Andrew Pick O'Meara
General, U.S. Army

Andrew Pick O'Meara was born on 23 March 1907 in West Bend, WI. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in the Class of 1930 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery.

Military Career

He began his career in the horse artillery with the 4th Field Artillery from 1931-34. Other early assignments included teaching physics at West Point and various staff assignments. He married Ellen Fraser in 1933.

O'Meara served as a Battery Commander in the 4th Armored Division in 1941, and in 1942 took command of the 94th Field Artillery Battalion. By the end of World War II he was the Assistant Artillery Commander of VII Corps. Following the war, he attended the Command and General Staff College in 1946, and the National War College from 1951 to 1952.

During the Korean War he was the Artillery Commander for the 7th Infantry Division, and later the Artillery Commander for IX Corps. Promoted to Brigadier General in 1952, he earned the Silver Star in 1953 for reconnaissance near Kumhwa.

Post-War Years

He spent the years after Korea working in research and development for the army, first with the Research & Development Division of the Army General Staff, then as Deputy Chief of Research & Development for the U.S. Army from 1955-57. He then took command of the 4th Armored Division in 1957. From 1959-61, he was assigned to France as Director of Military Assistance for the U.S. European Command.

He served as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command (USCINCSO) from 1961 to 1965; and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Europe/Commander, Central Army Group (CINCUSAREUR/COMCENTAG) from 1965 to 1967.

O'Meara was an avid squash player. During his tenure at both SOUTHCOM and USAREUR, he ordered the installation of squash courts at all the bases under his command.

O'Meara retired from the Army in 1967 and settled in the Washington, DC area.

Medals and Awards

Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal

Death and Burial

General Andrew Pick O'Meara died of a stroke on 30 September 2005 at the age of 98, in Arlington, VA. He is buried next to his wife, Ellen (1995), at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 7A, Site 43.

He was preceded in death by his wife and a daughter; he was survived by a son and a daughter; 13 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.