STEWART C. MEYER

MEYER STEWART CANFIELD MEYER Major General Stewart C. Meyer, 91, died on December 31, 2012 in Harker Heights, Texas. He was born April 14, 1921, in El Paso, TX, to Agnes and Brig. Gen. Vincent Meyer, a 1911 graduate of the Naval Academy, who fought with Pershing on the Mexican border. Stewart's education included Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, and West Point, where he graduated in January, 1943, six months early due to WWII. General Meyer entered WWII at D-day plus 10 as a Field Artillery officer in the 3rd Armored Division, and was wounded in Stolberg, Germany. After recovering in a London hospital, he returned to his Division and came upon what he later described as the worst experience of his 36 military years. When his group liberated the concentration camp at Nordhausen, Germany, he witnessed firsthand man's inhumanity to man. In 1950, General Meyer graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master's degree in mechanical engineering. He served in Korea as a battalion commander and staff section division chief at 8th Army headquarters. He later served two tours in Vietnam, concluding in 1970 as commander of XXIV Corps Artillery. He retired in 1979 as manager of the Ballistic Missile Defense program at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. General Meyer's awards include Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with 5 oak leaf clusters and "V" device, an Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters, an Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and a Purple Heart. He also held the Senior Parachutist Badge and Office of Secretary of Defense Identity badge. His wartime combat campaigns included Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, Vietnam counteroffensive II, III, VII, Tet Counteroffensive1969, and Sanctuary Counteroffensive. In retirement in Texas, General Meyer served his community as Mayor of Harker Heights from 1993 to 1997, president of the Kiwanis Club, vice president of the Central Texas College foundation, and senior warden of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church. Among his passions were literacy and democracy. It gave him great pleasure to help establish the first Harker Heights library and to spearhead a successful "get out the vote" campaign. Ed Mullen, a past Mayor, recalled "Stew was a man with ironclad integrity, deep religious beliefs, a sense of humor and love for country and community." In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Vincent Meyer. Survivors include his wife, Mari of Harker Heights, TX; and step-children, Louis Morton and wife, Juneva, Parker Meyer and wife, Deanna, John Morton, Leslie Green and husband, Brady; six step-grandchildren and one step-great-granddaughter. He is also survived by his first wife, Jane Meyer of McLean, VA; three daughters, Anne Parker and husband, Jerome, Peggy Surdyk and husband, Tom and KK Meyer and husband, Steven Seligman. He is also survived by his two granddaughters, Dr. Kathryn Surdyk Dorsey and husband, Christopher and Dr. Morgan Surdyk Francis and husband, Adam; a great-granddaughter, Jane Surdyk Dorsey and nieces, Betsy Meyer Anderson and Kimbrough Meyer Ford. General Meyer was buried in Killeen, TX. A wreath laying ceremony in his honor is scheduled for Sunday, April 14 at 12:15 p.m. at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. Following the ceremony, the family invites friends and family to a gathering in Arlington. Please call Tom and Peggy Surdyk at 703-969-5952 for more information. He was a fabulous father and grandfather, with a great sense of humor, especially when directed at himself, and always had an unflagging interest in whatever was happening in our lives.He was a fabulous father and grandfather, with a great sense of humor, especially when directed at himself, and always had an unflagging interest in whatever was happening in our lives.