Thomas G. Lightner
| Era | Vietnam War |
|---|---|
| Branch | U.S. Army |
| Rank | Major General |
| Military Decorations | Distinguished Service Cross Legion of Merit |
| Wall | CC |
| Wall Side | 1 |
| Row | 7 |
| Plaque Number | 17 |
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Thomas Lightner
Born in Haymarket, Virginia, Maj. Gen. Thomas Lightner graduated from Osbourn High School in 1954 and earned a B.A. in Economics from the College of William and Mary. Commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in 1958, he served in numerous command and staff roles both in the U.S. and abroad.
His distinguished career included serving as Congressional Affairs assistant to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army at the Pentagon, and culminated as Commander of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, overseeing a $50 billion global military sales program across 106 countries.
After 33 years of service, Lightner retired in 1991 with honors including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. In retirement, he held leadership roles at Raytheon, TRW, and Coleman Research Corporation.
Fully retired in Vista, California, Lightner led Turn Around for Veterans, a nonprofit woodworking program supporting over 10,000 wounded veterans through therapeutic craft. He helped raise over $500,000 to fund the initiative at no cost to veterans or government agencies.
In 2023, Maj. Gen. Lightner was inducted into the U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifelong service and impact as a community leader.
Plaque Wall Map
