Herbert Hugh Albritton

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on August 21, 2004:

Herbert Hugh Albritton Born November 7, 1928 - Died February 7, 1990 Herbert Hugh Albritton was born in Mulerry, Florida on 7 November 1928. Herb's love of the military started early in his life. While at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, he was captain of the ROTC. His leadership ability was present then, he was president of his class, on the student council, and was awarded the American Legion Award.. He went to the Univer-sity of Florida, and then received his appointment to West Point. His branch of service was the Artillery upon graduation. He served as a battery commander with the 16th Artillery, 4th Armored Division in Germany, and was also an S-3. While in Germany he was selected for Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in 1960. He received an accelerated promotion to Major. From Fort Leavenworth it was back again to Fort Sill, where he was selected as an exchange officer to the Canadian Artillery School at Camp Shilo, Manitoba, Canada. He took a three-year break beginning in 1962, which did not work out, so he rejoined the military. It was back to Fort Sill, and from there to Korea where he was a battalion commander. This was his second tour in Korea, his first being in 1952 with the 2nd Infantry Division. Next came a tour at the Pentagon in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; then Vietnam, Fort Richie, Maryland; and retirement as a Colonel in February 1977. After retirement, we lived in Front Royal, Virginia. Herb and I were divorced a few years after his retirement; after his remarriage, he returned to this area in Central Florida know as the Golden Triangle Area. Here we became the greatest of friends. In September 1989 he was diagnosed as having lung cancer, and on 7 February, he too joined the "Long Gray Line." His love of the military, and Duty, Honor, Country stayed with him always. His decorations and medals included the National Defense Service Medal with Oak leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, two overseas bars, Republic of Korea presidential unit Citation, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Herb was interred with full military honors in his family's gravesite in Zephyrhills, Florida. To me and to Herb's friends, he was known as an outstanding officer and gentleman, always devoted to the traditions of the United States Military Academy. (Elaine P. Albritton, friend & former wife of Herbert H. Albritton.) The Artilleryman's Creed is a click away at Artilleryman's Creed ufa

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