Larkin, Thomas Bernard.

Larkin, Thomas Bernard, born 15-12-1890 in Louisburg, Wisconsin, to Thomas John Larkin (1851–1931) and Dorothea, born Donders Larkin (1856–1943). Thomas had two brothers and two sisters: William Andrew Larkin (1878–1961), Bernadette Dorothy Larkin Campbell (1885–1961), Irene Olive Larkin Cullen (1888–1973) and Harold F Larkin (1898–1990). He had two sons and one daughter Thomas Bernard Larkin (1918–2004) , Elizabeth Larkin Rochfort (1922–20160) and Harrison Shirley Larkin (1925–1950).

Thomas Larkin attended the Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. In 1915 he graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point, the class the stars fell on and was sent to Mexico in 1916 with the 2^nd Engineers. After returning to the US he graduated in 1917 from the Engineer School at Washington Barracks, Washington D.C in December was sent to France. He was awarded the Silver Star for his reconnaissance efforts during the Second Battle of the Marne during July 1918. From 1921-1923 he served as the Assistant Military Attaché for the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. In 1927 he graduated from the Army Industrial College; in 1929 from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and in 1938 from the Army War College.  Larkin would marry Mary Irwin. She was the daughter of William Larkin, an United States Navy Commander and Elizabeth Irwin. One of their sons, Harrison Shirley Larkin,   was a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and was killed when his plane crashed on 28-04-1950. The Larkin Conference Center at Fort Lee was named for Lieutenant Larkin. Another son, Thomas B. Larkin, Jr., was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. All four Larkin’s, as well as the Irwins, are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Larkin served a tour of duty in the Panama Canal Zone as Supervisory Engineer in charge of Third Locks Project, and as Special Assistant to the Governor of the Canal zone in charge of special civil defense. In February 1943 he became Commanding General for Services of Supply in the North African Theatre, and later Commander for the Communications Zone in North Africa. For his efforts in supplying the combat troops during the Tunisian Campaign he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in June 1943. He was also awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Service Medal in November 1944 for his role in planning the invasion of southern France and support of the 5^th Army  , under General Mark Clark   in Italy. Its role in Italy cost Fifth Army dearly. It suffered 109.642 casualties in 602 days of combat. 19.475 were killed in action. The Fifth Army headquarters returned to the United States in September, 1945. On 01-02-1946 he became Quartermaster General of the US Army, serving in this position until 20-03-1949.

Death and burial ground of Larkin, Thomas Bernard.

   He retired with grade of Lieutenant General, in 1952. Thomas Larkin died at the age of 78, on 17-10-1968 in Colusa, California and is buried with his wife Mary Regina Irwin, who died very old age 97 in 1889, on the Arlington Cemetery in Section 3. Close by in Section 3 the graves of Major General, adviser MacArthur. Corps Engineers, Hugh Casey, Major General, “Father of the Armoured Forces”, Adna Chaffee, Lieutenant General, Chief of Staff,Hugh Drum,   Lieutenant General, 3^rd Service Command and Deputy, Manton Eddy, Rear Admiral, U Boot 505, Daniel Gallery,and Marine Corps General, Iwo Jima-Guadalcanal-Okinawa, Randolph Pate.

Larkin was the recipient of numerous awards including the Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Mexican Campaign Medal, World War I Victory Medal, World War I Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal; European, African, Middle East Campaign Medal; American Defense Medal, and World War II Occupation Medal.

Foreign decorations: French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Brazilian Order of Military Merit, the Order of the Crown of Italy (Grand Order), the British Order of the Bath Companion, and the Polish Gold Cross with Sword.