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Walter Edwin Meinzen NO. 16641 CLASS OF 1948 Died 22 December 1982 in Columbus, Georgia, aged 57 years. Interment: West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York WALTER EDWIN MEINZEN was born on 14 August 1925 at Fort Benjamin Harrison while his parents were en route to Fort Benning. He was the third of four children born to Colonel Lawrence William and Edna Markworth Meinzen. As a oungster, Walt traveled with his parents around the world with vacations in India, China, and a tour in the Philippines. It was not surprising that he fell in love with the Army and set his sights on West Point. Hard work and "Sully's" Prep School helped him earn a Presidential Appointment in 1944. Walt soon became known to his classmates as an open, energetic, bright, and confident cadet with a friendly smile. Classmates, sports, and academics were his priorities. A broken wrist precluded Corps Squad sports; however, he was a leader in virtually all intramural sports and many cadet activities. Graduating on 8 June 1948, Walt was commissioned a second lieutentant of Infantry and married the lady he loved, Katherine Becker Codling. Walt attended the Ground General School, the Basic Infantry Course, and served with the 350th Infantry in Austria (1949-52) where he gained valuable experience at platoon, company, and regimental staff level. During this period, Karen Elizabeth and Robert William Meinzen were born to his joy and delight. Returning to the States in August 1952, Walt gained additional experience with the 3rd Armored Division, served as aide-de-camp to the Commandant, US Army War College (1953-55), and was assigned to Fort Benning, where he graduated from the Infantry Advanced Course, Ranger, and Parachute Schools. Eager for more troop duty, he volunteered for a tour in Korea where he served again as a company commander and regimental staff officer with the 19th Infantry. Posted to West Point in December 1957, Walt served as Assistant S-3, United States Corps of Cadets, and then as Tactical Officer, Company D-l. This was followed by the Command and General Staff College, two years at Mississippi State University, earning his master of science in mechanical engineering, and two years utilization at Fort Benning with the Infantry Board. By this time the Vietnam War was heating up and Walt volunteered for combat. In October 1965, Walt was assigned as deputy G-4 of I Field Force Vietnam. He pitched into an overwhelming workload with determination, and was rewarded in March 1966 when he assumed command of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry. During the next ten months, his battalion experienced some of the toughest battles of the war, earned the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Valorous Unit Award. His brigade commander said of him, "Your leadership, aggressiveness, responsiveness, and results were outstanding." Despite such laurels, Walt consistently downgraded his role and passed credit to his men. That they admired and respected him was no surprise. Walt returned to Fort Benning in December 1966, served first with the Infantry School's Brigade and Battalion Operations Department and then as deputy director of Instruction. In 1968, he was assigned to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) as a student. Using his "spare time" to good advantage, he elected to earn two diplomas, one from ICAF and a second master's degree in business administration from George Washington University. Despite efforts to return to Vietnam for brigade command in 1969, his experience and academic background resulted in an assignment with OACSFOR, Department of the Army. He worked long and hard at his job, learned how to cut through bureaucracy, produced professional results, and constantly reminded the Military Personnel Center that he was available for combat. His efforts bore fruit. Once again, he was posted to Vietnam in September of 1970. Initially, Walt served as G-3, XXIV Corps, with the hopes of commanding a combat brigade. This was not to be. The phase down of US forces in Vietnam was underway and there were far more applicants for command than spaces. With the phase out of XXIV Corps, he was reassigned as the chief, Operations and Training Division, US Army Vietnam. In both assignments, he produced outstanding results. Returning to Washington in September 1971, Walt spent a brief tour with Office of the Chief of Research and Development, Department of the Army. One year later he was selected as president of the US Army Infantry Board. His tenure lasted for six critical years. The modern Infantry weapons and equipment in the hands of our soldiers today, and those coming on line, are due in large part to his vision, knowledge, drive, and leadership. One can best summarize Walt's military career by the valor and meritorious achievement awards which he received: the Silver Star for gallantry in action; the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster and V for heroism in ground combat; the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; the Air Medal, Sixth Award with V for heroism in aerial flight; the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster; Gallantry Cross with Palm (Republic of Vietnam); and the Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class (Republic of Vietnam). Retiring in June of 1978, Walt and Kathy settled in Columbus, Georgia. To Walt, "retirement" meant "new opportunities." Soon he was completely involved at Brookstone School, leading, working with youngsters, teaching, and coaching. To Walt, this was a continuation of the troop duty he loved so much. Unfortunately, illness intervened four years later. On 22 December 1982, Walt succumbed to cancer and joined the "Long Gray Line." Throughout his illness, his mental composure and courage were monumental, not only encouraging and sustaining his family, but his close friends as well. His daughter wrote of his leadership qualities, "the mechanics of living among, and inspiring others of varying ideals, flaws, personalities, and abilities, was a particular gift with which my father was blessed." To his loving wife, "he was a man of great courage and self-effacement, always a team player, always dedicated to the mission and the troops, and not to himself. As a husband and father, he was joyful, optimistic, loving, kind, fair . . . a man for all seasons." To his fellow soldiers, Walt was a born leader and one of a kind. To see his son, Rob, is to see Walt. His family and friends will cherish his memory and his confident, friendly smile for the rest of their lives. Patch '48

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