Eugene Standish

Colonel (Retired) Eugene W. Standish passed away July 15, 2011 at the age of 84. He was born September 4, 1926 in Medina, New York to C. Cleon Standish and Ethel Watson Standish. He grew up in Medina, NY and has been a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado since 1975.

He graduated from Medina High School in 1944, from the University of Buffalo (BS in Business Administration) in 1950, and from Webster College (MA) in 1979.

He served in the U. S. Army Air Force as an Air Cadet in World War II. He was commissioned 2nd Lt. in the New York National Guard an NGUS in 1950, and served until 1954 when entered the Army Reserve. He entered active service in 1959 and served until his retirement in 1979.

Duty assignments included a tour with XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, N.C. and the Dominican Republic, and with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY and Vietnam. Other assignments were in Korea, Germany and CONUS. His last assignment on active duty was in the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

He married Margareta Staaf on January 16, 1965 in Atlanta, GA. He is survived by his wife, and 4 sons; Paul, David, Charles and John, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

He was a life member of the 101st Airborne Division Association, and the Rocky Mountain Eagles Chapter, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

Inurnment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Memorials may be made to the 101st Airborne Division Association Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 929, Fort Campbell, KY.

Decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3 Awards), Air Medal with V (2 Awards) Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 Awards), World War II Victory Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with the Silver Star, Vietnam Service Medal with 5 campaign stars, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 X devices. Senior Parachutist Badge, German Army Marksmanship Award.