Earl Cabbott Myers II, 72, was called to his heavenly home March 3, 2025. He had bravely without complaining endured several years of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and right heart failure. Earl was born at Munich, Germany October 28, 1952, to Douglas and Dorothy (Williamson) Myers while they were serving in the U.S. Army. He was a twin to Deborah.
Earl’s father transitioned to the Air Force and Earl enjoyed being an Air Force kid. He was drafted in 1972 into the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of Sergeant (E-5). During that time, he served with the 2/17 Cavalry Unit at Ft. Campbell and was a member of the 101st Color Guard. He achieved paratrooper status and was proud to have made the last jump with the 101st Airborne before they were taken off jump status in 1974. He also graduated from the Air Assault School. He served with the Pershing Missile Unit, Germany as a Morse Code radio operator.
Earl took a break in service to attend college and seek a commission as an officer. In 1977, he met Val, his wife of 43 years when they both worked at Niceville Hospital (Florida). They married September 2, 1978. He followed her to the University of South Florida, Tampa where he joined ROTC and was made the Brigade Commander for his senior year. He enjoyed and faithfully served the Army until retirement in 2004 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, completing thirty years of service.
Earls first assignment as an officer was to flight school at the U.S. Army Aviation Center, Ft. Rucker, AL, with advanced training in the AH-1F (Cobra) attack helicopter. He then was sent back to 2/17 Cavalry at Ft. Campbell, then back to Ft. Rucker as an instructor pilot, including night vision goggles, and commander of A Co, 1st BN, 212th Aviation Regiment for the flight school.
From there, he was honored to serve for two and a half years as an exchange officer to the British Army Air Corps. He graduated from the British Royal Air Force, Central Flying School (Helicopter) and became an instructor pilot at their flight school, Army Air Corps Centre, Middle Wallop, Hampshire, England. He was trained there in the Gazelle helicopter and the Lynx attack/lift helicopter. He was the first American to earn the A2QHI credentials (Qualified Helicopter Standardization Instructor Pilot), a Royal Air Force certification. He was delighted to be a member of the Blue Eagles Army Air Corps display team during the last six months of that tour.
He served as commander of Q Troop, 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Bliss, TX for one year, then transferred to the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth. He then received transition aircraft training in the CH-47D Chinook helicopter and was assigned to the 1/10 Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colorado, serving as battalion executive officer. He received command of the battalion for the three months prior to the closing of the battalion when the 4th ID was transferred to Ft. Hood.
Earl next went to the Cheyenne Mountain Command Center as the Deputy Command Director for Missile Operations, Training and Operations NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command). Then back to Ft. Rucker, AL to serve as Chief, Aviation Systems and Accident Investigation Division. His last assignment was as Deputy TRADOC System Manager – Longbow (Apache helicopter). He retired at Ft. Rucker, February 2004. He retired to
Huntsville and worked for several aviation related companies until 2020, the last being Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation.
Earl is survived by his wife of 43 years, “Val” (Edith Valdes Stegall); his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Myers Redwine; his son, Michael Earl Myers; grandchildren, Jake W. Flemister, Catherine Anne Flemister and Turner K. Myers; three surviving brothers, Douglas, Jim and Jon Myers; and one sister, Nancy Millspaugh. He was predeceased by his twin sister, Deborah M. Kelly and brothers Gregory R. Myers, William Myers and Eric S. Myers.
Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Wilson Shirley officiating. Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2025, at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
It was Earl’s wish that memorial donations be made to Trans World Radio ministry at
https://www.twr.org/give (Designate as a memorial at checkout) or to the charity of your choice.
