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When <em>George Eyster </em>died in Vietnam, West Point, the Army, and America lost a devoted son, a completely dedicated officer, and one of the most considerate men we have ever known.</p>
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Just two days before his death George had taken a sniper’s bullet and was wounded seriously. Despite the gravity of the wound, George was making excellent progress and was on his way to what was hoped would be full recovery. But he suffered a pulmonary embolism in spite of the best efforts of the doctors, and George passed away. All of us were the losers.</p>
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George was bom into an Army family at Galveston, Texas, on 27 March 1923, and spent his childhood at a succession of Army posts: West Point, Monmouth, Benning, Sill, and Leavenworth. His father’s other stations included Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. Throughout all these formative years, young George was an active participant in Scouting, in Episcopal Church work, and in sports.</p>
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On 6 June 1945, the day after his graduation, George married Harriet La Roche, his childhood sweetheart. For their first post, they went to Camp Hood, Texas, where George was assigned to the Tank Destroyer School. George left Camp Hood for an assignment with the 86th Infantry Division, then in the Philippines. Only a short time after he joined the division he was named as aide to the commanding general, AFWESPAC. Harriet joined George in the Philippines in 1946, and for a time George served with the 12th Philippine Scout Division.</p>
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The Eysters were transferred to Japan in 1949 and his assignments over the next four years included: aide to the chief of staff, FECOM; G4 Section, USARPAC; 15th Infantry; 3d Infantry; Korea; and Washington, D.C. During the year 1953-54, Eyster was a student in the advanced course at Fort Benning.</p>
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After completing the course at Benning, there was a short tour with Joint Task Force Seven at Eniwetok before reassignment back to Benning—with the 3d Division. George attended the Command and General Staff College at Leavenworth in 1957-58, but he was back at Benning again in 1958 with an assignment in The Infantry Center. Later he became executive officer of the 58th Armored Infantry.</p>
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In mid-1961 George and his family returned to Hawaii where George was assigned to the G1 Section of USARPAC at Fort Shafter. He would eventually serve as Secretary of the General Staff at USARPAC before completing his tour in Hawaii.</p>
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In July 1965, Eyster assumed command of the 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, and took that unit to Vietnam. He was commanding this battalion when he received the wound that resulted in his death.</p>
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George Eyster was one of the world’s most wonderful gentlemen. Withal he was a true professional—forceful, imaginative, and an inspiring leader. In sum, he was a grand guy, a dedicated dad, a happy husband.</p>
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Surviving him are: his wife, Harriet; his daughters, Lauren and Roma; his sons, George and Scott; and his mother, Mrs. George S. Eyster Sr., widow of Brigadier General Eyster, USMA August 1917.</p>
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The multitude of his loved ones, his friends, and his associates, all will sorely miss this wonderful man who devoted himself so completely to his family, to his profession, and to his God and Country.</p>
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<em>—R.G.K.</em></p>