Richard Stanley Fye – Brigadier General, United States Army

On April 5, 2008, Brigadier General (retired), Richard Stanley Fye, age 79, of Manhattan, Kansas, died at Mercy Regional Health Center.

General Frye was born January 10, 1929, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the son of John Harvey and Lucille (Wallace) Fye. He graduated from United States Military Academy with the class of 1950.

He received his masters degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California, and his MBA from Kansas State University. He is a graduate of the Artillery and Guided Missile School, US Army Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

General Fye assumed command of the Third ROTC Region in July 1979 and retired in 1980. He came to his command from Hawaii where he was Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 25th Infantry Division.

Other previous assignments include Chief, US Military Assistance Advisory Group, Ethiopia; Chief, European Division, Dep. Director for Politico-Military Affairs, J-5, Organization, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC. He had also served as Chief, Atlantic Division, and Chief of Security Operations Division, Operations Directorate, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations, US Army, Washington, DC; Chief, Combat Support Group, and Chief, Staff Group, Brigade and Battalion Operations Department, US Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Commander, 101st Airborne Division Artillery, Vietnam; and Executive Officer, 108th Artillery Group, Vietnam.

General Fye was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

He was the Assistant Dean of the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University and established the Fye Scholarship.

General Fye was a member of numerous service organizations including: Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, MOAA, AUSA, American Legion, Eisenhower Foundation, Veteran‘s Affairs Committee, and has made many generous gifts to other causes and pursuits.

On June 24, 1950, at Fort Meade, Maryland, he was married to Joan Pfeiffer. Mrs. Fye survives of the home.

Additional survivors include his five children and their families: Richard Fye of Paw Paw, West Virginia, Stephen Fye of Olney, Maryland, Ellen Fye of Silver Spring, Maryland, David Fye of Takoma Park, Maryland, and Ann Jacks of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one brother, Major General (retired) Robert W. Fye of Scottsdale, Arizona; and thirteen grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Colonel John H. Fye.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2008, at Main Post Chapel, Fort Riley, Kansas, with Chaplain (Captain) Daniel B. King officiating. Interment services will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery Chapel with burial following in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas State University Foundation for the General Scholarship Fund. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

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