Randall U. Pratt, Col. USA, Ret.

Randall Upson Pratt, Colonel, USA Retired, passed away on April 17, 2012 after a long illness. He was born on August 15, 1921, the youngest of three children born to David W. Pratt and Ada (Welton) Pratt in Plymouth, CT. He was educated in local schools and graduated from Terryville (CT) High School in 1939. After being named to an alternate appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, Randy entered the University of Connecticut in the fall on 1939. After three years as a Husky, where he participated on the football, baseball and rifle teams, he received his appointment to West Point and began his military career in July of 1942 as a plebe. He graduated in June, 1945 under the accelerated program instituted during World War II, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His first assignment was with the First Infantry Division in Europe. While there, he was given the honor of commanding the squad that fired the 21 gun salute during the funeral of General George Patton.

Many assignments were to follow in his 28 year military career, but none so significant as the one that sent him to Trieste, Italy in 1947-48. While there, he spotted a pretty American girl. So struck was he with her beauty that he remarked to a buddy, “I’m going to marry that girl!” Two years later he and “that girl,” Barbara Ruth Edsall of Bryn Mawr PA, were married at the Pratt family farm in Plymouth on February 18, 1949.

Subsequent military assignments sent the young, but soon to be growing, family all over the country and beyond. After Italy, Randy was assigned to the Pentagon (1948-51; son Stephen Welton born in 1950), Ft. Benning, GA for Advanced Officer Training School (1951-52; son David William born in 1952); a tour in Korea during that conflict (1952-53); Japan with the Central Command headquarters (1953-54); Ft. Leavenworth, KS (1954-55); Governor’s Island, NY with the First Army Headquarters; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with the 21st and 25th Infantry Divisions (son Richard Randall born in 1958; daughter Wendy Elizabeth born in 1959; son Scott Edsall born in 1961); then back to Virginia where he had assignments at both the Pentagon and Ft. Belvoir from 1961 to 1973, interrupted by a second thirteen month tour to Korea in 1967-68. When Randy retired in 1973, he was Director of the Combat Support Group, Combat Development Command at Fort Belvoir.

Only 52 when he retired, Randy received his real estate license in 1973 and then began a long and successful second career helping people find their dream homes. He first worked for Mount Vernon Realty and finished with ReMax. He was a many time member of the Million Dollar club. After forty years in the same house in North Springfield, Bar and Randy retired for good and moved to The Fairfax retirement community in 2001.

Randy and Barbara were long-time members of St. John’s Methodist Church in Springfield, where he was a member of the building committee for many years. They enjoyed traveling and took several cruises with family and friends.

Randy was pre-deceased by his parents and his brother William. He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 63 years, his sister Jane Moraghan, sons Steve (and Jenny), Dave, Rick, and Scott, daughter Wendy (and Matt) Milstead, Carol Pratt, ten grandchildren and four great grandsons.

Visitation was on Friday April 20th from 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd., Springfield, VA. The Funeral Service was celebrated at 2pm on Saturday, April 21 at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 5312 Backlick Rd., in Springfield, VA. Graveside Service with Full Honors will be Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 1:00pm at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St John’s United Methodist Church (www.saintjohnsumc.org) or Young Life (Central Fairfax ), 10523 Main St, Ste1, Fairfax, VA 22030-3310.