Primary source: Major (Ret.) Audis Walker "Buddy" Garner's obituary (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, published 9 Sep 2016, via Legacy.com). Corroborating sources for his D Company command: the D/2-8 Cav company daily journal (Skipper Journal, 3 Jun-3 Jul 1968), which names a "CPT Garner" in D Company by 24 Jun 1968; and Colavita's own memoir, "Company Grade: Memoir of an Angry Skipper," which per Michael places the D Co command chain as Grannemann -> Garner -> Colavita (see service record notes and admin notes). The memoir itself has not yet been directly read; exact dates for the start and end of Garner's command remain open questions.
1961
Commissioned
Enlisted, then commissioned 2nd Lieutenant via OCS
Enlisted in the United States Army in 1961 and was selected for officer training. Graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, the same year, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.
1966
First Vietnam Tour
First tour of duty in Vietnam
Per his obituary, served the first of two Vietnam tours in 1966. Unit and location not yet sourced.
1968-06
Company Command
Took command of D Company, 2/8 Cav — between Grannemann and Colavita
Served his second Vietnam tour in 1968, taking command of D Company, 2nd Battalion (Airmobile), 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), sometime after CPT Rodney Grannemann's departure (last confirmed 8 Jun 1968) — confirmed in command by 24 Jun 1968, when he filed a company malaria-control report. Per Colavita's own memoir, "Company Grade: Memoir of an Angry Skipper," he held the "Angry Skipper-6" callsign until handing command to CPT Henry Colavita in October 1968 (see soldiers/colavita-henry and soldiers/grannemann-rodney).
1981
Retired
Retired from the Army after a 20-year career
Retired from active duty in 1981 from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, closing out a 20-year career that included two Vietnam tours and decorations including the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Ranger Tab, the Special Forces Tab, and jump wings from both the U.S. and German airborne schools.
1997
JROTC
Retired from a second career teaching Junior ROTC
After the Army, taught Junior ROTC at three Tennessee high schools, closing out that second career in 1997 at his own alma mater, Hickman County High School in Centerville, Tennessee.
2014
Hall of Fame
Inducted into the OCS Hall of Fame
In recognition of his Vietnam War battlefield heroism, formally inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus, Georgia.
2016-09-06
Passed Away
Major (Ret.) Audis Walker "Buddy" Garner dies at 79
Passed away at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Georgia, after a long battle with an abdominal infection and two major surgeries, surrounded by his family. Buried with full military honors at Memorial Gardens, Centerville, Tennessee; active-duty soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, provided the burial detail, firing squad, and bugler.
