Eugene F. Deutsch

Eugene F. Deutsch was born in Kearny, New Jersey in April 1929. He served two periods of duty in the New Jersey Army National Guard during the Cold War era, initially from 1948 to 1955 and later from 1971 to 1989. Deutsch served at Fort Dix, Newark, and Elizabeth, New Jersey, as well as Pine Camp (Fort Drum) New York.

When he was in fourth grade, Deutsch’s family moved to Elizabeth in Union County, New Jersey. With two sisters who were much older than him, he grew up often feeling like an only child. Nonetheless, Deutsch had good memories of his childhood.

As a teenager, Deutsch attended Thomas Jefferson High School. It was an all-boys school, and the first public high school in the United States to initiate a military pre-induction physical training program during World War II. Attending high school during that conflict, Deutsch recalled that the program was rigorous, as students had to run a minimum of three miles a day, and complete an intense obstacle course.

Following his high school graduation, Deutsch studied accounting at Rutgers University in Newark, and later received his master’s degree. He always had an interest in the military, and hoped to go on active duty following the completion of his college education. Deutsch began his service while still an undergraduate student.

With the start of the Cold War, the wartime draft was reinstated in 1948. There were three options other than the draft available to young men like Deutsch: a college student temporary deferment, voluntarily enlisting in the military, or serving six years in a military reserve component, which included the state based National Guard. He enlisted in the New Jersey Army National Guard.

After completing basic training at Fort Drum, Deutsch joined the 188th Combat Engineer Battalion. Due to his accounting skills, he transferred to the Finance Detachment of the 50th Armored Division. Between his junior and senior year of college, Deutsch was told that President Truman would activate the division, yet did not. Due to his increasing involvement in state and local politics and public affairs in civilian life, Deutsch was reassigned to the Public Information Office of the 50th Armored Division, today known as the Office of Public Affairs. He believed that his deep knowledge and understanding of “navigating politics” benefited him during his service and made him stand out.

Deutsch left the National Guard in 1955 after finishing his term of service. He had become heavily involved in politics as an active Republican, and served as deputy commissioner of Community Affairs under Governor William Cahill. Later, Deutsch served as an aide to the late Francis X. McDermott of the New Jersey Senate. Click here to learn more about his career in politics and public affairs. In addition to this, Deutsch also worked for AMAX, selling steel for the construction of buildings such as the World Trade Center.

Several years after completing his term of service, Deutsch decided to rejoin the National Guard. In 1971, he was commissioned and sworn in with the rank of major in the Adjutant General’s Office, where he worked on public affairs. Deutsch retired in 1989.

Deutsch led a successful life of service, lending his talents not only to the military, but other aspects of society as well, including politics, public affairs, and infrastructural industry. When asked if he felt satisfied enough to do his life again the same way, he stated:

“There are great amounts of people who forget what you have done for them. There are a few who remember, and it is worth it.”

It is this sentiment that contributed to Deutsch’s desire to continue working well into his eighties. Nonetheless, even though he was known for his many contributions to society, he was also known for his love of travel and his love of his family.

Eugene F. “Gene” Deutsch passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of ninety. His wife Barbara G. Deutsch passed away several years before in 2014. They left behind two children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and four grandchildren.