November 8, 2024
Tom DeShazo is a man of many names: Tom. Dad. Grandpa. Sir. Colonel.
The Snickers Man.
Tom is known for greeting those who come to his door at Yankee Hill Village in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a “Hello” and a Snickers candy bar. Thanks to his grandson, he’s had this tradition for years.
“My grandson was captain of the baseball team at Morningside College, and he trained me always to bring him Snickers,” Tom said. “I don’t think I’ve eaten but six of them in my life. I like Hershey’s.”
Tom has kept busy in his retirement. After a 32-year Army career from which he retired at the rank of Colonel, he said he embraced the things his military work didn’t allow him time for.
These include swimming in the Cornhusker Games, getting lifeguard and scuba and national ski patrol certifications, volunteering to tutor students (preschool into community college), and serving as a volunteer on ski patrol.
And then there was the time he broke a leg (at age 59) while trying skydiving with his daughter, Kathleen.
The walls of Tom’s independent living apartment are adorned with family pictures and memories of his long military career. The television is often turned to a channel playing classical music. He likes to step outside to his patio area and enjoy the fresh air and outdoors.
“Most guys my age retire and play poker, golf, and nothing else,” Tom said. “I didn’t even think about being older.”
Born at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Tom’s childhood was shaped by the constant movement typical of military families.
“My dad was a West Point graduate,” he said. “We moved around a lot — from Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the Philippines — by age 10.”
Despite the frequent moves, Tom excelled academically, graduating from high school in New Jersey at just 16 — a testament to his natural intelligence, a trait he only realized later in life.
After graduating from Duke University with a degree in psychology, Tom’s path took a different turn when he was drafted for the Korean Conflict in 1950.
“I was 4-F (which meant a person was not physically qualified for military service) at the end of World War II due to my eye,” he said. “I am legally blind in my right eye. But when Korea came, they called me up.”
His military career spanned an impressive 32 years, during which he navigated challenges with determination and dedication.
A pivotal moment came when Tom received a regular Army commission in Korea, setting him on a path that led through prestigious military schools like the Army and Navy War Colleges. His pursuit of excellence culminated in a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona — an achievement that enhanced his professional capabilities and prepared him for significant responsibilities.
One of Tom’s most notable assignments was commanding the Pershing missile battalion in Germany during the Cold War. He said it was a significant assignment, modestly acknowledging his role in expanding the battalion from eight to 36 launchers, and expanding to 500 vehicles, and 1,500 troops.
His tenure in Germany coincided with critical peace negotiations, where the Pershing missiles played an important role.
“Pershing’s had several hundred-mile ranges, which was new to the Army and was a sticking point in the negotiations,” Tom said.
However, Tom’s story isn’t just about military accolades — personal trials, such as raising three daughters — Anne, Kathleen, and Diane — as a single father, underscore his resilience and strength.
“I was ‘Major Dad’ before it was a TV show,” he said, highlighting his ability to balance military duty with parental responsibilities. “Everyone thinks I had them regimented. The closest I had was that I had each of them pick a color: Anne was yellow, Kathleen was blue, and Diane was red. And colored stickers went on everything.”
Tom called parenting three girls by himself his greatest accomplishment. He called his daughters his greatest triumph.
“I should have been terrified at (parenting by myself),” he said. “I wondered if there were things I should have been doing or could have done better, but some kind mother once told me we all do our best.”
In retirement, Tom embraced physical fitness with the same vigor he had brought to his military career. An avid swimmer, Tom logged an impressive 3,348 miles in the lap pool — an achievement that speaks volumes about his enduring vitality and zest for life.
“Retirement felt like being 20 again,” he said.
Beyond his retirement pursuits, Tom spent many years dedicated to serving his community. This included tutoring children in local schools and helping older adults struggling with literacy. His generosity and compassion leave a lasting impact on those who get to know him.
“A tiny gratuitous kindness can live forever,” he said, his philosophy of life anchored in empathy and altruism.
Melissa Ryan, Executive Director at Yankee Hill Village, called Tom’s spirit “truly remarkable.”
“We are grateful for Tom's sense of honor and his ability to live with appreciation, as well as the uplifting spirit he brings to everyone around him,” she said.
Tom finds joy in simple pleasures — a good show on the History Channel, a Nebraska Huskers game, and sharing a candy bar with visitors. His sharp intellect remains a constant, though he remains humble about his achievements.
“I’m mildly surprised to be still kicking at 97, as well as enjoying the richness of later life; meeting new friends, principled folks of strong character and sharp intellect, who match any I ever knew,” he said. “Real genius is in the everyday people who go about their lives, making a difference.”
