Dedication of the Major Chester Garrett Dining Facility

On June 4th 2014, Major Chester Garrett was memorialized in a dedication ceremony at McGregor Base Camp with the naming of the new mess facility as the "Major Chester Garrett Dining Facility". This was a culmination of months of work by Chapter Vice President Stephen Franzoni to recognize Major Chester Garrett valor and dedication to service of his country.

Photo below:  SFA Chapter IX Vice-President Steve Franzoni, Fort Bliss Garrison Commander COL Dayley, Chester Garrett's three sisters and his son.  

Major Chester Garrett was born in St Thomas, Virgin Islands on July 19th, 1941 and raised in Puerto Rico. He was a Boy Scout earning many badges including the Eagle Scout medal. A distinguished military hero, he enlisted in the Army in April of 1960 and was commissioned in March 1963. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Omaha Nebraska in 1969.




Major Garrett served in a variety of positions. His Officer assignments included: Personnel Officer, Company (Co) A, 8th Special Forces Group Airborne (SFGA), Ft Gulick, Canal Zone (CZ); Special Forces Operational Detachment–A (SFODA) Executive Officer (XO), Co A, 8th SFGA, Ft Gulick, CZ; Commander (Cdr), SFODA 341, Co A, 5th SFGA (Vietnam); Commander, Co C, 9th Battalion (Bn), 2nd Brigade (Bde) USATC, Ft Bragg, NC; Asst. XO, Headquarters 9th Bn, 2nd Basic Combat Training Bde, USATCI, Ft Bragg, NC; Intelligence Officer, 2nd Bde, 4th Infantry (Inf) Division (Div) (Vietnam); Operations Officer, 1st Bn, 12th Inf, 4th Inf Div (Vietnam); Operations Officer,2nd Bn, 5th Inf, 4th Inf Div (Vietnam); Operations Officer, 2nd Bn, 502 Inf, 101st Abn Div (Vietnam); XO 1st Bn, 501st Inf, 101st Abn Div (Vietnam); Operations Officer, 3rd Bn, 187th Inf, 101st Abn Div (Vietnam); XO, 1st Bn 5th SFGA, Cdr, Co D, 1st Bn, 5th SFGA, Ft Bragg, NC; Plans Officer, G3, US John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance, Ft Bragg, NC; Senior Advisor, Abn Bn, Combat Arms Training, Army Adv Gp, USMACV (Vietnam); Field Team Chief/Op Chief, JCRC USARPAC Thailand; Senior Instructor, C Battery, S&F Bn, The School Bde, US Army Air Defense School (USAADS); Bn XO, HQ Student Bn, The School Bde, USAADS, Ft Bliss, TX.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star 4th OLC w/V , Purple Heart 2nd OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal 7th Award, Army Commendation Medal 2nd OLC w/V, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Valorous Unit Citation, RVN Gallantry Cross with Gold Star, RVN Civil Actions Unit Citation, German Army Military Efficiency Award in Silver, RVN Parachute Badge Master Level, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, and Ranger tab.

Rest in Peace Major Garrett.  You are not forgotten.