In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by brother, Lamar Cloninger
Adrian graduated from Maiden High School in 1939. While a Junior at Lenoir Rhyne College, he was drafted into the Army in 1943 and sent to basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas, and then was assigned to a tank destroyer battalion. His first duty was the Philippines in the South Pacific. The next tour was Japan as part of the Army of Occupation. After WWII, Adrian returned home and finished college at Lenoir Rhyne in Hickory, NC. He reentered in the Army at Ft. Benning, Georgia. His continued career of 31 years in the Army included the following; Tour assignment again to Japan. In 1950 Adrian entered with the first unit into Korean War. Fort Jackson, SC trained officers for the Korean War – Munich, Germany; 7th Army NCO Academy – Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he completed his U.S. Army Advance Course. Ft. Bragg, NC; the 82nd Airborne Division. Select as a student for the Command and Staff College, Quetta, Pakistan. Assigned to SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) Paris, France. Ft. Monroe, Virginia; Continental Army Command; Second Tour to Korea; Battalion Commander on the DMZ (demilitarized zone); Ft. Belvoir, VA; U.S. Army Engineers School – Promoted to Colonel.
Assigned the U.S. Army Inspector General's Office, Washington, D.C.; Second Tour to Istanbul, Pakistan as Department of Defense Representative.
He finished his career as Headquarters Commandant at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Retired February 28, 1977;
Special Awards earned: Combat Infantryman's Badge; Master Parachutist Badge;Army Commendation Medal w/ 3 oak leaf clusters; Legion of Merit w/ 3 oak leaf clusters.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years Rebecca Hicks Cloninger; brother, Frank Cloninger of Newton, NC; nephews, Steve Cloninger and wife Katie of Conover; Bruce Cloninger and wife Michelle of Conover; Jerry Cloninger and wife Debbie of San Clemente, CA; niece, Linda Baird and husband David of Hickory
Celebration of Life Service:First United Methodist Church Maiden with Reverend Tony Jordan officiating
Interment:Maiden City Cemetery with full Military Honors provided by the Fort Bragg Funeral Honors Team and Masonic Rites by Maiden Masonic Lodge #592
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by brother, Lamar Cloninger
Adrian graduated from Maiden High School in 1939. While a Junior at Lenoir Rhyne College, he was drafted into the Army in 1943 and sent to basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas, and then was assigned to a tank destroyer battalion. His first duty was the Philippines in the South Pacific. The next tour was Japan as part of the Army of Occupation. After WWII, Adrian returned home and finished college at Lenoir Rhyne in Hickory, NC. He reentered in the Army at Ft. Benning, Georgia. His continued career of 31 years in the Army included the following; Tour assignment again to Japan. In 1950 Adrian entered with the first unit into Korean War. Fort Jackson, SC trained officers for the Korean War – Munich, Germany; 7th Army NCO Academy – Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he completed his U.S. Army Advance Course. Ft. Bragg, NC; the 82nd Airborne Division. Select as a student for the Command and Staff College, Quetta, Pakistan. Assigned to SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) Paris, France. Ft. Monroe, Virginia; Continental Army Command; Second Tour to Korea; Battalion Commander on the DMZ (demilitarized zone); Ft. Belvoir, VA; U.S. Army Engineers School – Promoted to Colonel.
Assigned the U.S. Army Inspector General's Office, Washington, D.C.; Second Tour to Istanbul, Pakistan as Department of Defense Representative.
He finished his career as Headquarters Commandant at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Retired February 28, 1977;
Special Awards earned: Combat Infantryman's Badge; Master Parachutist Badge;Army Commendation Medal w/ 3 oak leaf clusters; Legion of Merit w/ 3 oak leaf clusters.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years Rebecca Hicks Cloninger; brother, Frank Cloninger of Newton, NC; nephews, Steve Cloninger and wife Katie of Conover; Bruce Cloninger and wife Michelle of Conover; Jerry Cloninger and wife Debbie of San Clemente, CA; niece, Linda Baird and husband David of Hickory
Celebration of Life Service:First United Methodist Church Maiden with Reverend Tony Jordan officiating
Interment:Maiden City Cemetery with full Military Honors provided by the Fort Bragg Funeral Honors Team and Masonic Rites by Maiden Masonic Lodge #592
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