AVERY SKINNER FULLERTON was born in Cleveland and raised in Albany, NY He was a remarkable student at the Albany Academy, where he was valedictorian, class president, head of the Literary Society, a Glee Club member, football drop-kicker, and editor for the school magazine and paper. Primed for a promising career in his father's architectural firm, Avery instead joined the Long Gray Line as one of the youngest members of the Class of '49.

At West Point, Avery's remarkable ability to circumvent academics left him time to devote to his humorous extracurricular activities. His likable personality, witty hi-jinks and love of life earned him the nickname "Falstaff." Once, an otherwise strict professor, established a football pool before an upcoming game, with the winner permitted to "fall out" at the next class session. Avery had picked the exact score, so knowing he would win, he came to class prepared. When the "P" entered the room, all came to attention except Avery. There he sat, chair tilted back, feet up on the desk, tie loosened, collar unbuttoned, sleeves halfway rolled up, an impish grin on his face, and smoking a big, long cigar. The professor, at first taken back, said, "Mr. Fullerton, I said the winner could fall out, not fall apart."

After graduation, Avery attended Ground General School at Ft. Riley and the Engineer School at Ft. Belvoir. He was at home on leave, preparing for duty in Japan, when the Korean War broke out. Assigned to the 65th Engineer Combat Battalion, 25th ID, the young platoon leader went to the Pusan perimeter, with a line so thin his soldiers could not see their comrades to the left or right.

During the Breakout, Avery was called forward so frequently to assess the bridges and roads that his platoon was moved to the head of the column. At one juncture, when the lead elements were stalled by enemy fire, he personally probed a minefield to establish its limits and permit the column to continue. When the Chinese surged across the Yalu River, Avery's unit, a part of the rear vanguard, blew up dozens of bridges along the major north-south route to allow time for an orderly retreat. By the time he left Korea in 1951, Avery had earned two Bronze Stars for Valor and was promoted to captain early.

After a two-year assignment at Ft. Leonard Wood, Avery went to Labrador, Canada, to construct radar units for the Distant Early Warning System (DEW Line). He met his future wife, Ann Bainbridge Bewick, in Saint John, New Brunswick. Avery and Ann married in 1954 and moved to Boston. Avery next attended MIT and Harvard to prepare for a USMA teaching assignment. A math instructor for four years, Avery split his time between teaching "Goats" and serving as the department Executive Officer.

After a year in school at Ft. Leavenworth, Avery was assigned to the 23rd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, in Germany, where he served as Executive Officer and Commander - his first of three battalion commands. From Germany, Avery returned stateside to attend the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk and the Air War College in Alabama, where he was a Distinguished Graduate in 1965.

From the Army Staff in the Pentagon, Avery volunteered for duty in Viet Nam, serving two tours during 1967-68. He was reunited with his old engineer battalion, the 65th, as commander. Through six major operations, Avery led the battalion with great aplomb, earning the affectionate nickname of "Buddha," because of his conspicuously baldpate. After a successful tour with the engineers, Avery accepted an offer to command the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry. Avery and his men captured the Viet Cong Propaganda Headquarters, earning GEN Westmoreland's praise. The printing presses, secreted in concrete bunkers in the deep jungle, were airlifted out and can be seen in the 25th Division Museum in Honolulu. Avery earned the Silver Star when his unit routed a numerically superior force after two days of relentless fighting at Trang Bang.

Following a tour in Washington, DC, at the Corps of Engineer Headquarters, Avery took over the Jacksonville District during 1969-72, then a national battleground for environmental issues. Harmonizing the conservation groups and state and federal agencies concerned with their water resources was perhaps the greatest challenge of Avery's career. Florida's report to the Council of State Governments cited Avery as "exceptional" in addressing the environmental concerns of the area. He was awarded the Great Seal of the State of Florida and received commendations from the governors of Puerto Rico and Florida.

Avery's last military assignment was as commander of the 138th Engineer Group. Eager to return to Florida, he retired from Active Duty in 1972. Back in Jacksonville, Avery began a second career as a civil engineer, with the lakes at Disney's Epcot Center one of his first projects.

Over time, Avery found himself taking on construction projects throughout the world. In the course of his work, Avery completed well over $ I billion worth of construction, including a hydroelectric station in Panama with 17 kilometers of shafts and tunnels and an underground powerhouse; two high rise buildings in Singapore; and a luxury hotel in the United Arab Emirate. At his last project in the Philippines, Avery served as Chief of Party for the Mt. Pinatubo Emergency Project in Manila and Central Luzon. He supervised construction of a USAID-funded hospital and a system of dikes, channel improvements, and dredging to alleviate flooding and contain the volcanic flow emanating from Mt. Pinatubo.

Avery and Ann were on a leave of absence in Melbourne, FL, their home since 1981, when Avery was diagnosed with cancer in 1996. He died in January 1997, still planning a return trip to the Philippines. Courageous, ingenious, and witty, Avery was an outstanding leader of American troups in and out of combat and a loving husband, father, and grandfather proud of his heritage. Avery fit well in the lines of the Welsh National Anthem he loved to sing, "He is bravest, he who leads us." He will be remembered as a great man with an unquenchable spirit and love of life who always rode to the sound of the guns.

Personal Eulogy