Colonel Richard E. Cross (Ret.), known as “Dick”, of Melbourne, FL, entered into rest November 21, 2014. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Lilo M. Cross. He is survived by his son Richard Cross, Stephen and Connie Cross, Thomas and Nancy Cross, grandchildren, Shannon and Julie Cross. He has been living at IRCC since 2001. As for Dick’s early life, he spent it living it with his family on Army posts in the US and overseas. In 1941 Dick attended “The Citadel”, Military College of South Carolina and was inducted into the Army as a Private during the spring of 1943.
As a Sergeant, Dick attended the Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga, in 1944 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 9 January 1945. He received his regular Army commission in August 1946. And, he was inducted into the OCS Hall of Fame in April of 2001.
During his service, he was assigned to troop duty with 11th Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Infantry Division (“The Big Red One”), and the Third US Infantry (“The Old Guard”), the oldest Infantry Regiment in the US Army (1784), Ft. Myer, VA.
In addition to his assignments with tactical units he attended several service schools as a student and in some instances, as an instructor, upon completion of the academic courses. Dick’s overseas assignments included the Philippines, Japan, Germany, Alaska, Burma, Vietnam, Bolivia and Panama.
Like most career officers, he served in Washington several times. He was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army in 1956; and in 1964 to The Defense Intelligence, Department of Army in 1956; and in 1964 to The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Dick retired with the rank of Colonel in 1973 after 30 years of service.
Funeral Service will be at Beckman Williamson Funeral Home, 5400 Village Drive, Viera, Florida Monday at 11:00 AM, December 1, 2014. There will be a viewing from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Interment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
You may sign Dick’s guestbook at www.beckmanwilliamson.com.
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