Tom Rice - Screaming Eagle Takes Final Jump

Aug.15, 1921 – Nov. 17, 2022 TOM RICE August 15, 1921 – November 17, 2022

“Screaming Eagle” takes Final Jump at 101

By CJ Machado

Hometown Hero “Screaming Eagle” Tom Rice took his final jump on November 17, 2022 at the age of 101. Thomas Marcus Rice was born on August 15, 1921 in the Navy town of Coronado, California. He was blessed to pass in the same home his father built and that he was born in.

Tom’s father, Marcus S. Rice, built their family home while stationed at North Island as a naval aviation mechanic. In 1933 a tragic plane crash took his life while on assignment in Panama. Shortly after, Tom, his mother Katherine and sister Catherine lived with his grandmother in San Francisco before they moved back to their family home in Coronado.

During his youth, Tom loved fishing, swimming, and running. He and a group of friends founded the first lifeguard station in Coronado. Tom attended Coronado High School where he excelled at track and field. After his high school graduation in 1940, Tom attended San Diego State University until September 1942, when he saw a recruitment poster for the Airborne and enlisted in the United States Army. He identified himself as a “risk taker” and later admitted, “After the loss of my father, the experimental airborne program was a perfect fit for me.”

From September 1942 to December 1945, Tom served his country as a paratrooper, assigned to C Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, known as the famous “Screaming Eagles.”

Staff Sergeant (SSG) Rice was first at the door as he jumped into the flak ridden skies on D-Day over Normandy, France. He liberated the town of Carentan and the townspeople have never forgotten. Carentan’s sorrow for his recent passing is deeply felt and shared with us. To this day, Carentan celebrates Tom’s sacrifice and service with Rice’s picture displayed on lampposts and murals.

In September 1944, SSG Rice led a mortar squadron, parachuting into battle during Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. He later fought at the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded. When asked about the historic battle, Tom reflecting, would rub his hands together while chattering his teeth, “I’ve never been so cold and hungry in my life.” Shortly after the capture of Berchtesgaden, Staff Sergeant Rice was discharged from the Army, and within weeks returned to college at San Diego State University (SDSU).

At SDSU Tom prepared for a career in teaching. For over thirty years he taught Social Studies at Chula Vista and Hilltop High Schools. He also coached track and cross Country. He led by example, and pushed his students to excel by encouraging creative thinking.

He was fit and stood well over six feet tall, intimidating to say the least. Mr. Rice once accepted a push up challenge proposed by an ornery student. “One hand or two?” Coach Rice confidently asked. You can only imagine the response by the stunned student. Rice won as expected.

Decades later, as a tribute to Tom’s service to country, Hilltop High School students dedicated their 2019 homecoming game to him. From the sidelines, the “Screaming Eagles” and 101 on the backside of Tom’s football jersey stood out as he proudly cheered his alumni team, “GO! GO!! GO!!!”

In retirement Tom was an avid runner, competing in races up until his early 90’s. In addition to his passion for running, he became an inspiring lecturer, deeply motivated to encourage future generations to remember the historic importance of World War Il and the sacrifices of the men he led and fought with.

Tom was invited to share his experiences in the Second World War to students and community groups in the San Diego area and around the world.

When speaking, he would begin with a commanding voice and end with a whisper, “Never forget…never forget… never forget.”

As the words vanished from his lips, he burnt the sentiment of remembrance into our soul with a deep stare.

To honor his fellow warriors, Tom returned to France many times, parachuting into Normandy again for the 50th and the 75th commemorations of D-Day. He was the oldest surviving World War II paratrooper to jump again at both Normandy and the Netherlands in 2019. He continued to inspire the masses and in August 2021, he parachuted again on his 100th birthday landing onto the beaches of the Hotel del Coronado as hundreds of grateful citizens applauded. Millions of enthusiastic viewers worldwide watched the coverage. Everyone became enamored with our Airborne hero.

“Libertas” (Normandy Jump 2019) Tom has been interviewed by hundreds of students, media outlets, and stories have been written in several local, national and international publications. In 2021, he was spotlighted in the American Veterans Center “American Valor” program in Washington D.C.. Tom is also featured in the documentary “Libertas” (Normandy Jump 2019) and highlighted in the “Into Flight Once More” film, both commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and his legendary jump.

He created such a stir, in 2020 a French watchmaker with Praesidus created “The Lost Watch of D-Day,” a replica of the prized wristwatch which Tom lost as he exited the C-47 door on D-Day.

His memory and legacy are forever embedded in the hearts of the liberated and the citizens of the Coronado community. To learn more about our Hometown Hero, a biography, “My Part in The War,” was written by a dear friend and Team Tom Member Denis Van Den Brink who is from the town of Carentan. The book can be found on Amazon in both French and English. If you live in San Diego, a nostalgic photograph of Tom, captured by, Jeff Rease with Portraits of Honor, hangs at the Coronado Island Public Library and a replica of his service uniform is displayed at the Coronado Historical Foundation.

Tom never ceased to inspire and only six weeks prior to his passing, he still was an advocate for education and remembrance, holding the patch of the liberated town of Carentan, hoping to encourage the completion of the 4 Colonels of Carentan monument honoring the sacrifices of the 101st ABN DIV and his Commanding Officer “Jumpy” Johnson whom he held in high regard.

May we live in the spirit of Tom and the “Screaming Eagles,” fearless, and confident, inspiring others to live their lives in honor of the fallen, in remembrance of their sacrifice…”Never Forget…never forget…never forget.”

Tom was preceded in death by his first wife Doris, sister Catherine and second wife Barbara. He is survived by his wife Brenda, children Jonathan, Vicki, Diane, Monica, and Patrick. A community celebration of Tom’s life will be held at the Coronado High School Theater on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. An internment ceremony will be held at Fort Rosecrans at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Brenda Rice requests that donations be made to Honor Flight San Diego in Tom’s memory. Please go to: www.honorflightsandiego.org.