More detail on this person: Major General
Harold I. "Hank" Small FORMER COMMANDING
GENERAL OF FORT EUSTIS
Poquoson, VA - On May 5, 2015 Major General
Harold I. "Hank" Small passed away peacefully at
his home in Poquoson, Virginia. At his passing he
had family and his dogs and cats with him.
Poquoson, Virginia became his adopted and
beloved hometown in 1992, shortly after his
retirement from the U. S. Army in 1986.
Hank was born March 11, 1932, in an apartment
above the General Store in Plymouth, Maine which
is still open for business today. No matter where
else he lived or traveled throughout his life his
heart remained in Plymouth and he returned there
as often as his schedule would allow.
Hank lived his teenage years in Malden, Woburn
and Burlington, Massachusetts, and traveled back
to Plymouth to work on the family dairy farm when
circumstances allowed.
Hank had an early desire to join the Army. Prior
to his High School graduation he enlisted in the
Massachusetts Army National Guard. Hank
graduated from Burlington High School in
Burlington, Massachusetts and immediately
enlisted in the regular active Army.
Upon entering active duty he began a 37 year
career rising through the ranks from Private (E-1)
to Sergeant (E-5), and after attending Officer's
Candidate School, he was commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant (0-1) rising through the
commissioned officer ranks to Major General (0-8).
Throughout his military career he remained a
"soldier's soldier". He never lost sight of his
time as an enlisted soldier or as a
Non-Commissioned Officer. Hank knew soldiers and
Non-Commissioned Officers were and are today the
backbone of the U. S. Military.
While stationed with the 82nd Airborne Division at
Fort Bragg, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in
1952 he met Shirley R. Jernigan on a blind date
set up by Shirley's sister, Jane Holden, now of
Cameron, North Carolina. Within four months Hank
and Shirley were married on July 9, 1952. Hank was
Shirley's first kiss and her first date. They were
together until his passing and will remain
together forever in the same spirit of love and
affection that drew them to each other in 1952.
The United States Army was Hank's first love. He
served in the infantry, was a paratrooper, a
ranger, an aviator and a logistician.
During his enlisted, Non-Commissioned and
Commissioned Officer service he assumed ever
increasing responsibly. He commanded at every
level in his career and held staff assignments at
all levels. His military career culminated in
positions as Commanding General of the U.S. Army
Transportation Center and Fort Eustis, Virginia;
Commandant of the U.S. Army Transportation
School; Chief of United States Army Transportation
and Commanding General of the Military Traffic
Management Command (now known as the Surface
Deployment and Distribution Command).
While serving on the Department of Army Staff he
worked on development of combat tactics for
helicopters and the requirements for the Army's
heavy lift helicopters.
While Commander at Fort Eustis in 1981 he served
as the Defense Department Coordinator for the
Yorktown Bicentennial Celebration. In that role he
planned, coordinated and supervised elements from
the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps
associated with the Bicentennial Celebration. Hank
always felt privileged to have had a role in the
Celebration for the victory at Yorktown which
ended the Revolutionary War.
Hank was modest about his accomplishments but
upon his retirement in 1986 he was one of the most
highly decorated members of the U.S. Army
Transportation Corps.
His military decorations for valor and exceptional
performance of duty include: Three Silver Star
Medals, the Distinguished Service Medal, the
Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of
Merit, five Distinguished Flying Cross Medals,
Bronze Star Medal with Valor, three Bronze Star
Medals, the Purple Heart, three Meritorious
Service Medals, twenty-four Air Medals, the Joint
Service Commendation Medal, three Army
Commendation Medals, two Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry with Palm, and the Good Conduct Medal.
His decorations for service include: The United
Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Five
Vietnam Service Medals, Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions
Medal First Class, Humanitarian Service Medal,
Five Overseas Service Bars, American Campaign
Medal, two National Defense Service Medals,
United States Air Force Crewmember Badge.
His Unit Citations include: Presidential Unit
Citation Army, two Valorous Unit Awards, Five
Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Korea
Presidential Unit Citation, and Republic of
Vietnam Fourragere.
He was also awarded the Senior Parachutist
Badge, Master Aviator Badge, Army Staff
Identification Badge.
The Chief of Army Transportation awarded The
Ancient Order of Saint Christopher to Hank, for
exemplary service and devotion to the United
States Army Transportation Corps. This is the
highest award the Transportation Corps can award
to any member of the Regiment.
Hank was honored in 2005 with membership in the
U. S. Army Transportation Corps Hall of Fame.
In August 2014 Hank was honored by the Town of
Plymouth, Maine when the Town Selectmen passed
a resolution recognizing his service to this
country and directed that his name be placed on
the Town of Plymouth Veteran's Honor Roll.
In October 2014 Hank was notified that the Surface
Deployment and Distribution Command had created
the "Major General Harold I. Small Award for the
Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
Battalion of the Year" to honor his legacy of
leadership. The first award was given in April of
2015.
Hank was humbled yet very pleased and surprised
by the recognition of his hometown and the last
organization he commanded in the Army.
Hank served three combat tours of duty, one in
Korea and two in Vietnam.
While in Vietnam, among other command and staff
assignments, he had the privilege of commanding
the 116th Assault Helicopter Company ("Hornets").
In 2014, while challenged with his last illness he
insisted on attending the Reunion of the 116th.
His call sign was "Hornet 6". Hank said the pilots
and soldiers he had the privilege to command in
the 116th were the bravest and most courageous he
had ever known. He said they had "more guts than
brains".
Given his love of the comrades in the 116th
Assault Helicopter Company, Shirley Small is
designating all members of the Hornets, past and
present, as honorary pallbearers for the
celebration of life Mass at the Regimental Chapel
at Fort Eustis and the internment at Arlington.
Hank's military career, as with the careers of
others, took him to all parts of the world and
this country. Hank enjoyed the opportunity to
travel and meet and work with people of all
cultures. His trip to the South Pole was one of
his most memorable.
After retirement from military service Hank served
as the President of SATO, a government related
international travel service. He also worked for
Raytheon Corporation. While with Raytheon Hank
served as the Director of Logistics for United
Nations Peace-keeping Forces in Angola. Before
full retirement he worked as a consultant on
Logistic issues.
After deciding to completely retire he enjoyed
being at home in Poquoson, Virginia with his wife
and pets and spent every summer in Plymouth,
Maine on the lake in a home built on land that had
been part of his grandfather's dairy farm when he
was born.
Hank loved Christmas and for sixteen years he
sponsored an annual reception at his home in
Poquoson to support the U. S. Marine Corps
Reserve Toys for Tots Program. He reveled in the
overwhelming response to the reception which grew
each year; and in the fact that, for each year he
hosted the event, hundreds of children would have
a better Christmas. Hank believed strongly that
especially at Christmas bringing a smile to a
child's face was important.
Hank loved his immediate and extended family very
much. His military comrades and friends were part
of his extended family.
Hank is preceded in death by his father Harold B.
Small, his mother Ruth M. Small and his brother
William G. "Bill" Small of Burlington,
Massachusetts; and his sister Patricia Ward of
Westford, Massachusetts.
Hank is survived by his wife of 63 years, Shirley
R. Small of Poquoson, Virginia; his son, Harold I.
"Chip" Small, and his daughter-in-law, Nancy M.
Small, of Lakewood Ranch, Florida; his son, Robert
A. "Bob" Small; his son, Michael A. "Mike" Small,
both of Newport News, Virginia; his daughter
Cheryl A. Small of Poquoson, Virginia; and his
granddaughters, Stacey S. Bossard of Jersey City,
New Jersey and Gillian R. Small of Hoboken, New
Jersey.
He is survived by his sister, Maureen Farrow and
her husband Richard "Dick" Farrow; his sister
Kathleen McQuilkin and her husband Laurence
"Larry" McQuilkin; his sister-in-law, Anne Berger
Small, all of Burlington, Massachusetts; his
sister-in-law, Jane Holden of Cameron, North
Carolina and his brother-in-law, James "Jim"
Jernigan and his wife Hilde Jernigan of
Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
He is also survived by his "Connecticut Cousins"
and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention
individually.
Hank's family wishes to acknowledge and thank his
healthcare providers and caregivers that helped
him fight his last illness and maximize his
quality of life; these include but are certainly
not limited to, Dr. David R. Jones, Dr. Jamie E.
Chaft, and the staff at Memorial Sloane Kettering
Cancer Center in New York City; Dr. C. Edward
Rose, Jr. and the staff at the University of
Virginia Hospitals; Dr. Thao P. Dang and the staff
at the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center at the
University of Virginia; Dr. Keith Taylor and the
staff at TPMG Denbigh Family Medicine in Newport
News, Virginia; the physicians and staff at
Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton, Virginia;
Riverside Home Health, Riverside Private Duty and
Riverside Hospice in Newport News, Virginia; the
physicians and staff at St. Joseph's Hospital,
Eastern Maine Medical Center and Gentiva Home
Healthcare in Bangor, Maine and the physicians
and staff at the Lafayette Family Cancer Center in
Brewer, Maine. The healthcare and the care and
concern given to Hank by all of you over the last
year-and-a-half was exceptional and gave Hank a
great quality of life and great comfort to his
family.
The family wishes to acknowledge and give special
thanks to the men and women of the Fire and
Rescue Department for the City of Poquoson,
Virginia. Their professionalism and caring at the
times Hank and we as his family needed
assistance was amazing. The Department could not
have done better by or for him and we will always
be in your debt.
VISITATION AND FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
There will be a visitation from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
at Peninsula Funeral Home on Friday, May 22,
2015.
The Mass to celebrate Hank's life will be at the
Transportation Corps Regimental Chapel on Fort
Eustis on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 11:00 AM with
a reception to follow at the Fort Eustis Club.
Hank's interment will be at Arlington National
Cemetery at a date and time to be determined by
Arlington. We will update with the Arlington
information as soon as it is available.
There will also be a Mass to celebrate Hank's
life, in Massachusetts near where he grew up, at
St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Woburn,
Massachusetts on June 13, 2015 at 10:00AM.
The addresses and contact numbers for the events
are: Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick
Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23601, (757)
595-2415; Transportation Corps Regimental Chapel,
923 Lee Boulevard, Fort Eustis, VA 23604, (757)
878-1316; Fort Eustis Club, 2123 Pershing Avenue,
Fort Eustis, VA 23604, (757) 878-5700; St.
Barbara's Catholic Church, 138 Cambridge Road,
Woburn, MA 01801, (781) 933-4130.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations
be made in Hank's honor to the following
organizations or to any other charity that is
close to your heart: The U.S. Army Transportation
Museum Foundation, P. O. Drawer D, Fort Eustis,
VA 23604 or The American Cancer Society , P.O.
Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on May 13, 2015
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 03/10/2014
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