Brigadier General Michael T. Byrnes, U.S. Army Ret, born on February 10, 1940, passed away after a long illness on January 9, 2023. A native of Bristol, he was a son of the late Thomas H. and Constance G. (Campanella) Byrnes, Jr. Michael’s father was a state representative, Bristol town administrator and a founder of the East Bay Bike Path.
Michael attended local schools graduating from Colt Memoria High School in 1963 and from Providence College in 1967, where he was a ROTC student. Upon graduation he was commissioned as an Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army.
His early military career included assignments in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vietnam, Wildflecken, Germany and El Paso, Texas. In 1973, General Byrnes received a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of New Hampshire.
From 1982 to 1984 he studied Mandarin Chinese at the British Ministry of Defense Chinese Language School in Hong Kong and at Beijing University. In 1987, he was posted to the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong as a military liaison officer. General Byrnes is an honor graduate of both the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Navy War College, where he served as an Army Senior Fellow.
From 1991 through 1997 he was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China as the U.S. Defense Attaché to China. Simultaneously, he was the first American Defense Attaché to Mongolia. General Byrnes was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1994, and he was selected for promotion to Major General in 1997. He retired from the U.S. Army on Jan. 1, 1998, after 30 years of service. In 2009 he was inducted into the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Attaché Hall of Fame.
General Byrnes’ awards and decorations include 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 Vietnam Service Medal.
In retirement, General Byrnes helped U.S. companies to access the China market. From 1998 to 2006, he worked for Rockwell International Operations in China and was responsible for all Rockwell International Operations. In 2006 to 2008 he was the president for Tyco’s corporate presence in China. In this position, he was responsible for establishing Tyco’s corporate presence in China and for promoting Tyco’s multi-faceted business capabilities and diverse business interests in the growing China market. General Byrnes lived and worked in China for more than 20 years.
Upon Michael’s return to his hometown of Bristol in 2008, he immediately immersed himself in an amazing array of community projects. For the next decade and a-half no one equaled the diversity of his activities. Most notable were his chair of the Bristol Economic Development Commission, vice-chair of the Citizens for Mount Hope Farm, Linden Place, a board member and chairman of its Investment Committee, member of the Downtown Bristol Merchants Association and proprietor of Olde China Trader, founder of the local British Motorcar Festival, and co-founder of Explore Bristol. In recognition of his contributions, he was named Patriotic Speaker of the Bristol Fourth of July Celebration in 2000, and East Bay Chamber Citizen of the Year 2013.
Michael’s engaging and dynamic personality earned him the love and admiration of his fellow Bristolians. They dedicated a plaque to his memory in the Burnside Memorial Honor Roll Garden on July 1, 2023. It reads: “Career soldier, combat wounded (Vietnam) patriot, diplomat, businessman, entrepreneur, epitome of civil leadership, tireless advocate of veterans, first responders, education, faith and family, Friend to many; respected by all.”
In 1968, Michael married Marie-Elena Fasano, also a Bristol native. They had three children: Christopher, Meredith, and Patrick. Michael was laid to rest with full military honors in Bristol’s North Burial Ground.
General Michael Byrnes was inducted into The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2024.