He was born on February 7, 1923 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His father worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and became Superintendent of Motive Power. He entered West Point on July 1, 1943 and graduated on June 4, 1946 as a second lieutenant of Calvary. His first assignment was to the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This was followed by a three-year tour in the European Command, first in the 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Austria, then in the 63rd Heavy Tank Battalion, 1st Infantry Division in Germany. He married the lovely Maryellin C. Longacre from Wilmington, Delaware, in Paris, France, while in Europe. Their first son, George III, was born in Heidelberg.
He returned to the States in 1950 and was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he commanded A Troop. He then attended the Armor Officer Advance Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where their first daughter, Heather, was born. After graduation in 1952, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Political Science at Tulane University in 1954. A second son, James,was born in New Orleans. This was followed by a tour at the Psychological War School at Fort Bragg from 1954-1957, where a third son, Matthew, was born.
He then had a tour in the Eighth Army in Korea from 1957-1958. On returning to the States, he was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division as S3 and XO of the 15th Cavalry Squadron from 1958-1960. This was followed by attendance at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. A fourth son, Peter was born in Rhode Island. After graduation in 1961, he became an exchange instructor at the Mexican Escuela Superior de Guerra and Assistant Army Attaché in Mexico City from 1961-1964. A second daughter, Mary, was born in Mexico City. On return to the States, he commanded the 2d Battalion, 67th Armor, 2d Armored Division from 1964-1966. A third daughter, Geneva, was born at Fort Hood. Then he went to Vietnam with the II Field Force Vietnam Staff.
He extended his tour in order to command the 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi from 1966-1967. He returned to the States to attend the Army War College graduation in 1968. He was assigned to the Army Staff from 1968-1969 and the Joint Staff 1969-1970 in the Pentagon. This was followed by command of the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Meade from 1970-1971 and a second tour in Vietnam from 1971-1972 as Senior Military Advisor in the III Corps Tactical Zone. On returning to the States, he became Chief of Staff at West Point from 1972-1975 serving under two Superintendents. He retired the first day of 1976 and went into Real Estate until 1992.
He earned the Silver Star, Legion of Merit Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, two commendations Medals, thirteen Air Medals, the Mexican Meritorious Military Medal and the Vietnamese Army Distinguished Service Medal.
Husband of 65 years, to the late Maryellin C. Webb, loving father of, George Webb III (Mary), Heather Webb, Matthew Webb (Karen), Mary Cummings (Dan), Peter Webb (Claire), and Geneva Park (Jim); 19 grandchildren; and 8great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved son, James. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 10:30am with internment following at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to, Monastery of the Poor Clares, 2503 Stone Hedge Dr., Alexandria, VA 22306
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