David Ewing Ott

David E. Ott (31 July 1922 – 21 June 2004) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War, he served from 1944 to 1978 and attained the rank of lieutenant general. Ott's commands included the US Army Field Artillery School and US VII Corps, and his decorations included three awards of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star Medal (one with "V" for valor), the Distinguished Flying Cross, six awards of the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Ott was born at Schofield Barracks during his father's military career and attended schools in several states as his family traveled for his father's army assignments. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1944 and served in Europe during the closing days of World War II. Subsequent assignments included the faculty at the Field Artillery School and executive officer of a battalion during the Korean War. He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1957 and his subsequent postings included command of 2nd Battalion, 83rd Field Artillery Regiment. In 1963, he graduated from the United States Army War College and received a Master of Arts degree from George Washington University. He served in the Vietnam War in the mid-1960s, including assignment as commander of 25th Infantry Division Artillery.

Ott's later career included assignment as chief of the Field Artillery Branch and commander of United States Army Support, Thailand. In the early 1970s, he was director of the Secretary of Defense task force that planned the handover of the Vietnam War to the South Vietnamese military and the US military's departure from South Vietnam. From 1973 to 1976, he was commandant of the Field Artillery School. In 1976, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assigned to command the US VII Corps. After his 1978 army retirement, Ott was a consultant for Teledyne Technologies.

Early life

David Ewing Ott was born at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Territory on 31 July 1922, a son of Brigadier General Edward Stanley Ott Sr. and Denise Maria (Koch) Ott. He was educated at schools in Kansas, Washington, DC, and Georgia as the Ott family moved for his father's career, and he was a 1939 graduate of Columbus High School in Columbus, Georgia. After high school, Ott attended Auburn University until 1941, when he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point from Senator Theodore G. Bilbo. At graduation, he received his commission as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. After VE Day, he remained in Europe and served in Field Artillery assignments until being assigned to the Intelligence staff section (G-2) at Headquarters, US Army European Command. They were married until her death in April 2004 and were the parents of four children. In 1952, Ott graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course. After completing the staff college course, Ott was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as operations officer (S3) for the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery. In addition, he served as chairman of the board for the Army Distaff Foundation, and in this position he worked to expand life care facilities for military retirees and spouses in northern Virginia and in San Antonio, Texas. First Lieutenant (Regular Army), 6 June 1947 Major (Regular Army), 4 September 1957 Colonel (Army of the United States), 8 November 1965 Brigadier General (Army of the United States), 26 December 1968 Brigadier General (Regular Army), 24 July 1970 Major General (Regular Army), 4 June 1971 Lieutenant General (Regular Army), 17 September 1976