EDWARD REEVES GARTON, JR. was born in Millville, NJ. His path to West Point included graduation from Bordentown Military Institute in New Jersey, enlistment in the Army, and the USMA Preparatory School.  Upon graduation, Eddie joined the 3rd Armored Cavalry Rgiment at Ft. Meade, MD, and, a year later, accompanied the unit to Germany.  The assignment was fortuitous, as Eddie wrote in the class of ’60 30-Year Book: “In spite of a vow of bachelorhood to age 30, I succumbed to the French charm and married Nicole Botrel of La Baule, France.”  After two years in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Eddie and Nicole reluctantly left Europe.  Eddie went to the Infantry Advanced course at Ft. Benning, GA, before becoming Assistant S-3 for the 194th Armor Brigade. Four short months later, Eddie and Nicole moved to Paso Robles, where Eddie commanded a tank company at Camp Roberts.

Eddie’s first Viet Nam tour was as a province operations advisor.  This was followed by two years as an instructor at the Transportation School at Ft. Eustis, VA.  That relatively stable tour allowed Eddie time to focus on his family by running a Cub Scout pack and coaching Little League baseball.

The needs of the service required a second tour in Viet Nam, this time at MACV Headquarters during 1970-71.  Eddie managed to keep professional and personal lives balanced, and career progression took him to CGSC upon his return from Viet Nam.  That was a good tour for the family and for seeing old friends.  Eddie reported in the 30-Year Book that Nicole discovered a strong affection for golf at Ft. Leavenworth.

Following CGSC, the Gartons were able to return to Germany.  Eddie’s assignment with the 3rd Infantry Division included duty as Battalion Executive Officer, G-1, and on the Community Staff.  During this five-year tour, Eddie and Nicole saw a lot of Nicole’s family and a lot of Europe.  It was a great tour at the right time in their lives.

In 1977, Eddie’s alternate specialty in Personnel Management took the Gartons to Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, IN.  Ironically, Eddie spent most of the next four years as Executive Officer, Troop Brigade.

The year 1982 was a pivotal one for the Gartons, their son Tony graduated from the Air Force Academy, and their daughter Delphine graduated from high school and went on to Ball State University to earn a B.A. in French.  Eddie had earned a master’s degree at Ball State in 1981, the Gartons were thinking about settling down, and Indianapolis was a great spot to do so.   In Eddie’s words, “We decided Indianapolis was the place to live, and, in March 1982, I traded my greens’ for a business suit and joined a law firm as Legal Administrator.”

The civilian world was as fortunate to have Eddie as had been the military.  He threw himself into legal administration, and his “take charge” qualities helped in creating the Indiana Association of Legal Administrators, with Eddie serving as president for a time.  He also served as treasurer of the West Point Society of Indiana, and joined the Association of the U.S. Army.

One of the great measures of a man’s life is what he leaves behind in the way of memories for those who knew him and were close to him.  In the ’60 Howitzer, his E-2 companymates remember Eddie’s friendship and risk-taking qualities with, “Gung-Ho? I should say so.  When the dust has settled, the memory will remain; a helping hand, ever available advice, and unauthorized lights.”

Eddie was diagnosed with cancer in early 1998, and it was a great shock to all the plans he and Nicole had for the years to come.  He mounted a terrific fight—no surprise to those who knew him—but went down swinging on 1 August.  He took comfort in the thought of resting forever at West Point, where he was laid to rest with full military honors.  In attendance were his wife Nicole, son Tony, daughter Delphine, grandson Chandler Edward Garton Kehoe, relative, friends and classmates.

Eddie’s daughter Delphine wrote about her father, “When I was six years old, my mother, brother, and I were living with relatives in France while my father served in Viet Nam.  At some point, I became ill and ended up in the hospital, because my condition was serious and required surgery.  I was a sick and scared little girl, so as soon as my father was able to make arrangements for a leave, there he was at my bedside with his big smile.  Even then, my father was my hero.  He was always there for me.”

An attorney and friend in Eddie’s law firm, himself a former Ranger, gave the eulogy at Eddie’s funeral, saying, “Ed had two tours in Viet Nam.  In all my discussions with Ed, he rarely talked about those tours.  I do know that he was engaged in fighting and that he lost a number of his colleagues and West Pointers along the way.  I have come to learn that he personally save the life of a fellow soldier—in the middle of a firefight and deep in the rice paddies.  This fellow had been shot, but Ed went in under fire and pulled him out, saving his life. We knew this, because that soldier has told us so.

“We love you Ed, and we miss you. God speed to you, as you head for West Point, where you will find peace and eternal rest on the Plain overlooking the Hudson.”