Two alumni inducted into Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame

Two University of North Georgia (UNG) alumni were among 17 inductees to the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame on Nov. 3.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin Randaulph Mixon '75 and retired Air Force Lt. Col. George Robert Partridge were part of the sixth class of inductees. UNG alumni account for 11 of the 100 inductees since the Hall of Fame was established in 2013.

After serving as the UNG Corps of Cadets' brigade commander as a senior, Mixon served 36 years on active duty and had numerous combat deployments. His career included command positions from platoon to theater level, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 75th Ranger Regiment.

His final two assignments were as commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, including deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Task Force Lightning and Multi-National Division North in Iraq and as commanding general of United States Army Pacific.

Mixon joins his father, retired Command Sgt. Maj. William Tracy Mixon, who was inducted posthumously in the 2014 class.

Mixon serves on the UNG Foundation Board of Trustees and as a member of the Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies Advisory Board.

Partridge completed two years as a cadet at UNG before enlisting in the Air Force in 1952, eventually retiring with 33 years of service and 5,000 hours of military flying time in aircraft from the 0-1 Bird Dog to the F-100 Super Sabre.

While serving in Vietnam in 1965 as a forward air traffic controller on the ground with the 1st Infantry Division, "his unit was attacked by an overwhelming enemy force. Disregarding his own safety, he exposed himself to hostile fire to better observe the enemy's location and to effectively direct tactical air support," according to his Hall of Fame biography. "Although wounded, he continued to coordinate the needed firepower, thus saving the unit from being overrun."

Later that year Partridge was cited again for providing fire support defense to protect his unit from a Viet Cong attack.

Partridge's combat awards are the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Silver Star. He wrote the book "My Story … And I'm Sticking to It — I Think!" about his life, including his time at UNG and serving in the military.

"These two men are among the finest military alumni we have ever produced. Both men had a tremendous impact on their fellow classmates and went on to serve with great honor in their respective services," said retired Col. James T. Palmer, commandant of the Corps of Cadets at UNG. "Lt. Gen. Mixon and Lt. Col. Partridge are superb role models for our current cadets. On behalf of the Corps of Cadets, we congratulate both inductees."

The induction was held at St. Luke Ministry Center in Columbus, Georgia. More than 30 UNG alumni from the classes of 1954 to 2018 were on hand to celebrate with Mixon and Partridge.Hall of Fame nominees must have ties to Georgia and qualify in one of three categories: valor for heroic action in combat; outstanding achievement while in service; or significant local, state or national contributions after leaving active duty.

For more information, visit the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame website.