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Richard W. Mayo  1926

Cullum No. 7931-1926 | November 10, 1996 | Died in Boca Raton, FL
Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA


Richard Walden Mayo was born in Dorchester, MA, the son of Jeremiah and Evelyn Mayo, whose ancestors had come from England in the early 1600s. He attended schools in Boston and, in his sophomore year in high school, decided on a military career. Unable to receive a congressional appointment to the Academy, his math teacher suggested he join the Army and attend the West Point prepartory school in San Antonio. He served 18 months in the Infantry before he took the West Point exam. His score stood him second in the U.S., and he entered USMA in 1923 on a Presidential appointment.

Academics were not difficult for Richard Mayo, leaving time for athletics. He captained the fencing team and participated in track. Upon graduation, his first assignment was at Ft. Bragg, NC. Two years after graduation, he was on detached service to train for the 1928 Olympic Pentathlon Team. He was successful in making the U.S. team but did not do as well as he had expected in the actual Olympic Games in Amsterdam. He trained for another four years and, in 1932, won the Olympic bronze medal in Los Angeles. He was the first American to win a medal in the pentathlon; GEN George Patton had placed 5 th in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

During his military career, BG Mayo served at posts from Ft. Myer, VA, to Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and from Trinidad, British West Indies, to Ft. Hood, TX. He was senior aide to the commanding general in Trinidad when the U.S. entered WWII. He returned to the States and took a tank destroyer battalion to Europe. He was Assistant Artillery Officer of the Fifteenth Army until 1945 and, later, he was the chief of the Redeployment and Troops Branch Headquarters of the European Theater. In May 1947, he returned to Washington, DC, and became Chief of European and Mid-East Branch, Plans and Operations Division, War Department General Staff. In 1950, he was Commanding Officer, 17th Field Artillery Group at Ft. Sill, OK. While there, GEN Van Fleet requested him by name to come to Korea. He served as Chief of Staff, Korean Military Advisory Group, during the Korean War, from August 1951 to January 1952. He was Commanding Officer, 5th Field Artillery Group, 2d Republic of Korea Corps, Eighth Army, during the Korean War, from January 1952 to January 1953. During his first year in Korea, he was on the front line for the battle of Capital Hill and Finger Ridge.

He was promoted to brigadier general while in Korea and returned to the States to take command of Ft. Stewart, GA, Anti-Aircraft and Tank Training Center. He commanded Ft. Stewart during 1953-56, when he retired. During his career, BG Mayo earned three WWII Batde Stars in Europe; two Battle Stars during the Korean War; the Legion of Merit with oak leaf clusters; the Bronze Star; and the Royal Order of Phoenix (Greek). BG Mayo was awarded Korea’s highest medal, the Taguk Medal, by Korean President Syngman Rhee, as well as the Ulchi Medal, Korea’s second highest medal.

Upon retirement, BG Mayo was offered three executive positions with leading corporations; however, he was more interested in government. He returned to his native state of Massachusetts to become City Manager of Gloucester. After three years there, he moved to Hickory, NC, to become its City Manager, before moving in 1964 to Boca Raton, FL. Still enjoying good health, he remained active. He attended the University of Florida-Gainesville, where he took advanced courses and later entered the teaching field. He taught math at Lake Worth, FL, and St. Andrews Preparatory School in Boca Raton.

In late October 1996, BG Mayo suffered a stroke and, three weeks later, died at home in Boca Raton. Memorial services with military honors were held at the First Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder. He was then taken to Arlington for burial with highest military honors.

BG Mayo leaves his wife, Northa Porter Mayo; son Richard W. Mayo, Jr., and his wife Joanne; two grandsons, Brian and Richard III; and two greatgrandchildren. His daughter Sally died in her 20s.

Richard W. Mayo, Jr., son

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