Eugene M. Fisk, Army
Eugene N. Fisk left Syracuse University in 1942 to join the Army and was recruited to join the elite 10th Mountain Division training in Camp Hale, Colorado. In 1943 while in Denver playing basketball for the 10" Mountain Div team he met Donna Everson of Alma, NE. Gene became a commissioned infantry officer after attending OCS in Nov 1944 and his first assignment was as a Platoon Leader, Co M, 85th Mountain, 10th Division, Italy. After returning from WWII in Italy in 1945, Gene and Donna were married and for the remainder of his 34 year Army career, Gene claimed Alma, NE as home.
Gene's assignments after Italy included Ft. Ord, CA; Ft Carson, CO; Ft. Richardson, AK; USAFFE Korea; USAFFE Sendai, Japan and Yokohama, Japan; Ft Benning, GA; Ft Leavenworth, KS; MAAG, Iran; Ft Dix, NJ; Sr Advisor RF/PE, Vietnam; Offutt AFB, NE, Chief of Staff, MAAG, Ethiopia.
His distinguished service awards included Legion of Merit w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with V(4th highest military decoration for valor) and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation(Germany), Army European-African-Middle Eastern Medal; Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, Natl Defense Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Rep of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.
Gene and Donna had 3 children-all who graduated from the University of NE, Lincoln and Gene completed his degree under the Military Bootstrap program at Omaha University. Throughout Gene's career, the family frequently returned to Alma, NE to visit Donna's parents, Gaylord and Ada Everson.
Gene retired from the Army as a Colonel and the picture shows his oldest daughter, Teri Fisk pinning on his Colonel Insignia when he was promoted in Danang, Vietnam in 1969. Gene was head of I Corps Regional and Popular Forces 1969-70, and Teri was with American Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (aka Doughnut Dolly) program in Vietnam 1969-70.
Gene and Donna are survived by Children-Teri Fisk Hermans (Jerry), Pamela Fisk, Thomas Fisk (Anita); Grandchildren -Amy Hermans Livingston (Nicholas), Becky Hermans Johnson (Quin), Carol Fisk, Robert Fisk (Emily); Grandchildren Collette and Adam Johnson, Sydney and Ethan Livingston.
