Dewitt C. Fair, Jr.
Brigadier General (Brevet), Texas National Guard, U.S. Army

Dewitt C. Fair, Jr. was born on 21 November 1919 in Dallas, TX. He graduated from high school in Kansas City, MO, and then attended Southern Methodist University.

On 8 October 1940, he enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard as a member of Headquarters Troop, 112th Cavalry. On 18 November 1940, his unit was mobilized for active duty. He began Officer Candidate School in May 1942 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry in August 1942. Assigned to the 70th Tank Battalion, an independent tank battalion intended to provide close support to infantry units, it made assault landings and fought with the 9th Infantry Division in North Africa, and with the 1st Infantry Division in Sicily. The 70th Tank Battalion supported the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division on Utah Beach during the D-Day landings at Normandy, France.

On 10 June 1944, then-First Lieutenant Dewitt C. Fair, Jr. was serving with 70th Tank Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, First U.S. Army.

On that day, 1LT Fair’s unit was in action against German forces after having linked up with the 82nd Airborne Division, preparatory to the push toward the port town of Cherbourg. 1LT Fair’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Fair was discharged from Federal service on 23 January 1946.

Texas National Guard Service

Fair returned to the Texas Army National Guard on 21 September 1946 as a Captain and was assigned to the 146th Tank Battalion, 49th Armored Division. He served in various assignments in the battalion until he was reassigned to Combat Command B as Executive Officer. He was promoted to Major in March 1949 and to Lieutenant Colonel in April 1961. After the Division was mobilized in September 1961, he returned to the 1st Battalion, 112th Armor as commander. In 1966, he was promoted to Colonel and appointed commander of the 3rd Brigade, and in 1968 assumed command of the 49th Armored Group. In 1969, he was assigned as the Task Force Commander of the 144th Support Center and simultaneously the Director of Instruction for the Dallas Branch of the Texas National Guard Academy. He was discharged from the National Guard on 20 September 1972 and brevetted Brigadier General on 21 September 1972.

In Civilian Life

Although retired from the military, Fair continued to serve Texas and his nation as a member of the National Association of Texas Legislative Task Force and as the first Honorary Colonel of the 112th Armored Regiment.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver and 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation

He also received numerous Texas Nation Guard awards.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

First Lieutenant (Armor) DeWitt C. Fair, United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 70th Tank Battalion, in action against enemy forces on 10 June 1944. First Lieutenant Fair's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 58 (1944)

Death

Brigadier General (Brevet) Dewitt C. Fair, Jr. died on 14 July 1990 in Dallas, TX. No information was found regarding the disposition of his remains.

[Some of the data in this biography was excerpted from the Texas Military Forces Museum at http://texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/hallofhonor/fair.htm.]