George Massle Gividen

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Andy Chacon on November 18, 2006:

George Massie Gividen, Jr. Born April 3, 1929 - Died August 8, 1998 George Massie Gividen, Jr. was born in Kentucky on 3 April 1929. He was appointed to West Point from the 2nd Congressional District. George had prior service in the Marine Corps and he came to West Point with one purpose, to become a good Infantry Officer. Central area bears the scars of his Infantry training. His pet peeve was academics; his first love the PE department. He got a Minor A in Gymnastics and was on the weight lifting club all four years. The Debate Council and the Post Sunday School provided him the opportunity to mold his many activities into a solid group of life principles which characterize those of an outstanding military officer. Having served in the Marines, before entering West Point, on graduation George went in the Infantry. He served with the 25th Infantry Division in Korea where he was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism and valor, involving extraordinary risk of life in connection with military operations against the enemy, as well as the Commendation Ribbon, five Purple Hearts, and the Combat Infantry Badge. In the process George lost a leg, but you would not know it as he continued on active military service long after the mishap. George was assigned to the Staff & Faculty of the Tactical Infantry Center at Fort Benning from 1953 to 1955. He earned a Master of Science degree from Vanderbilt University in 1957 and was awarded the Soldiers' Medal for saving a man's life. He was then assigned to the Tactical Department at West Point from 1957 until 1960 and was awarded a second Commendation Ribbon. George retired disabled as a Captain in 1960, but not before being awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service, his last military decoration. He was soon doing what he was trained for and loved as Chief of the Army Research Institute Field Unit where he served until 1990. George has been busy with community service as well, even though his service connected back injuries aggravated by Parkinson's disease have left him essentially paralyzed from the neck down. In 1985 he was elected to the Copperas Cove City Council and in 1996 he was presented the "Golden Deeds Award" for his eleven years of dedicated service on the city council. George died at Fort Hood, Texas on August 8, 1998. Funeral services were held on 11 August at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Copperas Cove, TX. He was buried on August 13, 1998 at Columbus, Georgia with full military honors. Among those attending the funeral were Bill Spence and Gil Stephenson. The class provided flowers at the cemetery. His first wife, June Hudson Gividen, and two sons, George Massie Gividen III and Terry Myers preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Barbara; sons J. Richard Gividen of Dale City, VA; J. Michael Gividen of San Marcos; Floyd Camp, and Shawn D. Camp of Copperas Cove; and Rickey L. Myers of Amarillo; daughters Deborah G. Bray of Marble Falls; Kathryn L Gividen of St. Petersburg, FL; Penny S Boyce of Lampasas; Samantha A. Camp of Copperas Cove; brother Robert Hootman Gividen of Waynesville, PA; and 21 grandchildren! George and his wife Barbara made their home in Copperas Cove, Texas, literally on Easy Street. Footnote - George was the only classmate who had more demerits than I during beast barracks. Those demerits had to have something to do with the building of George's character and stick-to-it-tive-ness. George you are one of our heros. You earned the Distinguisned Service Cross and five Purple Hearts in your chosen career. You also distinguished yourself in civil life as a public official in Coppers Cove, Texas. A mighty little giant of the Class of 1951, indeed. It has been my pleasure to prepare your nomination for induction into the Ranger Hall of Fame and to escort your wife Barbara for the ceremonies as you were inducted on July 8,2004. To view click on: Rangers or: RHOF George was also an Infantryman. For the Infantryman's Creed click: Creed ufa

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