Edward C. Meyer

Edward Charles "Shy" Meyer (11 December 1928 – 13 October 2020) was a United States Army general who served as the 29th Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

Early life Meyer was born in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, on 11 December 1928. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1951 he was commissioned a second lieutenant and attended the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning.

Military career Meyer's first assignment was as a platoon leader in Company C, 25th Armored Infantry Battalion in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952. After promotion to first lieutenant in July 1952 he served as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion staff officer with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, also in Korea, until 1953. During his tenure he prosecuted an Army-wide modernization program with emphasis on quality over quantity, stressed the need for a long-term investment in land force materiel, and launched a unit-manning system to reduce personnel turbulence and to enhance readiness. Meyer was responsible for many improvements which transformed the US Army from having poor morale and discipline in the 1970s to a far more professional and capable force in the 1980s. Meyer retired from active service in June 1983.

Personal life Meyer married Carol McCunniff in 1954. Together they had five children; three sons, Tom, Tim, and Doug; and two daughters, Nancy and Stuart. His daughter, Nancy, is an actress who is married to Michael Cartellone, the drummer for the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. His son, Tom, is a political cartoonist who is married to Gretchen Nash and has a daughter named Mia. Tim is married to Lindsay with three children named Thomas, Christy, and Lauren. His son Doug is married to Barbara with two children named Caroline and Ethan. His daughter Stuart has a son named Josh Konz. Konz is married to Becky Keenan, and together they have Meyer's great-grandson, named Kieran.

Meyer died from pneumonia on 13 October 2020, in Arlington, Virginia, at the age of 91.

Promotion dates Rank Temporary Permanent 2nd lieutenant – June 1951 First lieutenant – July 1952 Captain July 1956 February 1958 Major October 1960 June 1965 Lieutenant colonel May 1964 June 1972 Colonel November 1968 March 1976 Brigadier general August 1971 ? Major general August 1973 ? Lieutenant general October 1976 ? General ? June 1979

Awards and decorations