Edward C . Meyer Edward Charles " Shy " Meyer ( born December 11 , 1928 ) was a United States Army general and Chief of Staff of the U . S . Army . Biography . Early Life and Career . Meyer was born in St . Marys , Pennsylvania on December 11 , 1928 . Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1951 he was commissioned a second lieutenant and attended the U . S . Army Infantry School at Fort Benning . His first assignment was as a platoon leader in Company C , 25th Armored Infantry Battalion in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952 . After promotion to first lieutenant in July 1952 he served as a platoon leader , company commander , and battalion staff officer with the 2d Battalion , 24th Infantry Regiment , also in Korea , until 1953 . He next served in the 1st Officer Candidate Regiment , Infantry School from 1953 to 1954 , afterwards serving as aide to the assistant commandant of the Infantry School , and then as an instructor in operations until 1957 . During his time there he was promoted to temporary captain , in July 1956 . He next graduated from the infantry officers advanced and basic airborne courses in 1957 , continuing on to command Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 1st Airborne Battle Group , 501st Infantry , from 1957 to 1958 , followed by promotion to permanent captain in February , 1958 and command of the battle group ' s Company D from 1958 to 1959 . After company command he attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth , graduating in 1960 , and being promoted to temporary major in October of that year . He was next manpower control officer in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff , G – 1 , United States Army , Europe ( Rear ) from 1960 to 1961 , and assistant executive and aide to the chief of staff at Supreme Headquarters , Allied Powers Europe from 1961 to 1963 . He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1964 , receiving a promotion to temporary lieutenant colonel in May 1964 and permanent major in June 1965 . After graduation he served in the Coordination Division of the Office of the Chief of Staff until 1965 . Vietnam War . He again returned to combat as deputy commander of the 3d Brigade , 1st Cavalry Division ( Airmobile ) in Vietnam , later taking command of the 2d Battalion , 5th Cavalry from 1965 to 1966 . Returning stateside , he graduated from the National War College in 1967 , then served in the Plans and Operations Division , Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until 1969 , promoted to temporary colonel in November 1968 . He returned to Vietnam to command the 2d Brigade , 1st Cavalry Division ( Airmobile ) , and then served as division chief of staff , leaving Vietnam in 1970 . Post - Vietnam War . Meyer was chosen as a federal executive fellow at the Brookings Institution from 1970 to 1971 . He was promoted to temporary brigadier general in August 1971 and permanent colonel in June 1972 . After promotion to flag rank he served as assistant division commander ( support ) of the 82d Airborne Division from 1971 to 1972 , followed by assignment as deputy commandant of the Army War College from 1972 to 1973 . He was next deputy chief of staff for operations , United States Army , Europe , and Seventh Army until 1974 , being promoted to temporary major general in August 1973 . He was chosen as commanding general of the 3d Infantry Division , United States Army , Europe from 1974 to 1975 . Senior Commands and Chief of Staff . He moved to the Pentagon in 1975 as assistant deputy chief and deputy chief of staff for operations and plans , United States Army , and remained in that position until 1979 . He was promoted to permanent colonel in March 1976 , and temporary lieutenant general in October 1976 , and general in June 1979 , whereupon he was selected as Chief of Staff of the United States Army , a post he filled from June 22 , 1979 to June 21 , 1983 . During his tenure he prosecuted an Army - wide modernization program with emphasis on quality over quantity , stressed the need for a long - term investment in land force materiel , and launched a unit - manning system to reduce personnel turbulence and to enhance readiness . Meyer retired from active service in June 1983 . Personal life . Meyer married Carol McCunniff in 1954 . He had five children . Three sons , Tom , Tim , and Doug ; and two daughters , Nancy and Stuart . His daughter , Nancy , is an actress who is married to Michael Cartellone , the drummer for the band Lynrd Skynyrd . His son , Tom , is a political cartoonist who is married to Gretchen Nash and has a daughter named Mia .