Posted by Lewis Sorley on July 4, 2013:

Jerry H. Huff 12 February 1934 -- 16 March 2013 Ruth, Deborah, Diana, Danielle: Thank you for allowing me the privilege of speaking about Jerry. And thank you to Jerry's sisters Judy and Jane and brother Jim. Origins: Jerry was a small town boy, born at home in the farming community of Blakesburg, Iowa, population about 500. There he became an Eagle Scout, lettered in sports, played first chair trumpet. After high school he spent a year at Iowa State University before entering West Point with the Class of 1956. His write-up in The Howitzer said with perfect accuracy that "his ready wit and sense of humor endeared him to all of us" and cited his "desire to do well, [and] his spirit and determination." Upon graduation he chose Armor as his branch. Tanker: Jerry spent two years in the Tank Company of the 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg. Then, after a year in Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division, he joined the 6th Armored Cavalry at Fort Knox, where he was one of half a dozen classmates then commanding troops in that regiment and joyfully engaged in fierce and ferocious competition. From there we all trooped across post to spend another rewarding year as classmates in the Armor Officer Advance Course. After earning a Master of Science degree in automotive engineering at Michigan, Jerry was assigned to teach in the Department of Ordnance at West Point. Next he went to Vietnam where, during an excellent combat tour in the 4th Cavalry and as an Assistant G-3 of the 25th Infantry Division, he was awarded four Bronze Star Medals, four Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. To finish up a fine 20-year career Jerry taught at Fort Leavenworth, served in the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, and helped develop and build a new tank. Abrams Tank: Jerry was assigned to the Project Manager's Office for the XM-1, eventually to become the Abrams main battle tank. Wrote General Bob Baer, who then headed up the tank program, Jerry was a "totally honest, candid and objective" officer. Said his immediate supervisor, Jerry "excels in pressure situations." Ford Motor Company: When Jerry retired from the Army he joined the Ford Motor Company. Said Jerry: "My father was a Service Manager in a Ford dealership and, before choosing the Army as a career when I was in high school, I had wanted to work as an engineer at Ford Motor Company, so I guess I have been true to myself after all." And, he added, "the automotive business is exciting and almost as demanding as the Army." During these years Jerry courted and married Ruth Dicklin. Jerry had two lovely daughters - Deborah and Diana - from an earlier marriage that ended in divorce, and now also developed a close and loving relationship with Ruth's daughter Danielle. At Ford Jerry rose quickly to successively higher levels of responsibility. In 1987 he accepted an assignment for Ford in South Korea, where he was responsible for building, launching, and operating an automotive components plant. As Vice President of the Korea Automotive Components Corporation, Jerry was also the only American in the company. That happy and highly successful assignment in Korea eventually extended to seven years. One slight shock came when Jerry discovered that, at a West Point Founders Day Dinner in Seoul, he was the oldest graduate present. Later Years: In 1994 Jerry retired from Ford. The succeeding years were active and happy ones. Jerry's many interests began with dogs, especially Samoyeds, five in all. One is honored in Jerry's email address: Sampson 12. Another, Stoli, provided company and comfort in Jerry's last days. Motorcycles were a life-long passion. Jerry also loved acting, begun in high school and continued at West Point and especially in Korea, where he was even called back after his retirement to do a reprise of a favored role with the Yongsan Players. Finally, Jerry served for many years as Scribe for his West Point class, conscientiously getting all the news and writing entertaining and informative columns for Assembly that featured his signature sign-off: May the Armored Force Be With You. Closing: Jerry epitomized the Army's great recruiting slogan of an earlier day: Be All You Can Be. He was a splendid soldier, a fine and decent man, a friend of great warmth and loyalty, a devoted member of the Long Gray Line. And he was fun to know. Ruth once remarked that Jerry was "a very complicated simple man." That seems just the right way to remember him. May he rest in peace. Lewis Sorley Presented at Memorial Chapel, Fort Myer, Virginia, 13 June 2013

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