Obituary: Allen, Boyde W., Jr.
Age 88
entered into rest April 9, 2014 in Spokane Valley, WA.
He was born June 26, 1925 in Toler, Kentucky to Rev.
Boyde and Gustava Allen.
He had five brothers and six sisters.
He graduated from The Plains High School, Ohio.
He began his service career in the most un-Army-like style…by joining the Navy.
He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Newberry College in South Carolina.
He played football and was a fierce Lacrosse player, earning the nickname, “The Woodchopper”.
After spending the second half of World War II as a “dry-land sailor,” he entered the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and graduated with the class of 1949.
On his graduation day at the Old Cadet Chapel, West Point, he married his sweetheart, Helen “Alice” Dirnberger of Highland Falls, New York.
He attended the Ground General’s School at Fort Riley, Kansas.
In 1950 he was sent to Korea to serve the 187th Airborne Infantry Regimental Combat Team.
He was attached to the 11th Airborne Division for training at his next assignment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
He earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California in 1957.
He graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Leavenworth in 1961.
He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1960 and 1966.
He tested Artillery weapons at Fort Greely, Alaska; and sandwiched a year in Korea between two Pentagon assignments with the Office of the Chief of Research and Development.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his service to President Johnson during his visits to Korea.
He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1971 and stationed again at Fort Sill to take command of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Artillery.
He served in Vietnam as an operations and planning officer.
His last duty station was at the University of South Dakota, where he was the professor of Military Science for the R.O.T.C.
Department.
He received the Legion of Merit, Presidential Unit Citation as well as the Korean ribbon with three battle stars, two Oak Leaf Clusters, a Meritorious Service Medal, and a Bronze Arrowhead.
He retired at Fort Lewis, WA in 1975 and moved to Valley, WA.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, making furniture, remodeling and he was an avid gardener.
He donated vegetables to the Food Bank and shared with neighbors and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; sons, Boyde and Michael; and daughters, Linda and Stephanie; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was preceded by his daughter, Valerie.
He made many friends throughout his life and touched many others with his kindness.
He fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith.
(2 Timothy 4:7).
A private funeral service will be held.