TNSG News
TNSG NEWS
Third Regiment Gets TV Coverage
Members of the 3rd Regiment, TNSG were profiled in a WBIR-TV (Knoxville NBC affiliate) report in their "Service and Sacrifice" series.
Former Commanding General, Tennessee State Guard, MG Marvin Howard Massey, 71, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at his residence.
Funeral services for MG Massey were conducted Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at Pleasant Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Bob Adair and Rev. Rick Elsey officiating. Burial followed in Polk Memorial Gardens. Military honors were provided by the U.S. Army and the Tennessee State Guard.
The family visited with friends on Friday from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia and on Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Born in Columbia on August 11, 1937 to the late Marvin Howard Massey, Sr., and Mary Elizabeth Roebuck Massey, he spent most of his youth in Winchester but graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1955. He was the husband of Audrey Derryberry Massey, whom he married on August 28, 1959, after receiving his B.A. Degree from Ouachita College.
MG Massey served 25 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1984 at Redstone Arsenal, AL. His last assignment was U.S. Army Advisor to the Alabama Army National Guard. During his career as a Signal Officer, he served in U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Army Hawaii, Army Pictorial Facility Long Island, NY; Ft. Monmouth, NJ; Ft. Lee, VA; Darmstadt, Germany; Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; Ft. Bragg, NC; and 5th and 6th Special Forces Groups, with two combat tours in Vietnam.
Among his many military decorations is the Soldier’s Medal, the Army’s highest decoration for heroism not under direct fire, for rescuing a downed pilot in Vietnam. His name and medal are honored in the Madison County, AL Hall of Heroes.
After retiring from the U.S. Army, he served honorably as Major General for the Tennessee State Guard. His service was recognized with an Award of Merit, State of Tennessee House of Representatives Resolution and the adjutant General’s Distinguished Patriot Award. MG Massey spent the last five years of his life speaking on patriotism to school children and organizations throughout Middle Tennessee.
He was knighted in the Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of Jerusalem, Knights Templar, was Mid-South Commissioner Emeritus of Clan Donald, USA, and co-founder of the Tennessee Valley Scottish Society.
He was a widely-known artist of wildlife and Civil War subjects and was chosen Ducks Unlimited Artist-of-the-Year 1988. His paintings hang in many private collections, including the Mutual of Omaha Museum in Omaha, NE.
Survivors besides his wife include three daughters: Melanie (Robert) Sherrow, Athens, AL, Mikala “Mikki” (Steve) Howard, Columbia; Merri Beth Massey, Huntsville, AL; one son: Michael Howard Massey of Huntsville; ten grandchildren: Bobby and Bonnie Sherrow of Huntsville; Jay and Will Howard of Columbia; Bryan Gregory of Huntsville; Kala Massey of Huntsville; Caity, Michael and Matthew Massey of Healdton, OK and Christopher Jones of Huntsville; two sisters: Pamela Hardison and Joan (Ronald Edward) Lovell, both of Columbia; and a brother, Tom (Lynda) Massey of Manning, SC; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Pallbearers were soldiers of the U.S. Army. Honorary pallbearers were CHS Class of 1955, Ouachita University Class of 1959, staff and members of the Tennessee State Guard, military comrades, Dr. John Maloof, staff of Maury Regional Medical Center, golfing buddies and special friends.
Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors, 7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
2nd Regiment, Tennessee State Guard Completed its First RAM mission.
2nd Regiment soldiers from Nashville, under the command of COL George C. Arzente, provided security services for the RAM Clinic held at Spencer, Tennessee, 17-19 April 2009.
State Guardsmen assigned to Headquarters Company of the 2nd Regiment along with the Regiment’s 2nd and 4th MP Battalions were assisted by members of the State Guard’s, 51st Forward Support Battalion.
State Guardsmen, manned traffic control guard posts, provided walking patrols, distributed entry passes and insured the orderly flow of patients through the clinic.
Some 651 patients were processed through the clinic at Van Buren County High School, where they received free dental care, eye examinations and glasses, and medical examinations.
The value of the free services totaled $134, 220.
As the Van Buren County School Director was leaving for the night, he commented that “he could sleep well knowing that their school facilities were in good hands with the TNSG taking care of things”.