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Richard Ciccolella Obituary
MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD G. CICCOLELLA
U.S. ARMY (RETIRED)
RICHARD G. CICCOLELLA, a retired U.S. Army Major General and a native of Brooklyn, NY, died of natural causes on Friday, December 31, 2004 in Williamsburg, VA. He was 86.
General Ciccolella entered World War II as a Rifle Company Commander in the 16th Infantry, as the 1st Infantry Division fought its way through North Africa. During the war, he was awarded three Silver Stars and won two battlefield promotions, rising quickly from lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel. Wounded three times in Tunisia, he was evacuated for medical treatment in the United States but returned to Europe in October 1944 as Commander of the 141st Infantry Regiment. Following a breakthrough of the Siegfried Line, he led an assault on the city of Bad Tolz that resulted in the capture of Field Marshall von Runstedt, the ranking German General commanding the Western Sector of Europe.
After WW II, General Ciccolella served as the Profes of Military Science at Georgetown University and later, on the Army Staff in the Pentagon. His career took him to assignments in Turkey, Germany and Italy. In 1963, he was promoted to Brigadier General, and became the Assistant Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division. In 1966, he became the Army's youngest active duty Major General and was assigned as the Senior Member of the UN Armistice Commission in Korea. The following year, he became the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group and Commanding General of U.S. Military Forces in Taiwan. His tour in Taiwan was extended a year at the personal request of President Chiang Kai-Shek. He retired from the Army in 1973 as Deputy Commanding General of First Army, and settled at his farm in Mathews County, Virginia before moving to Kingsmill, Williamsburg.
After his military career, General Ciccolella served as a consultant on the Pacific and Far East with Cocke and Phillips International and the BDM Corporation.
General Ciccolella was a graduate of Harvard Business School and the National War College. His awards included the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, three Silver Stars, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor with Oak Leaf Cluster, three Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman Badge and numerous foreign decorations.
He was married to Dorothy E. Baughman of Montgomery Alabama for 42 years. Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Jean E. Ciccolella, of Kingsmill, Williamsburg, Virginia, his three sons, Richard, Charles, and Robert, all retired Army Colonels, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at NELSEN FUNERAL HOME, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg, VA on Tuesday, January 4, 2005, from 5 to 8 p.m. Interment, with full military honors, will be at Arlington National Cemetery, following funeral services at the Fort Myer Chapel at 9 a.m., Wednesday, February 9, 2005.
NELSEN FUNERAL HOME of Williamsburg, VA, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be registered online at www.nelsenfh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Ciccolella
Sponsored by Raymond and Barbara Ciccolella and family.
Steve Beach
April 10, 2017
Interesting someone mentioning the Generals stories of the Korean Armistice Commission. I was one of General Ciccolella's clerk typists, in Korea, and in my 10 years of active duty he was my very most respected of Leaders. Everything he did and said showed his excellent Commanding Leadership. My sincere respectful condolences to his Family and Friends.
Vic Beninate
September 16, 2012
Charlie and Family,
My Dad, Nic Beninate passed January 12,2012.
It is important to me to state how much he respected your Dad and appreciated his support.
To be blunt, Dad stated over and over he would have never attained the rank of full colonel without your Dad"s support.
Finally, Dad's enjoyed telling stories of you and your brother's time in Germany prior to serving in Verona. He felt like General Chic loved and was proud of you all through thick and thin!
Vic Beninate
phyliss ciccolella
April 15, 2012
god bless you chic
Bryce Bugg
July 15, 2010
In 1971, I was General Chic's neighbor in Mathews County, Virginia. I was also a 1Lt in the Virginia Guard headed for AT at (then) Camp Drum, New York. I stopped by to pay my respects and General Chic asked me very pointedly if our unit had all the equipment we needed. I told him that like most reserve units we were short some things, but we'ed scrounge it up somehow. With that, General Chick called the base commander and let him know in no uncertain terms that we were to have our pick of the equipment on hand and were to be treated as VIPs.
To put it politely, some senior officers, including a BG were a bit hot! Sorry fellas.
The story and my fond memories of General Chick survive to this day.
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Linda Marchman
March 3, 2005
Ray, How wonderful that you are able to return to Formia! In our brief time there several years ago, we found it to be a beautiful place that I wish I could get to know better. Please keep us updated as to your whereabouts when you go. Pop would have loved to hear all about it.
Ray Ciccolella
March 1, 2005
Remembering General Chic.
The Italian Mission 2000
During one of my calls to the General in May of 2000, I told him my wife Barbara and I would be touring Italy in August. I knew he would be interested, as he loved Italy and all things Italian.
He wanted to know about the trip and where we would be going. I gave him the details of the trip and as I finished, he said, “ Why don’t you go to Formia and see if you can find the family.” I was, for a moment, lost for words. It was an idea I had thought about, but in reality, it was really just a pipe dream. In response I said, “General, you were there and couldn’t find anyone.” My Aunt Angela and her brother Peter (the General’s first cousins) had also attempted to find our cousins during a trip in 1982. I said, “They a least spoke the language, I don’t.” The General followed up by saying, “Well, I think you should go.”
That was that! I don’t recall the rest of our conversation, but I was for sure on my way to Formia sometime while I was in Italy. The General’s point blank suggestion was now my mission!
Three days in Formia and I was back to Lorenzo Ciccolella in 1807 and all the way forward to our cousins in Formia, Rome and Milan. Was I that good! No way.
I was assisted by a number of twists of fate that had me meet a Jack Ciccolella, who knew my family in Brooklyn, but is not a relative. He also knew my Aunt Angela and Uncle Peter. Then in another twist of fate, I met the town historian, Michele Maddalena.
It was he who took me to the town hall where the records are kept. Three hours later my “mission” was completed.
The General was very pleased and so was I. I have met all our cousins since that trip and will be returning to Formia again this month.
george alsing
February 27, 2005
chic, it was a rare priveledge to
know you. god bless you and rest easy in the arms of the lord.
george alsing
February 27, 2005
chic, it was a rare priveledge to
know your. god bless you and rest well in the arms of the lord.
Robert Ciccolella
January 14, 2005
I will miss my Grandfather forever. He was truley a great man.
CPT Robert Ciccolella
Colin Horner
January 11, 2005
Allow mw to share a memory of General Ciccolella. My father was a peer of his going back to the "Big Red One" in the war and throughout their military careers. I remember our family visiting Gen. Ciccolella in Taiwan in 1969, staying with them in that beautiful MAC compound in Taipei. I will never forget that we all made sausage (Italian, of course) in his kitchen. It defines the saying that one's appetite for sausage can easily be curbed if you ever see it made! His stories about the time he spent with the Korean Armistice Commission were a true education! He was a one of a kind character who made a real impression upon me as a youth. My condolences!
Linda Marchman
January 7, 2005
I will miss my uncle forever.
Raymond Ciccolella
January 5, 2005
Everyone is special in some way. All equal in the sight of God, but like a snowflake, no two are ever the same. The General was truly an American original. A single casting, never to be repeated. You only had to meet him once to remember him for a lifetime.
At ease General.
Cousin Raymond and Barbara Ciccolella and family.
Kenneth Rodda
January 4, 2005
Sorry to hear of your loss. Ken and Linda Rodda Owners of your old home in Mathews.
Mr and Mrs. Todd
January 3, 2005
Our deepest condolences in this saddest of times. Peace be with you and yours.
Jimmy and Phyllis Todd.
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