Posted by Deborah Lee Meek on November 29, 2014:

Carroll Stickney Meek 1927 - 2007 West Point Class of 1949 PERSONAL EULOGY Reflections from the Family -- by Deborah Meek, Carroll's Daughter "Duty, Honor, Country" are words we all associate with West Point. But in my Daddy's case, these are not just his school motto; they are a tenet in his life. My brother and I don't agree on much, but when both of us were asked, independently, to describe our Dad. Without hesitation, each of us chose these words: DUTY. HONOR. COUNTRY. "Duty, Honor, Country" sounds best when heard by Douglas MacArthur, in his deep, masculine, booming voice, addressing the troops, his call filled with passion. My voice can't do it justice. But, to me, these words sound sweetest when heard from memory - Knowing up close and personal - How a simple man like my Dad - will make sacrifices - all his life - to prove the meaning of what he believes. Whether it be an unpopular, political war, hardship tours that took him away from the family, or an assignment in a "no where" town for a mission that he did not particularly want to do, we watched our Father go where he was ordered, work to the best of his ability, serve his nation proudly, and bring honor to the position, himself and our family. Daddy was not a perfect man. Far from it. He smoked. He drank. He used profanity. A little too much profanity. When younger, he was strict and could be intimidating. Morgan Cox called this morning to say that when he saw the movie 'Patton', Patton was my Dad. You can just imagine. No one ever brought me home late for a date! But if Daddy had any real faults, it was in loving us too much and doing his 'duty' as our Father too well. The faults are Jim's and mine. Not Daddy's for trying. Daddy was honest, principled, intelligent. He had a quick wit and cynical humor that I already miss desperately. Dad adored our Mother. He never quite got over her death, and to me, it's especially poignant they were together this year for Valentines. Don't you hope they are dancing to Army Blue right this very minute? Daddy was a fabulous Father to me. He was my hero. Apparently he was a hero to others as well. The Silver Star and bronze medals attest to his bravery. Permit me to share one story, however, that, to me, describes my Father better than any of his ribbons. "You will never learn any younger," was a constant refrain for Dad. Boy how I hated this phrase! I knew I would soon be in the library figuring out what he wanted me to do. (For you younger folks, the library is where we used to go to learn before there was the Internet.) Daddy truly believed if you could read, you could do anything in the world you wanted to do. One year he decided to build a den in what was our attic. He bought a book on carpentry. He bought a book on plumbing. He bought a book on electrical wiring. You get the picture. One day I came home from school to see Daddy hanging from the roof, when the ladder would not quite reach, balancing on ropes to cut a hole through the exterior wall of the house. Dad had decided we needed a window and wall space for an air conditioner. Fearing for his life after attic sparks, the family finally begged Dad to hire an electrician, but he did the rest of the work himself - down to a special design in the stucco walls. Self-reliant. Resourceful. That was Dad. And in the end, of course, he built us a fabulous den. None of us here will ever, "Learn any Younger." Dad would challenge us to embrace the day, be fearless, read a book if we need to, then just 'get on with it'. Do our duties . . . to our families, to our country, bring honor to them and to ourselves. . . and have one heck of a good time along the way. What I would like Ariel, Trisha, Greg, Rebecca, to know about Dad: He was young once. Healthy, vital. He worked hard, and he was often gone. When he was gone, he sent tapes home daily so we could hear his voice and know he loved us. When he was home, we played. We traveled. He took us camping, horseback riding, swimming, to the World's Fair, to the Macy's Day parade, and, always, Nebo. At age 40, Dad could do the BX exercises the 18-year-olds could do. He loved to play golf (badly), squash, entertain, grill a mean steak, read, work puzzles, dance with Mom. For the last few decades Daddy was crippled with arthritis. He stopped going out much, so many of you have not seen him. But even after Daddy could no longer walk, and could barely move enough to transfer to a wheelchair, he refused to use a handicap sign. Dad was disabled, but he would not be crippled. He was hurting, but he would not complain. He was frustrated because his body would not do what his mind ordered it to do. But he never gave up. He lived with honor and as much dignity as the circumstances would allow. Daddy was my hero all my life. But he has been my special hero these last few years when his greatest enemy was his own body. This is when true grit, real courage and sheer determination prevailed. I started with a West Point phrase. Let me close with another. This is from the Alma Mater. And when our work is done, Our course on Earth is run. May it be said, "Well done!" Be thou at peace. Well done, Daddy. Thank you. I love you. Be thou at peace. OBITUARY May 24, 1927 -- February 12, 2007 Born: Fort Smith AR. Resident of Dardanelle and Russellville since 1934, x/o thirty year distinguished military career. Retired back to the area in 1979 where he has lived ever since. Education: Dardanelle Public Schools -- Grade School Kemper Military School and College, 1941-1945 West Point graduate, Class of 1949 Command & General Staff College, Army War College MBA, The University of Missouri Profession: Career Military Officer. Career highlights include: "Written up in Life Magazine for innovation in Vietnam War. Was first officer to mount artillery on barges to float down the rivers to protect the US servicemen better from the Viet Cong as well as to gain better firing position. The war was fought this way from that point forward. (Mobile Riverine Force - Mekong Delta Operations. Daddy placed a 105MM howitzer on an Ammo barge, using cleats and segments of telephone poles against which the trails of the howitzer rested. By use of aiming stakes placed ashore, routine fire support could be provided from the barges anchored securely against the river bank. Several designs were tested, and as a result of the experimentation, six barges were ultimately fabricated, and this was considered the most important equipment decision by the Army for the Mobile Riverine Force because the barges provided effective artillery support at all times.) "Was asked to serve as President of Kemper Military School and College (in addition to his existing military role as Professor of Military Science) where he helped keep the school financially afloat and operational during a period of anti-military sentiment after Vietnam. He also opened the school to female cadets. "Served as Tactical Officer at West Point. Both these positions gave Daddy a chance to 'give back' as a leader to the schools that had started his military career and contributed to his success. Giving back to the community and country was a major tenet in Dad's life. "Initiated or led many ROTC programs across the US, (TX, VA, UT, MO) including helping establish the ROTC program in Dardanelle, his hometown. "Field Artillery Officer with many decorations, including Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; Air Medal w "V" device -2 awards, Air Medal - 2nd award; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal w Oak Leaf Cluster; Army of Occupation Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Vietnam Service Medal w 3 Bronze Service Stars; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w Palm-unit. General Staff Identification Badge. . . . (others -- Note military discharge papers) Predeceased by: Wife: Barbara Jean Baker Meek (in 2004) Dardanelle hometown girl, daughter of Ira Linley Baker and Aline Petray Baker who ran BakerA-A?A1/2s Cleaners on Front Street Dardanelle for over 30 years). Mother: Lee Sims Meek Barger - Dardanelle resident then Russellville resident her whole life. Father: Feder Stickney Meek Survived by: Daughter: Deborah Lee Meek (Smith) of Houston, TX, with Granddaughter: Ariel Alexandra Smith in college in Fayetteville, AR Son: James Stickney Meek and wife Sharon of Little Rock, AR, with Granddaughter: McKenzie Shea Meek of Beecher, IL Brother and Sister in law: Thomas Linley and Kay Warren Baker of Dardanelle Memorials can be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars or Arkansas Hospice.

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