Brigadier General Thomas S. Ito

Posted on Feb 13, 2025 in HING History, People

Brigadier General Thomas S. Ito assumed duties as the Assistant Division Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard, in 1976. On a full-time basis, he was the Deputy Adjutant General, Department of Defense, State of Hawaii.

Ito was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery, through the University of Hawaii’s ROTC program on 1 June 1952. He served in various command and staff positions. Command positions included Battery Commander for 483rd Field Artillery Battalion and 298th Missile Battalion (Nike Hercules), and Battalion Commander, 487th Field Artillery Battalion. Staff positions were Assistant Chief of Staff, G4 and United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Hawaii.

EDUCATION:

  • 1952 University of Hawaii, Bachelor of Science, Education, Honolulu, HI
  • 1956 Battery Officers Course, Fort Bliss, Texas
  • 1959 Air Defense Officers Course, Fort Bliss, Texas
  • 1967 Command and General Staff Course, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
  • 1973 Army Logistic Management Center, Fort Lee, Virginia
  • 1979 Defense Strategy Seminar, Fort Lesley J McNair, Washington, District of Columbia

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. 21 June 1951 – 30 November 1954 Executive Officer, Battery B 483rd Field Artillery Battalion
  2. 1 December 1954 – 4 October 1955 Headquarters Commander, 483rd Field Artillery Battalion
  3. 5 October 1955 – 14 January 1959 Commander, Battery B, 158th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion  
  4. 15 January 1959 – 30 November 1962 Executive Officer, 2nd Missile Battalion, 298th Artillery (Nike Hercules)
  5. 1 December 1962 – 30 November 1966 Air Defense Staff officer, National Guard Bureau
  6. 1 December 1966 – 15 January 1970 Assistant Chief of Staff, G4 Hawaii National Guard
  7. 16 January 1970 – 19 September 1971 Battalion Commander, 487th Field Artillery Battalion
  8. 20 September – 1 May 1973 Deputy Commander, 298th Field Depot
  9. 2 May 1973 – 31 August 1976 United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Hawaii
  10. 1 September 1976 – 10 July 1980 Assistant Division Commander/Deputy Adjutant General Officer for Hawaii (full-time DAG, Department of Defense, State of Hawaii).
  11. 11 July 1980 – 31 October 1988 United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Hawaii

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal
  • Legion of Merit (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Meritorious Service Medal
  • Army Commendation Medal
  • Army Achievement Medal
  • Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star)
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Hawaii National Guard Medal of Merit
  • Hawaii National Guard Commendation Medal
  • Hawaii National Guard Service Medal
  • Guam National Guard Distinguished Service Medal

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS:

  • National Guard Association of the United States (Life Member)
  • Japanese American Veterans Association (Life Member)
  • Military Officers Association of America (Life Member)

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • Distinguished Service Medal, National Guard Association of the United States

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

  • Second Lieutenant 1 June 1951
  • First Lieutenant 18 September 1954
  • Captain 1 October 1956
  • Major 13 March 1962
  • Lieutenant Colonel 30 August 1967
  • Colonel 20 March 1972
  • Brigadier General (Of The Line) 4 February 1977 

Last updated February 2014