Posted by Terry Powers on January 22, 2023:

PHILIP R. FEIR 1949 Cullum No. 16988-1949 | July 14, 2011 | Died in Washington, DC Interred in West Point Cemetery, NY Philip Robert Feir was born in Bemidji, MN, the son of Marjorie L. and Abner E. Feir. He graduated from Bemidji High School in 1944 and enlisted in the Army shortly thereafter. While in high school, he captained the basketball team, was an all-state basketball player, and received honorable mention in all-state football. In 1945, he received a Congressional appointment to West Point. As a cadet, Phil was dubbed "the Paul Bunyan of the North." He was an A-Squad tackle on the Blanchard and Davis football team coached by Earl Blaik. He also excelled in lacrosse and, according to the Howitzer, "on the dance floor." He graduated in the spring of 1949 as an Infantry second lieutenant. His first troop assignment was in Trieste, Italy, with the 351st Infantry Regiment. Upon the completion of that assignment, he returned to the United States, where he was assigned to the ROTC detachment of the University of Wyoming. An assignment to the Advanced Infantry course at Fort Benning, GA, followed, where he became both Airborne and Ranger qualified. From 1956 to 1958, Phil served in Korea. Returning stateside once again, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology as a graduate student in electrical engineering. In the summer of 1960, he was subsequently assigned to the Department of Electricity at West Point as an instructor and later as associate professor. One of his students, Bob Ord, wrote, "General Feir was a huge positive influence in my life from my cadet days at West Point where he was a dynamic, caring Juice P (what cadet will ever forget 'the only thing to fear is Feir itself?') to our time together in the field." Another of his students, B.F. Miller, wrote, "Cadets at West Point have so many instructors, it is impossible to remember them all. One consensus exception for the Class of '63 was the Juice P, Fearless Phil Feir. His memory is burnt into the minds of all who got to sit in his section. What a great guy." Following graduation from the Command and Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, General Feir joined the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii and deployed with the unit to Vietnam as a lieutenant colonel where he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, fighting in the Central Highlands. During 1968-69, Phil was a student at the National War College in Washington, DC, and earned a master's degree from George Washington University. He spent the following year as a faculty member on the War College staff, before returning once again to Vietnam as a colonel where he served as the Commander, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. In 1971, he assumed command of 1st Brigade (Separate), 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, and following his selection for promotion to brigadier general became the Assistant Division Commander of the 25th Infantry Division. In 1972, Phil became the 55th Commandant of Cadets at West Point, serving until the spring of 1975. Douglas Brown, one of his cadets, posted, "The only thing we had to fear was Feir himself and boy, did I!" Jim Harris, Class of '75, wrote, "With fond remembrances of our Commandant while we were at school. He was indeed feared and appreciated. RIP General Feir." In 1975, Phil was assigned to the Pentagon as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Research, Development and Acquisition, Headquarters, Department of the Army, where he became the principal congressional witness for the multi-million dollar annual Army procurement program. In 1978, Phil received command of a division, the 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord. After two years in command, he reported to Frankfurt, Germany, as the Deputy Commanding General, 5th Corps. He retired in 1981, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal, having earlier been awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medals for gallantry in combat. In retirement, Phil worked as an associate and later vice president for Army programs with Burdeshaw Associates in Bethesda, MD, and later as a senior executive with an investment management company in Falls Church, VA. He also continued to pursue his passion for playing the piano, a talent to which he was truly accomplished, and his love of singing. A get-together at the Feir household often gravitated to the piano room, where all were encouraged to contribute to the trills that would emanate forth. "Friendly" Phil married Mary Deane Beiter on June 24, 1961, in Ancon, Republic of Panama, and joined the shadows of the Long Gray Line the day after Mary's birthday and the recent celebration of the couple's 50 years of marriage. He left behind not only Mary, but three wonderful children: Colonel Philip Thomas Feir (Retired), Class of 1985, Winchester, MA; Rebecca Feir Wellde of Vienna, VA; and Bobbie Feir Fetherston of Miami, FL; and six grandchildren. Quoting Bob Ord once again, "Throughout his military career, General Phil Feir demonstrated great sensitivity for people, commitment to excellence, and the perfect balance of the courage to command and the compassion to understand. God Bless you, Sir. See you on the objective."

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