Texas
Military Forces
Hall of Honor
Dewitt C.
Fair, Jr.
 Brigadier
General (Brevet) Dewitt C. Fair, Jr., was born in Dallas, Texas, on 21
November 1919, graduated from high school in Kansas City, Missouri, and
attended Southern Methodist University.
He enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard on 8 October 1940 as a
member of Headquarters Troop, 112th Cavalry. On 18 November 1940, his
unit was mobilized for active duty. He was selected to attend Officer
Candidate School in May, 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant
of Cavalry in August 1942. He was assigned to the 70th Tank Battalion
and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and the D-Day
invasion of Europe and was wounded in France. He was awarded the
nation's second highest award, the Distinguished Service Cross for
gallantry. He was discharged from Federal service 23 January 1946.
General Fair returned to the Texas Army National Guard 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 3d 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.
He continued to serve his state and nation as a member of the National
Association of Texas Legislative Task Force and as the first Honorary
Colonel of the 112th Armored Regiment. General Fair passed away on 14
July 1990 in Dallas, Texas.
General Fair's decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service
Cross, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service
Medal, the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal and numerous other
state and federal awards.
General Fair's loyal service and dedication to the state and nation will
long be remembered as a shining example of the true citizen soldier.
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