2023 -- H 5063

========

LC000602

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF BRIGADIER GENERAL

MICHAEL T. BYRNES, UNITED STATES ARMY, RETIRED

     Introduced By: Representatives Donovan, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Azzinaro,
Chippendale, Kennedy, Diaz, Newberry, Shallcross Smith, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of United

States Army Brigadier General, Retired, Michael T. Byrnes. He was the devoted husband of

Marie-Elena Fasano. General Byrnes is a native of Bristol, Rhode Island, a son of the late

Honorable Thomas Byrnes, Jr., a former distinguished member of the Rhode Island House of

Representatives and Constance G. Byrnes; and

     WHEREAS, General Byrnes attended local schools, and graduated from Colt Memorial

High School in 1963. General Byrnes proceeded to attend Providence College where he attained a

bachelor's degree in 1967 and was an ROTC student. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as

an Artillery Officer in the United States Army; and

     WHEREAS, General Byrnes served our nation with honor and distinction in numerous

career assignments that have included being stationed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vietnam,

Wildflecken, Germany, El Paso, Texas, Hong Kong, and China; and

     WHEREAS, In 1973, General Byrnes attained a Master's degree in International

Relations from the University of New Hampshire. From 1982 to 1984, General Byrnes studied

Mandarin Chinese at the British Ministry of Defense Chinese Language School in both Hong

Kong and at Beijing University. General Byrnes is also an honor graduate of both the United

States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Naval War College,

where he served as an Army Senior Fellow; and

     WHEREAS, In 1987, General Byrnes served as a military liaison officer to the United

States Consulate in Hong Kong. From 1991 to 1997, he was assigned to the United States

Embassy in Beijing, China, to serve as the United States Defense Attaché to China.

Simultaneously, he served as the first American Defense Attaché to Mongolia; and

     WHEREAS, General Byrnes retired from the United States Army on January 1, 1998,

after thirty years of honorable and devoted service to our nation. In 2009, General Byrnes was

inducted into the Defense Intelligence Agency's Attaché Hall of Fame. General Byrnes received

numerous awards and honors in recognition of his distinguished military career, including the

Combat Infantryman's Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Defense Distinguished Service Medal,

Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army

Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal; and

     WHEREAS, General Byrnes also had a distinguished private sector career. He helped

numerous United States companies access the massive Chinese market. From 1998 to 2006 he

worked for Rockwell International Operations in China, where he reported directly to the

Rockwell President and COO and was responsible for all Rockwell International Operations.

From 2006 to 2008, he served as the President of Tyco International in China, where he was

responsible for establishing Tyco's corporate operations in China, and for promoting Tyco's

diverse business interests in China. General Byrnes lived and worked in China for more than

twenty years. General Byrnes was very active in community affairs and was a Board Member of

numerous American business associations; and

     WHEREAS, In 2008, General Byrnes returned to Bristol and became very involved in

community affairs, where he served as the Patriotic Speaker at the 2000 Bristol Fourth of July

celebration, was an original member of the Kickemuit Education Foundation, Chair of the Bristol

Economic Development Commission since 2009, Team Leader for the Bristol Comprehensive

Plan Update from 2007 to 2008, served as an advisor to the Rhode Island Economic Corporation

China, was the owner of a local business, Olde China Trader, and volunteered his time in support

of numerous other local and statewide civic and charitable endeavors; and

     WHEREAS, Besides his wife, Marie-Elena, General Byrnes leaves behind his children,

Christopher John Byrnes, and his wife, Emily, Meredith Byrnes Turner, and Patrick Michael

Byrnes and his wife, Kristin, and four grandchildren, Megan Alana Byrnes, Thomas Michael

Byrnes, Declan Christopher Byrnes and Aiden Michael Byrnes. He is also survived by his

siblings, Christopher Byrnes and his wife, Mary, CWO John Fitzgerald Byrnes, United States

Coast Guard Retired and his wife, Kitty, Judith Byrnes, Anne Byrnes-Bailey and her husband,

Darryl, and Barbara Robinson and her husband, Dean; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

LC000602 - Page 2 of 3

extends its deepest condolences to the Byrnes Family on the passing of Brigadier General

Michael T. Byrnes, United States Army, Retired; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Marie Elena-Fasano and Family.

========

LC000602

========

LC000602 - Page 3 of 3