Richard Searcy Sweet – Brigadier General, United States Army

From a contemporary press reports:

Richard Searcy Sweet a retired Army Brigadier General, age 65, died July 27, 1994 at Walter Reed Army Hospital of complications after surgery for lung cancer. He lived in Issue, Maryland.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he graduated in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Rhode Island. Upon graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and served in the Korean War as a platoon leader and company commander with the 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division.

He graduated from the Infantry School in 1957 and in 1964 graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College. He received a master’s in business administration the following year from Syracuse University. In 1970, after serving in Vietnam War, he graduated from the US Army War College.

In 1973-74 he was Commanding Officer of the 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. The next year he worked at the US Army Recruiting Command as Chief of Staff in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In 1975-76 he served as deputy dirrector for accession and retention at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His last Pentagon assignment was as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for personnel. He retired from the military in 1978.

From 1978 to 1980 he was deputy administrator for manpower at the Veterans Administration. He formed a consulting business, Sweet and Associates, in 1983.

He received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. His other medals include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Senior Parachutist Badge.

He is survived by his wife, Meredith Butler Billingsley Sweet of Issue; 3 daughters, Jennifer S. Large of Stafford, Virginia, Mary Getchen Johnson of Sterling, Virginia, and Kimberly B. Sweet of Owings Mill, Maryland; a son, Richard S. Jr of Annapolis, Maryland; a brother, Willard R. of Bristol, New Hampshire; and 6 grandchildren. Services will be at 11 am August 5 in the Post Chapel at Fort Myer, with interment afterward in Arlington National Cemetery. The family suggests that donations of sympathy be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Assn.

Combat Infantryman’s Badge

SWEET, RICHARD S

• BG   US ARMY
• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
• DATE OF BIRTH: 05/17/1929
• DATE OF DEATH: 07/27/1994
• DATE OF INTERMENT: 08/05/2000
• BURIED AT: SECTION 11  SITE 276 NH
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

SWEET, MEREDITH

• DATE OF BIRTH: 12/23/1936
• DATE OF DEATH: 11/03/2000
• DATE OF INTERMENT: 11/08/2000
• BURIED AT: SECTION 11  SITE 276 NH
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF SWEET, RICHARD S – BG US ARMY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard