Douglas Fraze, attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Garrett High School in 1962.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965 and rose through the ranks from Private to Colonel before retiring in 1996. During this 31-year career, he and his family moved 23 times.
He served in Vietnam, Thailand, Panama (twice), Germany, and Yugoslavia. During these assignments he had cause to visit several Central American countries and all of the nation’s abutting Yugoslavia.
Military schools included Officer Candidate School, Ft. Benning Ga.; Military Intelligence Basic and Advanced Courses, Ft. Huachuca, AZ; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS; and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA.; Airborne School, Ft. Benning, GA; Jump Master School, Ft. Bragg, NC; and Underwater Operations training, Key West, FL.; and Foreign Area Officer Training (Yugoslavia). Civilian education: BGS at University of Nebraska and a Masters in National Security Affairs at Navy Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.
He had enlisted assignments in four different Special Forces Groups; and officer positions as Special Forces Detachment Commander, Special Forces Support Battalion Commander and staff positions at Company, Battalion, Brigade, Army, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Awards and decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Meritorious; Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Service Medal. Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, Underwater Operations Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Vietnam, Thai, German, and French Parachutist badges.
Retrospectively Colonel Fraze believes his maturing years in Garrett were instrumental to his successful military career. Most importantly was his marriage to Carol (nee Fleet), GHS graduate and wife of 50 years who kept the family together and led the way on all 23 moves. Ms. Mellott, Mr. Richardson, and Mr. Smith all provided a basic knowledge of English and how to effectively use it. Mr. Capin, through Geometry, introduced logical thought necessary in so many analytical products. Mr. Finchum taught Civics and Government which were the foundation for all political-military studies. Last, but not least, were summer swim classes which led to Underwater Ops school and the Underwater Ops detachment.