George Cicero Fogle Jr. was born at Fort McKinley, Quezon City, Manila, Philippine Islands. His mother, Modena Marcella Adair, was an Army nurse, and his father, George Cicero Fogle, was an Army Artillery Officer in the occupation of the Philippine Islands after World War II.
As an Army brat, George lived on numerous military posts in the United States and overseas, to include Istanbul, Turkey; Seoul, South Korea; and Frankfurt, Germany. Primary and secondary education was accomplished at nine different schools. He graduated from Yorktown High School, Arlington, VA, and won an appointment to the Class of 1969 from his representative, Congressman Donald R. Matthews of Florida’s 8th District.
While at USMA, George came to be known by his classmates as a person who was always eager to listen, learn, and help. He earned the admiration and respect of his companymates for his positive approach and his engaging manner. He overcame all academic challenges while also pursuing his interests in orienteering, swimming, cross country, and triathlon through active participation in these sports as part of the intramural programs and also club memberships. He seemed to thrive on endurance type sports that required tenacity, training, and dedication in order to perform well.
He often stated that he had graduated as a strong-willed, stubborn young man (no stranger to punishment tours on the area) but had thoroughly enjoyed the four years at the Academy. During his time at the Academy, he thrived on the military routine and continuously challenged himself in order to be better prepared as an Infantry officer. He seemed to absorb the ethos of the Academy and truly lived his dedication to Duty, Honor, Country.
George has written: “Looking back it was the sense of Duty instilled in me that made me insist that the combat soldiers entrusted to me wear their helmets, dig in every night, practice live fire combat drills and not do stupid things like drugs that insured our successes in Vietnam.
“The sense of Honor hammered into me over four years has become almost a religion to me—simply tell the truth as you see and experience it in order to enable the trust of others—without trust there is no cohesion, no community, no brotherhood.
“And the sense that there is something worth a soldier’s sacrifice—our Country—which over the years has made me proud to have served as a simple soldier and has inspired me to continue in service to others.”
George’s military career began as an Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division. His next assignment was an extended tour in Vietnam as a platoon leader, company commander and battalion assistant operations officer. He took an inter-theater transfer to Germany and commanded Infantry companies in Berlin and Nuremberg. He then spent 18 months in Stuttgart before heading to the U.S. Military Academy Prep School as a tactical officer, where he also coached swimming and cross country. He left active duty after 12 years of service but kept a Reserve commission and retired as a lieutenant colonel with more than 28 years of service.
Along the way, George found time to earn an MBA from Campbell University. He became the first MBA graduate of that institution with a 4.0 average.
George married the love of his life, Lynda Bliss Pratt, in 1977. He was most proud of his two sons, George Garrett Fogle and Zachary Pratt Fogle, and always strived to be an active parent. He was determined to influence his sons’ lives and later the lives of other young men with the values he held most closely by volunteering as an assistant scoutmaster and crew advisor, as well as coaching various youth soccer and basketball teams.
George continued to keep himself in good physical shape. In retirement he became a competitive swimmer in the senior category and qualified for the 2015 Senior Olympics. Unfortunately, illness forced his withdrawal from competition.
George joined The Hartford Insurance Company in 1983, serving as its operations manager in Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Indianapolis, IN, and San Antonio, TX. In 1995, he was awarded the designation of chartered property casualty underwriter and was transferred to The Hartford home office in Hartford, CT. In 1998, he received The Hartford Chairman’s Award for “Outstanding Business Achievement/Commercial Lines Agency Interface.” In 2011, George retired as director of operations, services and support/information technology.
In March 2015, George was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of cancer recognized by the U.S. Veterans Administration as a result of service in Vietnam in the 1970s. His disease was connected to his exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical used all too freely by U.S. Forces in Vietnam.
George served his country well, fought to maintain a quality of life up to the end but eventually succumbed to complications related to the disease and the prescribed treatment. George became another member of the Class of 1969 who served in Vietnam and eventually died from complications related to that conflict.
Throughout his life in the Army and later as a civilian, George steadfastly upheld the West Point Creed: Duty, Honor, Country. He was a proud member of the Long Gray Line. He will be missed.
George left us too soon in July 2016.
— Classmates