David Ewing Foster – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Of Charlottesville, Virginia, formerly of Gordonsville, Virginia, died on Friday, January 23, 1998, at his Charlottesville, Virginia residence.

After graduation from Princeton University, Colonel Foster served in the Army Horse Artillery before World War II. In World War II he commanded C Battery, 255th Artillery in General Patton’s Third Army. A graduate of Fort Sill Artillery Officer’s Basic Course, of Fort Knox Armored School Advanced Course, of Fort Leavenworth Command and Staff College and the Army War College, he was instructor at the Vietnam Staff College, the Artillery and Missile School and the Air War College. He commanded the 17th Field Artillery Battalion and the Artillery Group at Fort Sill.

During the Cold War, he spent three years in Germany, three years in Vietnam and three years in the Western Pacific, based in Hawaii. In Vietnam, among other duties, he interpreted for President Ngo Dinh Diem and General Samuel T. Williams.

Upon retirement to Gordonsville, Virginia., he served on local hospital and library boards, was a member of the Keswick Hunt Club, Retired Officers Association, Miller Center Associates and Greencroft Club. Beloved husband of 50 years of Eileen Leonard Foster. Also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Services will be held Friday, February 6, 1998 at 11 a.m. at Fort Myer Chapel. Interment Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Albermarle Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 160, Charlottesville, VA 22402.

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