David C. Meade

Summary

David Custis Meade (21 August 1940 – 9 October 2019)[1] was a major general in the United States Army who served as commanding officer of the 10th Mountain Division from August 1993 to July 1995. As division commander, he also served as commander of Multinational Forces Haiti from October 1994 to January 1995.

David C. Meade
Born(1940-08-21)21 August 1940
Washington, D.C., US
Died9 October 2019(2019-10-09) (aged 79)
Dover, New Hampshire, US
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1962–1995
RankMajor General
Commands held10th Mountain Division
7th Infantry Division Artillery
1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery Regiment
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (2)
Air Medal
Order of Military Merit

Early life and education edit

Born in Washington, D.C.[2] and raised in Bethesda, Maryland,[3] Meade graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase Senior High School in 1958.[4] He then attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, played lacrosse and earned an A.B. degree in 1962.[3] Meade participated in the Army ROTC program at Dickinson College and was commissioned a second lieutenant of artillery upon graduation. He later received a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia.[2]

Military career edit

During his career, Meade was deployed to Vietnam, Somalia, Haiti, Grenada and Panama.[2]

As a lieutenant colonel, Meade served as commander of the 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery Regiment.[5] As a colonel, he was given command of the 7th Infantry Division Artillery.[6]

As a major general, Meade supervised the deployment of 10th Mountain Division troops to Haiti in 1994 during Operation Uphold Democracy.[7]

In May 1995, Meade was conferred an honorary Doctor of Liberal Arts degree by his alma mater Dickinson College.[8][9] He retired from active duty later in 1995.[2]

Awards and decorations edit

Meade's military awards included:

  Defense Distinguished Service Medal
  Army Distinguished Service Medal
  Legion of Merit
  Bronze Star
  Meritorious Service Medal
  Air Medal
  Order of Military Merit (Commander, 1992; Brazil)[10]

Personal edit

Meade was married to Frances Meade. They had a daughter and two sons. After his first marriage ended in divorce, he remarried with Marina (Kalergis) Meade.[2]

After his death in Dover, New Hampshire,[2] Meade was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 28 July 2020.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Meade, David Custis". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "David Custis Meade". seacoastonline.com. 12–15 October 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b Microcosm ’62 (PDF). Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College. 1962. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. ^ The Pine Tree. Bethesda, Maryland: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Senior High School. 1958. p. 51.
  5. ^ "Commanders Update" (PDF). Field Artillery Journal. Vol. 46, no. 6. November–December 1978. p. 11. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Command Update: New Redleg Commanders" (PDF). Field Artillery Journal. Vol. 52, no. 5. September–October 1984. p. 23. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  7. ^ "10th Mountain Division (LI)". U.S. Army. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ Magazine, Sarah (16 March 1995). "Distinguished alumni to receive honorary degrees: Meade, Rambo, Waidner to be honored at Commencement ceremonies". The Dickinsonian. Vol. CXXX, no. 16. p. 1. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients". Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  10. ^ (in Portuguese) Decree of 21 July 1992.