Colonel Thomas Joseph Manning

Colonel (U.S Army Retired) Thomas Joseph Manning, originally from Chicago, Illinois, died peacefully at his home in El Paso Texas, on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at the age of 91, surrounded by all the members of his immediate family.

Colonel Manning was born on July 20, 1928, the youngest of seven children, to Arthur Francis Manning of Quincy, Illinois, and Gertrude Ewart Mack Manning of Toronto, Canada. All his siblings, Arthur Francis Manning Junior, Mary Louise Hildebrandt, Mack Paul Manning, Patricia Gertrude Barry, Frances Elizabeth Layde, and Genevieve Ruth Ryan, preceded him in death. Colonel Manning is survived by his wife Paula (maiden name Acks), to whom he was married for 67 years, and their seven children , Thomas Arthur Manning, Mary Susan Kirkwood-Yates, Eileen Louise Keelan, Elizabeth Ann Hansen, Robert Christopher Manning, Kathleen Theresa Dameron, Paul Joseph Manning, twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Two grandchildren, Christina Marie Manning and Connor Thomas Kirkwood-Yates, also preceded him in death.

A career military officer, devout Catholic, patriot, avid reader of U.S. history, and Chicago Bears fan, Colonel Manning served the U.S. Army faithfully for almost 33 years. In November 1950, Colonel Manning was drafted into the Army. He attended Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, on July 2, 1952, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant after graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Bliss, Texas. An Air Defense Artillery Officer, Colonel Manning spent almost 12 years overseas to include tours in Korea, Vietnam, and Germany. While in Germany he was a Battalion Commander, Assistant Chief of Staff of the 32nd Army Air Defense Command, as well as the G-5, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff of VII Corps in Stuttgart.

Colonel Manning’s stateside assignments included time in New Mexico, Michigan, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, Fort Lee, Virginia, the Pentagon, and Fort Bliss, Texas. While at Fort Bliss, he served as the Deputy Assistant Commandant of the United States Army Air Defense School. After his retirement in August of 1982, Colonel Manning was immediately recalled to active duty where he served his final year as the Chief of Staff of the Army Air Defense Center and Fort Bliss.

A graduate of the Army War College, and Shippensburg State University where he received a Master’s of Science Degree in Public Administration, Colonel Manning was also highly decorated having earned the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

Following his career in the Army, Colonel Manning remained active, working as the administrator from 1984 to 1993, for the Mounce and Galatzan Law Firm. His volunteer service included stints on the Board of Directors for the El Paso Chapter of the American Heart Association, Allocations Panel Chairman for the United Way of El Paso County, Treasurer of the Saint Raphael Catholic Men’s Association, Museum Project Member for the Air Defense Artillery Association, President of the Fort Bliss Historical Association, and Commander of the El Paso and Region XIII Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars.

Colonel Manning’s contributions were many, and made him a distinguished role model for his family, the soldiers with whom he served, and his fellow citizens. We seek to honor his selfless service now that he has entered the kingdom of heaven.