Colonel Warren H. Metzner

Remembering the life, death and legacy of Colonel Warren H. Metzner, "Metz", 1924-2016 Born in Passaic, New Jersey, one of two children, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at his home in Sarasota, Florida of natural causes. He was married to the love of his life, the former Helen V. McLaren of Washington, D.C and Cincinnati, Ohio who passed away on December 5, 1989. Colonel Metzner is preceded in death by his Mother, Elizabeth Seidler of Zwichau, Germany; Father, Ernest H. Metzner of Gera, Germany and Sister, Miss Carmen E. Metzner of Passaic, New Jersey. Colonel Metzner graduated from Clifton High School, New Jersey; University of Maryland with a B.S., George Washington University, Washington, D.C. with a M.A. also attended Rutgers University in 1941-1943 while serving as an apprenticeship in textile engineering. He was drafted into the Army in 1943. By early 1944 Colonel Metzner was assigned to the Infantry Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry I July 1944 before being assigned overseas. Immediately after arriving in the European theater of operations, during World War II, he was detached to the British Intelligence Service. In December 1944 he joined the 76th Infantry Division as it arrived in Belgium to join in the battle to defeat the German counter offensive; the Colonel remains with the division until he assumed command of the 437th Military Intelligence Team, Headquarters, Third US Army. In February 1947, Colonel Metzner was assigned as an instructor in interrogations and investigations at the Counter Intelligence Center, Fort Holabird, Maryland where he remained until July 1948. His career in the Military Police Corps began in July 1948 when he was transferred to the 716th Military Police Battalion, Fort Dis, New Jersey. Ordered overseas to Korea in September 1950, he served as Assistant Provost Marshal, Third Logistics Command, Far East Command, until May 1952 when he returned to the United States and assumed the duties as Assistant to the Executive Officer of the Provost Marshal General Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Colonel Metzner next served for three years in the Personnel Office, Office of the Provost Marshal General, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C. While there he comped studies at the University of Maryland and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Military Science. Upon graduation form the long course at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in August 1959, the Colonel returned to Europe and served consecutively as Chief, Investigative Branch, Provost Marshal Division; Executive Officer, 508th MP Battalion; and ultimately as the battalion commander. Returning to the US in August 1961, he was assigned as Provost Marshal, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The colonel earned his parachutist wings while with the "Screaming Eagles." Upon graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1964, he attended the US Army Special Warfare School in Fort Bragg, North Caroline, before becoming a member of the Doctrine and Evaluation Group of the US Army's Combat Development Command, Institute for Advanced studies. Upon graduation from the Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and having received his Master of Arts in International Affairs from George Washington University, Colonel Metzner was assigned to the Combat Development Command, Doctrine Directorate, Fort Belvoir, where he serviced from August 1965 to March 1967. In April 1967 he began a two-year tour of duty as the first Military Police Officer to command the US Military Assistance Group to Costa Rica. He earned his first Legion of Merit here for exceptionally meritorious performance of duty. Colonel Metzner was ordered to Vietnam in July 1969 and assumed has present duties as Provost Marshal, MACV. Colonel Metzner was a graduate of the Military Police Officer Basic Course Number 5-1948; the Military Police Officer Advanced Course Number 7-1954; US Army Command and General Staff College -1958; Armed Forces Staff College -1964; US Army Special Warfare School-1964; and the US Army War College-1965. His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Vietnamese Army Distinguished Service Order, Second Class; and the Vietnamese Air Service Medal, Honor Class. In May of 1972 he was hired by Exxon, former Standard Oil Company (New Jersey Avenue of the Americas, NYC where he retired as the Director of Security. In his early years he was involved with the youth programs at the YMCA , Boy Scouts of America and the Young Peoples Society. He was a member and past president of the local Exxon Retirees Club, A life member of the Retired Officers Association and The Meadows CC. He was an avid photography and an artist of pencil/charcoal drawings. Colonel Warren Metzner loved his country, The United States Army, his profession and his family and friends. He had a profound life that was full of adventure, success, intellectual challenge, pride, laughter and love. His dog, Barney, whom he loved, stayed by his side until death, lives on and will miss him dearly. Colonel Warren H. Metzner will be laid to rest at the Venice Memorial Gardens, 1950 Center Road, Venice, Florida in the Garden of Honor, Luke Mausoleum next to the love of his life with Full Military Honors on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 1:30 pm. Toale Brothers Funeral Home in Sarasota, Florida are in charge of the arrangements. A remembrance lunch will be held after the service, at the home of a longtime friend where he spent most of his holidays. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to these suggested areas of your choice, a Veterans scholarship fund, local educational scholarship fund or nursing scholarship fund. These are the educational areas that were close to Colonel Warren Metzner's heart.

Tributes

Colonel Warren H. Metzner

April 29, 1924 - October 1, 2016