Thomas E. Aaron
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Thomas E. Aaron passed away 7:36 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 2010, at Harrisburg Medical Center.
Thomas was born on Dec. 30, 1927, to the late Elwood and Barbara (Gregg) Aaron. He married Barbara Henley on April 10, 1955; she survives.
Lt. Col. Aaron was a career Army officer. After graduating from West Point, he was a platoon leader in the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Ky., then as a platoon leader and company commander in the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. He was a company commander and paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division which was transferred to Augsburg, Germany. Other assignments were the US Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.; a tour in Vietnam as senior adviser to a Vietnamese province chief; Army representative to Joint Task Force at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, N.M.; G-1 of 3rd Infantry Division in Würzburg, Germany; battalion commander in Aschaffenburg, Germany; a second Vietnam tour as executive officer of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; and as a battalion commander. He also was chief of Modern Volunteer Army Branch of US Continental Army Command, Ft. Monroe, Va., until retirement in 1972.
He was a past president of Tidewater Chapter of International Financial Planners Association, Norfolk, Va.
The family moved to Harrisburg where he was a City Councilman (Street and Alley Department) from 1991 to 1998.
During his military service he received the following medals: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, two awards of Combat Infantryman's Badge, Senior Parachute Badge and three overseas bars.
He was a member and an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg.
Surviving family members include his wife Barbara of Harrisburg; daughter, Suzanne E. Aaron and husband Dr. Mickey E. Gunter of Moscow, Idaho; granddaughter, Rachel E. Coleman and her father, Dr. James Coleman of Greenville, N.C.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George and Lynda Henley of Harrisburg; nieces and nephews, Cynthia Bergman, Brent Henley, Roby and Delia Podoriscki. all of Harrisburg, and Rebecca Bier of Texas; and several grand-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Cynthia L. Coleman; and one brother, Robert Gregg Aaron.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 26, 2010, at the First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg. Funeral services and burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg. Envelopes will be available at the church. Condolences may be sent to the family through the Obituary Page at the Internet site www.reedfuneralchapel.com.