Monk Meyer

{{Infobox military person

| name = Monk Meyer

| birth_name = Charles Robert Meyer

| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|05|01}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|08|11|1913|05|01}}

| birth_place = West Point, New York, U.S.

| death_place = Hampton, New Hampshire, U.S.

| placeofburial = West Point Cemetery, New York, U.S.

| image = Charles R. Meyer.jpg

| caption = Meyer as a Cadet in 1937

| nickname =

| allegiance = {{flagicon|United States}} United States of America

| branch = {{Army|United States}} File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg

| serviceyears = 1932–1933, 1937–1967

| rank = 20px Brigadier General

| commands = {{nowrap|Northern Area Command, West Germany}}
160th Infantry Regiment
2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry

| battles = World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War

| awards = 35px Distinguished Service Cross
35px Distinguished Service Medal (2)
35px Silver Star (2)
35px Legion of Merit (2)
35px Bronze Star (2)
35px Purple Heart (2)
35px Air Medal

| laterwork =

}}

Charles R. "Monk" Meyer (May 1, 1913{{spaced ndash}}August 11, 2001) was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1935, the first year the trophy was awarded, while playing for the United States Military Academy.[https://archive.today/20120709115633/http://articles.mcall.com/2010-11-16/sports/mc-monk-meyer-20101116_1_army-bases-heroism-monk-meyer The Morning Call] Monk Meyer Biography

Early life

Monk Meyer was born on May 1, 1913, in West Point, New York, the son of Lieutenant Colonel Hermie Meyer. Meyer grew up at various U.S. Army bases throughout the nation and in the Philippines, accompanying his father's post assignments throughout his military career. The Meyer family relocated to the Lehigh Valley area in time for Monk to play football, basketball, and baseball at Allentown High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

After graduating from Allentown High School, Meyer attended preparatory school at Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 25, 1932, and entered the United States Military Academy the following year, in 1933, where he played football for Army for two seasons (1935 and 1936) as a multifaceted player who could run, pass, kick, and play defense. For two seasons under Army head coach Gar Davidson.

Although small in stature at 5 feet 9 inches tall and 150 pounds, Meyer emerged as a college football star.

;The touchdown pass

In 1935, against Notre Dame before a capacity crowd of 78,114 in Yankee Stadium, Meyer's 41-yard first quarter touchdown pass and stellar performance in a 6–6 tie first brought him into the national limelight. He was named an All-American and then runner-up to the University of Chicago's Jay Berwanger in the first-ever Heisman Trophy vote that year.

In 1936, Monk had another big day in Yankee Stadium, outdueling famed Columbia passer and future Chicago Bears Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman as the Black Knights prevailed, 27–16, over the Lions.

Military career

Meyer graduated from West Point in 1937 and the Command and General Staff School in 1944{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BaSYlfAgVUEC&pg=PA387 |title=U.S. Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired List |date=January 1, 1966 |volume=I |page=387 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |access-date=2022-09-04}} and led troops in the Pacific Theater under the overall command of GEN Douglas MacArthur during World War II and again in Korea, and was wounded twice. In addition he served in Vietnam{{cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/6153 |title=Charles Robert Myer |website=Military Times |publisher=Sightline Media Group |access-date=2022-09-04}} and was a Pearl Harbor survivor.

Meyer graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1952 and the Army War College in 1956. After 30 years of military service, he retired on July 31, 1967, as a brigadier general.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cNeqibq2y1EC&pg=PA461 |title=Official Register of the Officers and Cadets |chapter=Class of 1937—Register of Graduates |date=1971 |page=461 |publisher=United States Military Academy |access-date=2021-09-04}}{{cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1966/08/17/82505109.pdf |title=General Who Sought Vietnam Duty to Be Retired |first=Homer |last=Bigart |date=August 17, 1966 |page=2 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=2022-09-04}} Meyer died on August 11, 2001, in Hampton, New Hampshire,{{cite web |url=https://footballfoundation.org/sports/general/roster/charles-r---monk--meyer/31 |title=1987 Charles R. "Monk" Meyer |publisher=National Football Foundation |access-date=2022-09-04}} and was buried at the West Point Cemetery at the United States Military Academy in New York on October 4, 2001.{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/index.html#/search-all/results/1/CgVNZXllchIHQ2hhcmxlcxoBUjoIMTkxMy1fLV8-/ |title=Meyer, Charles Robert |website=Army Cemeteries Explorer |publisher=U.S. Army |access-date=2022-09-04}}

Accolades

Meyer received the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary All-American Award in 1961.

He was inducted into the Lehigh Valley chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Like President Dwight D. Eisenhower and GEN MacArthur before him, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame also presented Monk its most prestigious accolade, the Gold Medal Award, in 1987.

During his military career, Meyer was awarded the following valorous medals:

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}} Distinguished Service Cross

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Silver Star with oak leaf cluster

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=60}} Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster

References

External links

[https://forwhattheygave.com/2007/09/22/charles-r-monk-meyer/ Monk Meyer profile] at For What They Gave
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ahhgvu8CLg Monk Meyer video profile] at Army Black Knights
[https://footballfoundation.org/sports/general/roster/charles-r---monk--meyer/31 Monk Meyer] at the National Football Foundation

Category:1913 births

Category:2001 deaths

Category:American football running backs

Category:Army Black Knights football players

Category:Burials at West Point Cemetery

Category:Joint Forces Staff College alumni

Category:Military personnel from Allentown, Pennsylvania

Category:People from West Point, New York

Category:Recipients of the Air Medal

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit