MG HARRY DONALD PENZLER

MG HARRY DONALD PENZLER, USA (Ret.)

Major Harry Penzler,

2/9th FA BATTALION EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Major General Harry Donald Penzler (Don) passed away on Friday, June 26, 2020 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Don was born September 8, 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Harry William and Gertrude (nee Frankenbach) Penzler. Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Susanne (nee Hiltenbrandt); a son, Harry Donald, Jr. (wife, Pam Mazakas) and daughter, Catheryn Susanne (husband, Kerry Clune); and his cherished grandchildren Morgan, Bethany, Natalie and Reid. In 1956, Don was commissioned into the US Army from ROTC upon graduation from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Later he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University. Military schools attended include the Field Artillery Officers Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the National War College. Don commanded the 1st/15th Field Artillery Battalion in Korea, and the 210th Field Artillery Brigade in Germany. In the Pentagon he was assigned three separate times to Army readiness, planning, budgeting, and operations of ODCSOPS (G3); then readiness, program and budget analysis, and planning joint exercises in the operations Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J3). Additional assignments were Chief of Staff of 3rd Corps and Ft. Hood in Texas; Deputy Chief of Staff for Doctrine at TRADOC, Fort Monroe, Virginia; and Chief of Staff of the Central Command in Tampa, Florida. He retired from the Army on November 1, 1988. Among his awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, the Army General Staff Identification Badge, and the Paratrooper Badge. In the fall of 1990, Don and his business partner formed PENCOM, Inc. which provided “phone-home” services to service members on the battlefield during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm using digital capabilities and satellites. Then he worked with Mystech to develop communications and early telemedicine technology to be used on the battlefield and in rural civilian medical settings. In his retirement, Don became a master gardener and master consulting rosarian. He was active in his church, the Dominion Club senior golfers, and the Richmond Rose Society. He enjoyed time spent with family and friends, traveling, playing bridge, being outdoors, and he remained a loyal St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. A funeral service will be held at the Old Post Chapel, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 1pm, followed by interment with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Webmaster's Note: MG Penzler served as the Executive Officer of the 2/9th under the command of LtCol Bruce Holbrook in the 1966-67 era during his Vietnam tour..