Edward C. Meyer
Encyclopedia
Edward Charles "Shy" Meyer (born December 11, 1928) was a United States Army
general and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.
on December 11, 1928. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy
in 1951 he was commissioned a second lieutenant and attended the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning
. His first assignment was as a platoon leader in Company C, 25th Armored Infantry Battalion in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952. After promotion to first lieutenant in July 1952 he served as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion staff officer with the 2/24th Infantry Regiment, also in Korea, until 1953. He next served in the 1st Officer Candidate Regiment, Infantry School from 1953 to 1954, afterwards serving as aide to the assistant commandant of the Infantry School, and then as an instructor in operations until 1957. During his time there he was promoted to temporary captain, in July 1956. He next graduated from the infantry officers advanced and basic airborne courses in 1957, continuing on to command Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Airborne Battle Group, 501st Infantry, from 1957 to 1958, followed by promotion to permanent captain in February, 1958 and command of the regiment's Company D from 1958 to 1959. After company command he attended the Command and General Staff College
at Fort Leavenworth
, graduating in 1960, and being promoted to temporary major in October of that year. He was next manpower control officer in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G–1, United States Army, Europe (Rear) from 1960 to 1961, and assistant executive and aide to the chief of staff at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe from 1961 to 1963. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1964, receiving a promotion to temporary lieutenant colonel in May 1964 and permanent major in June 1965. After graduation he served in the Coordination Division of the Office of the Chief of Staff until 1965.
from 1965 to 1966. Returning stateside, he graduated from the National War College
in 1967, then served in the Plans and Operations Division, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until 1969, promoted to temporary colonel in November 1968. He returned to Vietnam to command the 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), and then served as division chief of staff, leaving Vietnam in 1970.
from 1970 to 1971. He was promoted to temporary brigadier general in August 1971 and permanent brigadier general in June 1972. After promotion to flag rank he served as assistant division commander (support) of the 82d Airborne Division from 1971 to 1972, followed by assignment as deputy commandant of the Army War College from 1972 to 1973. He was next deputy chief of staff for operations, United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army until 1974, being promoted to temporary major general in August 1973. He was chosen as commanding general of the 3d Infantry Division
, United States Army, Europe from 1974 to 1975.
, the drummer for the band Lynrd Skynyrd. His son, Tom, is a political cartoonist who is married to Gretchen Nash and has a daughter named Mia.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
general and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.
Early Life and Career
Meyer was born in St. Marys, PennsylvaniaSt. Marys, Pennsylvania
St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,502 at the 2000 census. Originally a small, Bavarian Catholic town, St. Marys was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery and the first Benedictine convent in the United States. In 1992, the...
on December 11, 1928. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1951 he was commissioned a second lieutenant and attended the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
. His first assignment was as a platoon leader in Company C, 25th Armored Infantry Battalion in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952. After promotion to first lieutenant in July 1952 he served as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion staff officer with the 2/24th Infantry Regiment, also in Korea, until 1953. He next served in the 1st Officer Candidate Regiment, Infantry School from 1953 to 1954, afterwards serving as aide to the assistant commandant of the Infantry School, and then as an instructor in operations until 1957. During his time there he was promoted to temporary captain, in July 1956. He next graduated from the infantry officers advanced and basic airborne courses in 1957, continuing on to command Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Airborne Battle Group, 501st Infantry, from 1957 to 1958, followed by promotion to permanent captain in February, 1958 and command of the regiment's Company D from 1958 to 1959. After company command he attended the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, graduating in 1960, and being promoted to temporary major in October of that year. He was next manpower control officer in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G–1, United States Army, Europe (Rear) from 1960 to 1961, and assistant executive and aide to the chief of staff at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe from 1961 to 1963. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1964, receiving a promotion to temporary lieutenant colonel in May 1964 and permanent major in June 1965. After graduation he served in the Coordination Division of the Office of the Chief of Staff until 1965.
Vietnam War
He again returned to combat as deputy commander of the 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam, later taking command of the 2d Battalion, 5th CavalryU.S. 5th Cavalry Regiment
The 5th Cavalry Regiment is a historical unit of the United States Army that began its service in the decade prior to the American Civil War and continues in modified organizational format in the U.S. Army.-Nineteenth century:...
from 1965 to 1966. Returning stateside, he graduated from the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in 1967, then served in the Plans and Operations Division, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until 1969, promoted to temporary colonel in November 1968. He returned to Vietnam to command the 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), and then served as division chief of staff, leaving Vietnam in 1970.
Post-Vietnam War
Meyer was chosen as a federal executive fellow at the Brookings InstitutionBrookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
from 1970 to 1971. He was promoted to temporary brigadier general in August 1971 and permanent brigadier general in June 1972. After promotion to flag rank he served as assistant division commander (support) of the 82d Airborne Division from 1971 to 1972, followed by assignment as deputy commandant of the Army War College from 1972 to 1973. He was next deputy chief of staff for operations, United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army until 1974, being promoted to temporary major general in August 1973. He was chosen as commanding general of the 3d Infantry Division
U.S. 3d Infantry Division
The 3rd Infantry Division is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It is a direct subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and U.S. Army Forces Command...
, United States Army, Europe from 1974 to 1975.
Senior Commands and Chief of Staff
He moved to the Pentagon in 1975 as assistant deputy chief and deputy chief of staff for operations and plans, United States Army, and remained in that position until 1979. He was promoted to permanent colonel in March 1976, and temporary lieutenant general in October 1976, and general in June 1979, whereupon he was selected as Chief of Staff of the United States Army, a post he filled from June 22, 1979 to June 21, 1983. During his tenure he prosecuted an Army-wide modernization program with emphasis on quality over quantity, stressed the need for a long-term investment in land force materiel, and launched a unit-manning system to reduce personnel turbulence and to enhance readiness. Meyer retired from active service in June 1983.Personal life
Meyer married Carol McCunniff in 1954. He had five children. Three sons, Tom, Tim, and Doug; and two daughters, Nancy and Stuart. His daughter, Nancy, is an actress who is married to Michael CartelloneMichael Cartellone
Michael Cartellone born in 1962 is the current drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd , and the former drummer of Damn Yankees and Accept . He is also an accomplished painter, having done so for many years. Before joining Damn Yankees, Tommy Shaw, both of Styx and Damn Yankees, recalled Michael painting...
, the drummer for the band Lynrd Skynyrd. His son, Tom, is a political cartoonist who is married to Gretchen Nash and has a daughter named Mia.
Promotion dates
| Rank | Temporary | Permanent |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lieutenant | -- | June 1951 |
| First Lieutenant | -- | July 1952 |
| Captain | July 1956 | February 1958 |
| Major Major (United States) In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel... | October 1960 | June 1965 |
| Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay... | May 1964 | June 1972 |
| Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... | November 1968 | March 1976 | Brigadier General Brigadier general (United States) A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed... | August 1971 | ? | Major General Major general (United States) In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general... | August 1973 | ? | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General (United States) In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general... | October 1976 | ? | General | ? | June 1979 |