PARTAIN EDWARD A

COL Edward A. Partain was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/24/1996 at the age of 66.7 from heart attack
Carthage, NC
Date of Birth 06/26/1929
Served in the U.S. Army
This information was provided by SSN deceased search

More detail on this person: USMA Class of 1951. Cullum No. 18213. Edward Allen Partain was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Eugene and Zoe Partain (1891-1985). He grew up in Paragould, Arkansas. On the day he graduated from West Point, he married Fran Johnson, also from Paragould, whom he had known since first grade. From 1944 to 1947 he attended Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois. Upon graduation from West Point in 1951 he received his commission in the Infantry. He was Deputy Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps and was the first American exchange officer with British Airborne Forces in Aldershot in the United Kingdom. He attended the United States Marine Corps Junior School during another exchange assignment. During Korea and Vietnam, he commanded a company and a battalion in combat. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters. For valor, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge with star and was wounded in action three times. He also earned the wings of an Army Aviator and the Master Parachutist Badge. One friend said of him, "He always respectfully listened to me, even when I spouted nonsense." He died in 1996 at his home of a massive heart attack. His wife, Fran and his only sibling, Gartly Partain were with him. Survivors included his wife, Fran; one son of Niceville, Florida; one daughter of Albuquerque, New Mexico; seven grandchildren and one brother, Eugene Gartly Partain (1930-2015). Memorial services were held at Emmanuel Episcopal, in Southern Pines, North Carolina where he was a member. Services were also held as West Point and his ashes were inurned in the Columbarium at the Old Cadet Chapel.

Burial information: United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, NY

This information was last updated 03/19/2020

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024