Silas E. Duncan III

United States Army Retired

Major Duncan graduated from Floydada High School in Floydada, Texas in 1959. As a student he was elected to attend Boys State, elected as Vice President and then President of the Student Council.

He enlisted in the Army in February, 1960 and completed basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was then assigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he was a member of the post honor guard and marched several times for President Eisenhower.

In 1963, he was transferred to the White House Communications Agency serving under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant and Awarded the Presidential Service Badge and Certificate and a Department of the Army Certificate of Achievement. In 1966, he was transferred to Vietnam where he worked for General Westmoreland at Headquarters, Military Assistance Command Vietnam. He was promoted to Sergeant First Class and awarded the Bronze Star. In 1968, he followed General Westmoreland to the Pentagon and served with him there. In 1969, he was nominated for special assignment to the staff of General of the Army (GOA) Omar Bradley. He was accepted by GOA Bradley. He was promoted to Warrant Officer in January, 1970, and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. GOA Bradley promoted him to Chief Warrant Officer 2 in January, 1971, and in October 1971, GOA Bradley promoted him to Captain. During this tour, he met and married Specialist Charlotte Bailey, the only female soldier ever assigned to GOA Bradley’s staff. Upon completion of his tour, he was awarded his second MSM and transferred to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana to attend the Adjutant General Officer Advance Course.

Captain Duncan completed the Officer Advance Course in 1974, and was transferred to Fort Rucker, AL, where he served as Chief of Student Personnel, Narrator of Ceremonies, Post Reenlistment Officer, and Unit/Station of Choice Recruiting Officer. While at fort Rucker, he was very active in Boy Scouts, Webelos, and Cub Scouts. He served as Committee Chairman, Webelos Den Leader, and Assistant Scout Master. At the end of this tour, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. In 1977, Captain Duncan went to the Defense Race Relations Institute at Patrick Air Force Base, FL. Upon successfully completing this courses, he was assigned to the 19th Support Command, Fort Henry, South Korea. He served as the Race Relations/Human Relations Officer for the Command, Aide de Camp for the Commanding General, and Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman for the Boy Scouts. He received his third Meritorious Service Medal and was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, 1st Cavalry Division. At the 1st Cavalry Division he was the Chief, Administrative Services Division. He was promoted to rank of Major and assumed the duties of Executive Officer. Again, he was active in the Boy Scouts, serving on the District Committee, and as Assistant Scoutmaster. He was awarded the District Award of Merit, the Good Shepherd’s Award and the Silver Beaver Award for his Boy Scout Service. He served on various committees and was Director of the Royal Ambassadors (boys youth group) at his new church home. He was awarded his 4th Meritorious Service Medal Major Duncan was transferred in January 1984 and served his next tour at the 193d Infantry Brigade, Panama. In Panama, Major Duncan served as Chief, Administrative Services Division, and was frequently the Acting Adjutant General in the absence of the Adjutant General. He served on the Executive Board Panama Canal Council Boy Scouts of America. He was awarded the Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit.

In 1985, he returned to Fort Hood and was assigned to the 13th Support Command where he served as Chief of Administrative Services. He retired from the Army on April 1, 1986. Major Duncan was recalled to active duty February 8, 1991, to June 30, 1991, in support of Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. He worked as a contractor to the Army Education Center, Fort Hood for several years, then with a local funeral home until he became permanently disabled in 2002.

Major Duncan was preceded in death by his father Silas JR; mother Iva Ruth; two Sisters Ruth Elaine and Sonja Jean.

Major Duncan is survived by his wife Charlotte “Charlie” of 50 years, one daughter Jeanna Rene Duncan Barnes (Jimmy), grandson Robert Barnes (Kyle), granddaughter Katelyn Glasgow (Jonathan) and two great grandchildren. His extended family is a son Christopher Hillary (Kandyce) and five great grandchildren. Two sisters Dorothy and Linda, 4 nephews, 4 nieces and 1 sister in law.