John Francis Garrity III

Retired U.S. Army Colonel John Francis Garrity III, 70, a distinguished Army officer and honorable civil servant, died on September 17, 2024 due to surgical complications. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Sharon, as well as his daughter, Katie (Will), his son John, and 5 grandchildren.
Colonel Garrity was born in Watertown, New York to John Francis Garrity II and Kathleen Garrity. He married his loving wife Sharon on June 3, 1988. They were married for 36 years. He grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where he graduated from Christopher Columbus Catholic High School as captain of the hockey team in 1972. He then attended Norwich University, where he was a member of the rugby and hockey teams, as well as several honorable societies. During his time there, he was selected as one of the few nationwide cadets to attend Ranger School, which he completed in 1976 as a member of the 11th class. He then graduated from Norwich with a degree in Business and Economics in 1977.
Colonel Garrity retired from the Army after a 27-year career in June 2004, followed by a related career in government service until his permanent retirement in September 2023.
After graduating from Norwich and completing his initial officer training in Fort Knox, Kentucky, Colonel Garrity served as a Tank Platoon Leader and Battalion Scout Platoon Leader in the 3rd Battalion, 64th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany. Following that, John served as Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver of the 3rd Infantry Division. Later, as a first lieutenant, he was assigned as Commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor in Kitzingen, Germany. In 1983, he returned home to attend the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Around the same time, he completed the USAF Air Command Staff College before returning to Germany as the Operations, Plans, and Training Officer of the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division. After two years at this post, Colonel Garrity returned again to the United States, where he first served at the Pentagon as a Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern, and later as an Action Officer for the Office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
In 1990, Colonel Garrity completed the Army Command and General Staff College. He was assigned as Battalion Executive Officer for the 4th Battalion, 37th Armor, 1st Infantry Division where he served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm of the first Gulf War. He and his unit fought and overwhelmed Iraqi forces in the now famous tank battle during the opening days of the ground offensive. His daughter Katie was born during this deployment in 1991.
Colonel Garrity returned home from deployment in 1992, and was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff J3 Operations Directorate in Fort Hood, Texas. Here he completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase II. He returned to Virginia for graduate school. His son John was born here in 1994. After receiving his Master's degree in International Affairs from Catholic University in 1995, Colonel Garrity assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1996 at Fort Hood, Texas. He then completed the National Security Fellowship Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in June of 2000 before returning to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area where he would reside for the remainder of his life.
He was injured while on duty at the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. He continued to work in the Pentagon afterwards, where he retired from active duty service in June 2004. Still at the Pentagon in a civil capacity, he then served as Program Director under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense. Here he facilitated government-wide activities and played a critical role in the United States' response to the 9/11 attacks. He rose to the Senior Executive Service rank and became the resident expert on multiple national programs. He was considered by Pentagon leadership and many colleagues to be the most trusted and dedicated public servant anyone had the honor of working with. Affectionately known by his colleagues as "Uncle John," he continued in this role until his September 2023 retirement from civil service, receiving several notable awards to include a Presidential Rank Award and recognition from the CIA's Directorate of Operations and the Counterterrorism Mission Center.
Colonel Garrity died a decorated officer. His awards and decorations include the coveted U.S. Army Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster and Combat Distinguished Valor Device), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Southwest Asia Service Medal (with three Battle Stars), the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, an Overseas Service Ribbon, the Department of the Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
John enjoyed maintaining his antique 1965 Mercedes Benz 230SL, which he bought while he was overseas in Germany. He was a student of history and loved hunting, skeet shooting, chopping wood, and building "contraptions" to make household tasks easier. He loved the New England Patriots, playing backgammon, and spending time with his family, especially at Christmas.
Colonel Garrity will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Information regarding this service is forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.