Col. John Henry Meyer (USA Ret.)

MEYER, JOHN HENRY, COL. USA (Ret.)

John Henry Meyer, 87, a retired Army Colonel, who was a decorated WWII battalion commander, died of heart failure on December 3, 2001 at his home in Charlottesville, VA. Col. Meyer was born in New Orleans in 1914 and grew up in his family home, "Promised Land" in Plaquemines Parish, LA. He attended the US Military Academy at West Point, NY and graduated in the class of 1939.

He was a battalion commander of the 8th US Infantry during the 4th Division's assault at Utah Beach in June 1944. He led his battalion across France through Luxemburg and Germany in five campaigns. After the war, he attended the Command and General Staff College and the National War College. He served as a Tactical Officer at West Point, on the Army Staff in War Plans Division, and on the staff of the National Security Council. In Germany during the Cold War years, he served as a Battle Group and Brigade Commander, and then, as Chief of Staff of the 3rd Infantry Division. After earning a Master's Degree at George Washington University in International Affairs, he joined the Faculty of the National War College before he retired in 1968.

Col. Meyer's military decorations include the Combat Infantryman's Badge, two Presidential Union Citations, the Silver Star medal, three Bronze Star medals, two Purple Hearts, the Legions of Merit, the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre and the Belgian Fourragere.

After his retirement from the Army, he became a realtor in Alexandria, VA, where he lived with his family for 30 years. Later he and his wife moved to Melbourne, FL before relocating to Charlottesville, VA.

Survivors include his two children, John Hampton Meyer of Alexandria, VA and Alice Meyer of Charlottesville, VA; and one granddaughter, Alice McNair Hughson of Charlottesville, VA. His wife, Mary Alice Hampton Meyer died in July 2001.