At about 10:00 A.M., July 1, 1926, after a fast and hurried covering of four flights of stairs, I entered Room 144 of Old South Barracks. As I entered the door, out of breath and wild-eyed with excitement, a man rose from a chair and, extending his hand, said "My name is Terry, I guess we are roommates”. At that moment I met Frederick Garside Terry; at that moment, he and I became the closest of friends; at that moment we started a companionship which was to last through all four years at the Military Academy and which was to end with Fred's untimely death in action on Saipan on June 24, 1944. Fred and I lived together through Beast Barracks, Plebe, Yearling and Second Class years; then he, being a high ranking “make” was transferred to the “Lost Battalion” at the beginning of First Class year and there did an outstanding job of driving “L” Company.

Fred was born in Quincy, Illinois, on August 27, 1907. Both Fred’s parents were born in Kent, England and came to this country during the early years of their lives. Fred attended grammar school in Kankakee and East St. Louis, Illinois; he attended High School in East St. Louis, and after graduation there attended the University of Missouri for one year immediately prior to his receiving an appointment to West Point. Fred was appointed to the Military Academy from the 22d District of Illinois and started his Plebe year on July 1, 1926. During his four years at West Point, Fred was active in athletics, being on the basketball team for all four years; he was elected Secretary of his class during yearling year and held that office through his remaining years at the Point; during second class year, Fred was a high ranking corporal and during first class year, Fred was a cadet captain and efficiently “drove” L Company during his entire last year.

As a cadet, Fred used to sit back with his feet on his table, and “brag” about his plans of having his very own polo team when he graduated, married and settled down. His “brag” turned into reality. When Fred was killed, he had three fine sons who in a few years would have ridden alongside their Dad on the hard-riding, straight-hitting Terry Polo Team.

I believe I knew Fred Terry intimately. When you live with a guy at West Point you really get to know him. I truly have never known a more capable, a more dependable or a more considerate man than he. He was a true friend and a devoted companion. He was a very “hivey” guy and was interested in many extra curricular activities, but he always had plenty of time to help his roommates or anyone else who was having trouble mastering some of the more difficult courses to which we were subjected during our four years at West Point.

When Fred graduated in 1930, he was commissioned in the Field Artillery and assigned to Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Fred's second station waB Fort Stotsenburg in the Philippine Islands where he was most active in all Post activities particularly tennis and polo. Probably in Stotsenburg, Fred again visualized his all-family polo team which was to become a reality in later years. From Stotsenburg, Fred was ordered to the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and returned to the United States by way of Japan, Slam, India, Egypt, Germany, France and England. While in Siam, Fred visited Camron Sudasna, a classmate at West Point, whose father was aide to the King of Siam. While stationed at Fort Sill, Fred met Miss Emilie Bruns Bennett; Emmy and Fred were married May 9, 1936, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Lawton, Oklahoma; they became one of the most popular and attractive young couples in the Field Artillery. From Sill, Emmy and Fred were ordered to West Point where Fred was assigned to the Department of History and Economics. Fred’s tour at the Academy was a most interesting one: he was active in sports and other extra curricular activities; during the summer months, while at West Point Fred attended special summer courses in English and History at Columbia University in New York City, where he specialized In Russian History and Russian Government. He received his Master's Degree In 1938.

In the early war years, Fred was ordered away from the Academy and was assigned to one of the new divisions which was then in process of being activated and trained. He attended one of the new Division Artillery Refresher Courses at Fort Sill and then joined his new unit. A short time later, Fred attended the Command and Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; upon completion of this course, he was ordered to Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, and was still assigned to that headquarters at the time he was killed in June 1944. During that month, Fred was sent to the Central Pacific Area as an observer for Headquarters. Army Ground Forces. On June 24. 1944, Fred requested a Field Artillery battalion commander to permit him to fly as an bserver in one of the battalion's liaison aircraft, so that he could actually adjust artillery Are from an Air O.P. The Battalion Commander tried to talk Fred out of going up, because enemy action was heavy and the air traffic around this unit's air Btrip was particularly thick. However, Fred, being the soldier he was, insisted on going up and the Battalion Commander Anally agreed. The pilot, with Fred as his observer, took off in an L-4 aircraft; they had no sooner gotten into the air when they and a B-25 bomber, coming in to land, collided. Both Fred and the pilot were killed.

I shall not attempt to eulogize Fred Terry—I do not have a sufficient command of the English language. He was a Soldier—he was an Artilleryman. In my opinion, no finer compliment can be paid to any man.

Fred is survived by his wife, Emmy; his three sons, Frederick Garslde, Edwin Bruns, and Michael Bennett; his mother, Mrs. Daisy Hayward Terry; and three brothers Jack, Cecil and Hayward.

—Thomas W. Dunn, Colonel, Field Artillery