Edward
“Ted” Magill, died on September 7th and a memorial service was held at Rockledge, FL, on September 16th.
Colonel Charley Price, Chief of Staff, KWVA, represented the National KWVA President and military honors
were provided.
Link to KWVA Website In Memoriam Posting on 9/8/05
The rest of the story: Colonel Magill’s final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), in
Arlington, VA, was occupied at 1000 hours, October 24th. The National President was represented by Colonel
Warren Wiedhahn, an elected Director of the KWVA. Courtesy, professionalism, and coordination between Colonels
Price and Wiedhahn and Richard A. Wannemacher, Jr., (USN, Retired, VN Veteran), Acting Under Secretary for
Memorial Affairs of the VA, resulted in full honors for Colonel Magill’s graveside service.
Mrs. Marisa Magill has expressed her deep appreciation for the honors and I join in relaying them to
all of you who helped to fittingly bring it about. Rest in peace, Soldier.
National President
EDWARD MAGILL
July 4, 1926 – September 7, 2005
Edward Louis Ted Magill died on Wednesday, September 7, 2005. He was born on the 4th of July, 1926
in Palm Beach, Florida. After graduating from Ponce de Leon High School in Coral Gables, Florida in
1944, he joined the U.S. Navy and saw action in the Pacific. He was on the ground in Nagasaki, Japan
shortly after the atomic bomb was dropped. In 1948 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S.
Army and saw combat in the Korean War as a firing battery officer with the 57th Field Artillery Battalion.
He took part in six campaigns including the Inchon landings and the Chosin Reservoir battle.
Ted’s military awards and decorations for his service in World War II and the Korean War included:
- The Silver Star, for heroism at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
- The Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
- The Meritorious Service Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation (U.S.)
- Presidential Unit Citation (Korean)
- Presidential Unit Citation (U.S. Navy)
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Battle Stars
- The Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 Battle Star
- The Philippine Independence Ribbon
- The World War II Victory Medal
- The Army of Occupation Medal (Japan)
- The National Defense Service Medal
- The Korean Service Medal with 6 Battle Stars
- The United Nations Service Medal, and
- The Reserve Officers Association Service Medal with 3 Bronze Hourglass Clusters.
Ted obtained a B.B.A. degree from the University of Miami in 1952 and a Juris Doctors degree from
the University of Miami in 1957. He practiced law in Miami, Florida from 1957 until he retired in 1995.
Ted was a senior partner in several law firms including the law firm of Magill & Lewis with his partner
R. Fred Lewis, now a Justice on the Florida Supreme Court.
He was a trial lawyer who specialized in product liability, medical and legal malpractice insurance,
wrongful death and negligence cases. Ted was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court,
the United States Courts of Appeal for the 5th and 11th Circuits, the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Florida, the Florida Supreme Court and all district and trial courts in Florida.
He was also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Military Appeals.
He taught at the Judge Advocate Generals School, U.S. Army from 1969 to 1979. Ted successfully defended
Sgt. Charles O. Hutto, in a My Lai Vietnam war crimes trial during 1969-70. His closing argument
in that case is included in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
He served as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of Colonel. Ted
was active in veterans’ affairs and served as President of the Chosin Few, Judge Advocate and
First Vice President of the Korean War Veterans Association, and was President of the Department
of Florida, Korean War Veterans Association, at the time of his death.