Allan G. Pixton, USA, retired, a native of Lehi, Utah, passed peacefully in his sleep on November 4, 2015. He graduated from East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1935, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Utah in 1939.

He began his 32 year Army Career in June 1939 having been commissioned a Second Lieutenant from ROTC. He was on continuous active duty from March 1940 until he retired in August 1971. He received his regular Army Commission in July 1941 through the Thomason Act.

During 1940-1942 he served as battery executive officer and battery commander, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. He was assistant personnel officer and assistant operations officer, Engineer Amphibian Command, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, in 1942.

In early 1943 he was assigned to the U.S. Assault Training Center in England. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel when he was twenty four years old. As plans and operations officer of the 5th Engineer Special Brigade, he landed on Omaha Beach, in Normandy, France, at noon on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

At the end of World War II General Pixton was assigned to the Operations Division of the War Department General Staff. He later became the Assistant Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of War, and later to the Under Secretary of the Army.

In 1948 he was assigned to Germany where he commanded the 32nd Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Division for two years, and then served as plans and operations long-range planner in Headquarters European Command. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1951 he attended the Command and General Staff College as a student and then spent three-and-one-half years there as an instructor and author.

From November 1955 through February 1956 he attended the Army Strategic Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. General Pixton was Army Attaché in Singapore, Malaya, and British Borneo, from May 1956 to June 1959. Following completion of the Army War College in 1960 he spent two years as Commanding Officer of the 26th Artillery Group, Fort Lawton, Seattle, Washington.

In August 1962 he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Research and Development, Department of the Army, as Deputy Director of Developments, becoming Director of Developments in June 1963. General Pixton received a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1964 and later that same year completed the University of Pittsburgh Management Program for Executives.

In April 1965 he arrived in Korea where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, United Nations Command/U.S. Forces Korea for the next two years. He was also the Chief Military Negotiator for the United States/Korean Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

In June 1967 he became Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

In August 1968 he was assigned to Vietnam as the Commanding General, XXIV Corps Artillery where he remained until December 1969. Upon his return to the States he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Army Air Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado until his retirement on 1 August 1971.

General Pixton's decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal for Valor with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Republic of Vietnam National Order Fifth Class, and Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Also he received the Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Unit Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Army General Staff Identification Badge, seven battle stars and a bronze arrowhead, as well as fifteen other decorations and awards.

Upon his retirement General Pixton became Vice President of a bank and served on its Board of Directors for seven and a half years. Later he was on the Board of Directors of another bank for eight years. He served as: President of a region of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), was a member of the AUSA National Council of Trustees for two years, was a member of the AUSA National Resolutions Committee for three years serving as its chairman for one year, was awarded the AUSA National President's Gold Medal in 1984, is a Life Member of AUSA, and is Past President of a Chapter; Distinguished Lieutenant Governor of a District of Kiwanis International, a Distinguished President of a Kiwanis Club, and a Life Member of Kiwanis International; President of a Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and recipient of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Silver Good Citizenship Medal; a member of a Chamber of Commerce for fourteen years; a member of the Board of Trustees of a Regional Medical Education Foundation; Chairman of the Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic Coordinating Committee (MAST); Chairman of a Chapter of the March of Dimes; a member of the Civilian Advisory Council to the Commanding General of a military base; Chairman of a Retiree Council; a member of the 1st Cavalry Division Association Executive Committee.

He is an Eagle Scout and an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1991 he received the prestigious Merit of Honor Award from the University of Utah Alumni Association.

Allan Pixton is married to the former Vivian Sturtridge of Tacoma, Washington. He is survived by his two sisters, Pat (Pixton) Barker of Salt Lake City and Lois (Pixton) Park of Orem, two children, fifteen grandchildren, and forty-one great-grandchildren. His hobbies include polo, snow skiing, photography, golf, fishing and hunting. His interment is at Arlington National Cemetery next to his beloved Vivian.

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Here are some other links regarding General Pixton.

Legion of Merit

Legacy.com

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