<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<p><em>Douglas Charles Palmer</em> was born to the late Robert and Ella May Palmer on June 22, 1954 in Hornell, NY. He grew up in Elmira, NY with two brothers and a sister. Doug attended Elmira Southside High School, where he met his future wife, “Sue” Pierce (during the early years of their relationship “Sue” decided to go by “Fay,” causing some interesting confusion for Doug and many others). He was an Eagle Scout, participated in the science and A/V clubs, and played the trombone in the concert and marching bands. His favorite hobbies included reading and riding his motorcycle. He studied the regents advanced courses and the vocational technical courses, graduating with honors in 1972. </p>
<p>Doug enlisted in the Army, serving as an IHAWK radar technician at Fort Bliss, TX. One of his memorable lines was, “The best rank in the Army is spec four, living in the barracks, no responsibilities, and a lot of disposable income.”</p>
<p>While at Fort Bliss, Doug was encouraged to apply for a nomination to West Point. He entered the USMA Preparatory School in 1973 and joined the West Point Class of 1978 a year later. Doug spent his first two years in B-3 and graduated from E-4. He played two years of JV lacrosse and was a member of the SCUBA and Ski clubs.</p>
<p>With his prior service experience, the daily grind of West Point did not seem to affect him as much as others. He is remembered by many as the mature, sometimes cynical, perfectionist. In the most exacting of times, his fresh view of the situation turned hardship to humor. No irony of cadet life had a chance against his wit. </p>
<p>As a cadet, Doug was very methodical, hard working, and known for hitting the books. By his humble nature he sought assistance when needed and readily offered a helping hand. He enjoyed studying Russian and took great pleasure barking expressions to classmates and others who had to ask him to interpret.</p>
<p>As expected, Doug branched Air Defense Artillery (ADA). Shortly after graduation he and Fay were married in the Cadet Chapel. Several classmates participated in their wedding, including best man Doug Chapman, ushers Robert Platt and Tom Day, and sabre bearers Jim Budney and Jim Sample.</p>
<p>Their 20-year military career started at Fort Benning, GA with Airborne School, where they teamed up with Ted and Terri Maciuba. To save money, the couples tried to rent a two-bedroom apartment together and learned that it was illegal, immoral, or just not done in central Georgia. They rented a trailer in a questionable Columbus, GA neighborhood full of nightly sirens, the reek of Ben-Gay, and oppressive heat at dawn. The couples then moved to Fort Bliss, where Doug and Ted attended the ADA Officer Basic Course. The Palmers and Maciubas were neighbors in El Paso, TX, where they established a group of friends from the course and enjoyed a new-found domestic life. </p>
<p>Doug’s first assignment was as an IHAWK tactical control officer, platoon leader, and executive officer for B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 62nd ADA Regiment in Bitburg, Germany. Understanding the life of a soldier enabled Doug to quickly establish a rapport and to earn their respect. His IHAWK crew was known throughout the 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command as one of the best. He extended his tour to command C Battery, 2nd Battalion 62nd ADA in 1982. </p>
<p>The Palmers returned to Fort Bliss in 1983, where Doug attended the ADA Officer Advanced Course and took up long distance running. He then served as a program manager at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. True to form, he bought a pickup truck with a gun rack to “fit in with the locals.”</p>
<p>Doug’s next assignment was in Hanau, Germany with the 2nd Battalion, 43d ADA Regiment, for which he served as the battalion S-3 focused on training Patriot Missile crews. He was then assigned to U.S. Army Europe headquarters in Heidelberg, where he deployed for Operation Desert Shield. </p>
<p>Doug consistently balanced serving our country with enjoying his family. During their second tour in Germany, he served as the president of the PTA and as a Cub Scout leader. The family attended the ceremony for the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and brought home a few pieces of history. He never missed a birthday, even to the extent of making a short trip to the U.S. to surprise Fay.</p>
<p>Doug attended the U.S. Naval War College, earning a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies. He completed his military service on the staff and faculty of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. While there, Fay’s dream of owning a horse became a reality. Despite no riding background, Doug bought a very handsome tall standardbred named Seagram to enjoy riding with Fay.</p>
<p>After his retirement, the family returned to Madison, AL, where he worked for several defense contractors as a mechanical engineer, systems engineer, and program manager.</p>
<p>Doug and Fay were blessed with two children—Jordan and Lauren—four grandchildren and twins on the way. His family will always remember Doug for his quick wit and heavy sarcasm, which were always great for a laugh, and his uncanny ability to recall a never ending well of “dad jokes” at a moment’s notice.</p>
<p>Doug Palmer—husband, father, grandfather, classmate, soldier, leader—“Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.”</p>
<p><em>— Jack De Leon, Fay Palmer, Family and Classmates</em></p>
</body>
</html>