General (R) Meyer was born in St. Mary’s, PA, in 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, GA. 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 224th Infantry Regiment, Korea, until 1953. He next served in the 1st Officer Candidate Regiment, U.S. Army Infantry School from 1953 to 1954, afterward serving as aide to the assistant commandant at the Infantry School, and then as an instructor in operations until 1957. He commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Airborne Battle Group, 501st Infantry, from 1957 to 1958, followed by promotion to Captain in February 1958 and command of the regiment’s Company D from 1958 to 1959. He next served as 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.
General Meyer 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. 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. General Meyer was chosen as a federal executive fellow at the Brookings Institution from 1970 to 1971. 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. He served as commanding general of the 3d Infantry Division, United States Army, Europe from 1974 to 1975.
In 1975, General Meyer was assigned to the Pentagon 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 General in June 1979, whereupon he was selected as Chief of Staff of the United States Army, a post he filled until he retired in 1983. General Meyer resides in Arlington, VA, with his wife, the former Carol McCunniff, whom he married in 1954. General Meyer serves on the boards of several major corporations and is involved with numerous boards, panels, institutes, and foundations. General Meyer’s military awards and decorations are too numerous to describe here, but include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.