Thomas Floyd McDonald

Thomas Floyd McDonald was born in Cameron, Texas, on August 16, 1931. From there, the family moved to Bryan/College Station. He graduated from A&M Consolidated High School in 1949. After high school he attended Allen Military Academy in Bryan, Texas and then graduated from the University of Houston. Upon graduation Floyd was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. His first duty location was Fort Hood, Texas.

In December 1957, while stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia, he met LaVerne Player at an Army Christmas party as a blind date. She became his wife in April 1958 and in June 1958 they were stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. In the two years they were stationed in Germany their two daughters, Robin and Julie, were born.

The family of four was then stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia, and Mac was assigned at as instructor at the Quartermaster School. While at Fort Lee, they had their first son, Thomas (Tom).

Two years later they moved to Seoul, South Korea where their second son, Jeff, was born. Because of the extra help available in Korea, Mac and LaVerne stayed an extra year for a total of three years. Mac earned his Republic of Korea Army jump wings during that time. In 1967 the family moved back to Virginia, this time to Colonial Heights, while Mac went to Vietnam in 1968 for a year.

While there he ran Task Force McDonald, supplying combat units in the Duc Pho area of operation. His exceptional achievements earned him the Legion of Merit. Upon his return he again taught at the Quartermaster School at Fort Lee. In 1971 Mac went to Vietnam once more for a year and was awarded the Bronze Star.

After living in Colonial Heights, Virginia for seven years the family moved to Taipei, Taiwan in 1973 where they stayed for two years. Mac was assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) Republic of China. He advised the RoC Army on logistics issues and earned his RoC jump wings.

When the family returned to the United States it was to Fayetteville, North Carolina while Mac was assigned to Fort Bragg. After two short years, in 1977, they moved to Tehran, Iran where Mac advised the Iranian Army under MAAG.

In December 1978 LaVerne and the four children left Iran, due to the revolution, leaving Mac there. He finally returned to the United States in February 1979 assigned to the Pentagon until he retired June 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

The family then moved again to Miami, Florida where Mac had a job with Eastern Airlines managing their logistics/warehouse area. In the following years Mac earned his air conditioning repair license and started his own business which he successfully ran for several years.

The last move Mac made was in August 1993, when he and LaVerne moved to San Antonio, Texas where he lived until his death. Mac and LaVerne still traveled though, visiting family in Mississippi, Virginia, and Germany and touring Rome, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Prague.

Mac loved his family especially his five grandchildren supporting them in their activities.

His brothers, LeRoy & William Earl, and sister, Louise preceded him in death. Mac is survived by his children daughters Robin Hahn, Julie Heitzman and husband David, sons Thomas McDonald, and Jeff McDonald, daughter-in-law Anne McDonald and grandchildren Chris Stultz, Michael Heitzman, Jacob McDonald and Haley McDonald from San Antonio and Captain Evan Heitzman, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.