Cullum No. 23719-1961 | January 20, 2022 | Died in Las Cruces, NM
Interred in Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, TX

Travis Neal “Rusty” Dyer was born in Bemis, TN on April 3, 1939 to Lloyd and Maude Dyer. He was the second of four children and one of three sons. His family didn’t have much; so, throughout his childhood, he worked to help support his family by picking cotton in the nearby fields or doing other odd jobs that would help feed his family. He did all this while also attending school and taking part in athletics. During these years, Travis became determined to have a different life for himself. 

Although Travis had a basketball scholarship to another university, he became interested in West Point after seeing a 1956 yearbook. He enlisted in the Army in 1957 and joined the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School that same year. During these years, Travis, a redhead, was nicknamed “Rusty.”

Rusty had fond memories of his time at the Prep School. “Playing basketball with Ron Hannon, Durb Wagner, Bill Jones, and Lufkin made me a better man and gave me the inspiration to graduate from West Point,” he said. “I am certain that the prep school and what I learned there helped me through the Army.” A prep schoolmate described Rusty as “the heart of our basketball team; the kind of player opponents dread, but a man who was a natural leader and fun to be with.”

After graduation from the Prep School, Rusty attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. In his words, “West Point remains the highlight of my life because of the foundation it gave me and the strong will to endure regardless of the challenge.” This is where Duty, Honor, Country were instilled in him. Rusty also made lifelong friends at West Point and looked forward to the class reunions.

While at the Prep School, Rusty met Donna Lefevre. After graduation from West Point in June 1961, they married. Donna supported Travis throughout his 32-year military career. As all military families know, the entire family sacrifices so that the military member can serve our great country. Donna was no exception. She served her country alongside Travis with dignity and decorum. In 1962 and 1965, respectively, their daughters Andrea and Cheryl were born. 

Before embarking on a long military career, Rusty completed the basic artillery skill courses at Fort Sill, OK and Fort Bliss, TX, as well as parachute training at Fort Benning, GA. During his 32 years of military service, Travis held a wide variety of key command and staff positions, from battery to brigade command of air defense tactical units in CONUS, Europe, and Korea. He also served in Vietnam, was the brigade commander of the 6th School Brigade, the chief of staff at Fort Bliss, and the deputy commanding general of the North American Aerospace Defense Command Joint Support Group (NORAD). 

One of Rusty’s favorite assignments was serving as a company tactical officer at West Point, where he mentored cadets while instilling in them the attributes of conduct and character that had been instilled in him during his time at West Point. Another favorite assignment was serving as the commander of the 5th Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Germany. Rusty was a soldier’s soldier and liked nothing more than working with the troops.

During his career, Rusty received the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. Rusty also graduated from the National War College and received a Master of Science degree in International Relations.

One of his family’s proudest days was the day Rusty was promoted to major general. It was the culmination of a long career of Duty, Honor, Country. From a poor young man from Tennessee to a two-star general was something of which dreams are made. 

After his retirement from the military in 1992, Rusty worked for a defense contractor for several years before fully retiring and moving to El Paso, TX to be close to his daughters, who then had children of their own. He loved his grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. 

Throughout Rusty’s career, he always found time to participate in athletics. He played basketball and baseball. He played golf as often as he could and jogged daily. Of all the sports Rusty played, golf was his passion. During his retirement years, he played golf five to six days a week at the El Paso Country Club, where he made many friends. A Fort Bliss golf professional who played with Rusty in pro-am tournaments described him as a near “scratch” player and an excellent friend.

Travis “Rusty” Dyer joined that Long Gray Line in heaven on January 20, 2022. His presence in our lives was so large that his memory will live on. 

Rusty’s favorite song was “The Impossible Dream.” To his family and friends, these words embody the character of the man: 

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march, march into hell 
For that heavenly cause

And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I am laid to rest

(From “The Impossible Dream” by Joe Darion)

Andrea, daughter