Fillmore K. Mearns

Military career World War II Following the United States entry into World War II, Mearns graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1942

Mearns was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on 16/17 January 1944 when his unit was trying to cross the Rapido River during the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Postwar Mearns attended Columbia University studying Russian language and Soviet studies. He then served as G-3 of United States forces in Austria and as United States representative on the four-party Military Committee in Vienna.

On 3 August 1968 he handed over command of the 25th Infantry Division to Major General Ellis W. Williamson and became Deputy Commander, II Field Force, Vietnam and Commanding General, Capital Military Assistance Command.

He served as commander of VII Corps in West Germany from February 1971 to March 1973.

Personal life Mearns married Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Boles and they had three children, two daughters and one son. He remarried with Virginia "Jidge" (McConnell) Torcom after the death of her first husband and lived with her at Fripp Island.