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From a very early age in Reading, Pennsylvania, <em>Arthur L. Meyer</em> had set West Point as his life’s goal. He tried year after year to win an appointment to the Academy and finally lucked into a congressional appointment as a first alternate. He waited and waited, and, on the morning of 2 July 1937, a telegram came from the Superintendent, USMA, telling him to report to the Academy at once.</p>
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Once in Colonel Thayer’s school, he never worried again. He became an academic hive, lettered in fencing, sang in the choir and was the leader of the cadet orchestra.</p>
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Art continued this relaxed intensity at his first unit in Camp Hulen, Texas and kept hustling through battery commander and battalion exec assignments with the 459th AAA AW Battalion and ended up in England training for the Normandy Invasion.</p>
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One month before D-Day the Provisional Machine Gun Battalion failed its dress rehearsal, and a call came from the Corps for a volunteer to replace the commander and to get the battalion ready to make the Overlord Invasion. Art was that volunteer and had one month to transform the outfit into a fighting unit. That he succeeded was proven by the fact that the battalion landed at H+30 minutes on Omaha Beach and was awarded the distinguished unit badge by the President of the United States for its accomplishments. For his part and valor, Art received the Silver Star. Following the war, there came an assignment at Fort Bliss as a Light Air Defense instructor and then three years in Sendia, Japan in the G-3 Section of XVI Corps. While in that job he had the honor of assisting in organizing the Japanese Self-Defense Force.</p>
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After Japan came a year at Leavenworth, C&GSC as a preliminary step to a job as CO, 66th Missile Battalion, part of the air defense of New York City. Following that we in the Air Defense know well where he went, as he took us round pegs and applied them to his square holes in the Officers Assignment and Schooling Director of TAGO in the Pentagon. Upon completing this tour of duty, Art rubbed his hands and said, “Now for my new assignment, at least Hawaii and probably better.” But his kindly boss was wiser and said, “Right, you’re off to Korea.” Like a good soldier, he spent 14 months in G-3 Eighth Army in Seoul and was rewarded by receiving his eagles.</p>
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Two fine assignments followed: G-l of the Air Defense Center back at Bliss and then IG of the Ryukyus Command for three years.</p>
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Being now within two years of retirement, Art was able to come back to his favorite post, Fort Bliss, and finish as director of Personnel and Community Activities until retirement 1 August 1971, SS-LM-MSM-CM.</p>
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In 1936 a lovely little brunette, Ruth Angstadt, and Art had fallen in love. Throughout his time at West Point she was his OAO—“a one-girl man,” the <em>Howitzer</em> reported. They were married immediately after graduation and over the years gained a family of four children, Ann, Jack, James, and Susan, who now are all happily married. Son Jack is in the Regular Army and a major in JAGG. Their children’s marriages have blessed them with thirteen grandchildren—-eight boys and five girls. Art and Ruth spent their time at home supporting every classical music activity in town as well as their Christ-centered church activities.</p>
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Art and Ruth were visiting their son Jack and his family in Bonn, Germany when Art was stricken by a heart attack and stroke in the railroad station in Remagen. Art, never regaining consciousness, died 27 June 1989.</p>
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Art had four great loves: first for the Lord; then for his wife Ruth and his entire family; the Army; and his music. Finally, Art would have said, “For me to live is Christ but to die is gain.”</p>