William Garrett Stewart – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

William Garrett Stewart, 80, an Army Colonel who commanded an Engineer Group in Vietnam and retired in 1975 as chief of the Army’s Engineer Strategic Study Group, died January 24, 2003, at Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington. He had Alzheimer’s disease.

Colonel Stewart, a McLean resident, was president of the Linton & Co. consulting firm and of Stewart Analysis Corp., a research firm that helped plan and prepare for mobilization during national emergencies.

Colonel Stewart was born in Independence, Misouri. He graduated in 1945 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and later received two master’s degrees. The first was in engineering from Harvard University, the second in international affairs from George Washington University. He also was a graduate of the Army War College.

Colonel Stewart served in Germany after World War II and in Japan during the Korean War. In Vietnam, he was a staff division chief and commanded a battalion of the 101st Airborne Division.

In Washington, he was director of the land force capabilities division in the office of the defense secretary and district engineer in the Army’s civil works and military construction program in the Great Lakes region.

His honors included two awards of the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal.

Colonel Stewart was an usher at Washington National Cathedral, head of the men’s group at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Arlington and a Boy Scout leader.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Zigrida M. Stewart of McLean; two children, Aino Z. Leedom and William G. Stewart II, both of Falls Church; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

STEWART, WILLIAM GARRETT, COL USA (Ret.)

On Friday, January 24, 2003, WILLIAM GARRETT STEWART of McLean, Virginia, beloved husband of Zigrida Stewart; father of William G. (Garry) Stewart II (Therese) and Aino (Charles M.) Leedom; grandfather of Kira, Erik and Andrew Leedom; Tanya, Tessa and Tina Munro.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 14 at 11 a.m. at The Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, Virginia with Full Military Honors. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Outreach Scholarship, 4000 Lorcum Lane, Arlington, Virginia 22207.

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