters chasing the Vietcong. He returned to the U.S. in 1969 and was assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg.. Their second daughter, Dana, was born during this time. In 1975, he was given orders to Korea where he joined the 2nd Infantry Division north of Seoul. His tour was with the 2nd Brigade as the Executive Officer at Camp Hovey. Most of his time was devoted to training especially since most of the outposts were along the DMZ. Upon return to the U.S., he was assigned to the Army Materiel Command in Alexandria, VA, working with the Congressional Affairs Office. For his final assignment, he served as the Deputy Commander with the U.S. Army Recruiting Support Command and enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. In 1979, he married Anne L. Haulsee in Alexandria. They were married for 34 years until her passing in 2013. He retired in 1984 with 25 years of service to his country. He was a decorated veteran who was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Four Air Medals, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal in V Device (Valor), Master Parachute Wings, Range Tab, Special Forces Tab, and Vietnamese awards. He remained an active participant of USMA Class of ‘59 (None so Fine) activities. His second career was in residential real estate where he was a successful associate broker for RE/MAX Allegiance in Alexandria through 2022. He was also involved in many community activities at his home at Watergate at Landmark, including the Watergate Lions Club where he organized bi-annual clothing drives and collections of eye wear for charity. Tom is preceded in death by his beloved second wife, Anne L. Haulsee, and his cherished big sister, Virginia Boyle Phillips. Tom is survived by his daughters, Samantha O’Hara (Tripp) of Clifton, VA, and Dana Boyle of Arlington, VA, his grandsons, Hugh and Braeden O’Hara, his brother-in-law, John Phillips, his nephew, John Phillips (Theresa), his niece, Kathryn Kennelly (Patrick), and his first wife, Ann Boyle. Visitation will be held 1:00-4:00 Sunday, January 29, 2023, at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA 22151. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Monday, January 30, 2023 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mt. Vernon Hwy., Alexandria, VA 22309. A reception will immediately follow at the church. Burial will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. This will also be open to family and friends with a reception to follow. Memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.