Edison Earl Scholes

Major General Edison Earl Scholes (Retired), passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024, surrounded by family in Franklin, Tennessee, departing his earthly life with military distinction and public service leadership. His family, friends, and troops will remember him most for exhibiting the highest levels of integrity and honor.

Born in Copperhill, Tennessee, and raised in McCaysville, Georgia, Ed Scholes was the son of Marie and Alvin Scholes who grew up in the mountains between three states, an experience that would afford him an advantage when he was enrolled in the US Army Ranger School. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate of what is now the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Georgia, marrying his wife of 63 years, Elva (Bussey) Scholes, the very day he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He received a Master of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and attended numerous military schools and courses throughout his career, including the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame in 2015.

He had an illustrious career serving 35 years in the U.S. Army in key leadership positions from platoon leader to deputy commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps, Third U.S. Army, and a major NATO command in Izmir, Turkey. He served in the Infantry, Airborne Infantry, Special Forces, and Ranger units, to include four combat tours (two in Vietnam, Panama and the Persian Gulf).

Ed Scholes served two tours in Vietnam in 1967-68 and 1970-71, earning the nickname Angry Skipper 6 from his commander in the 1st Cavalry Division due to his prickly disposition and immense desire to keep his men safe. The Angry Skipper Association survives today, representing the soldiers who served from 1968 through 1972, based on Ed’s insistence to live by this creed. He served another tour in Vietnam as Senior Advisor, I Corps Ranger Command (ARVN), responsible for the planning, coordination, organization, deployment, support, and combat operations of 9 Ranger Battalions, including the 75th Ranger Battalion, and a Ranger Group (3 Bns). Ed remained active in reunions for the U.S. Army Ranger Advisors to the Biet Dong Quan for many years. Ed Scholes would return from his tours in Vietnam, earning the Silver Star, multiple Bronze Star Medals with “V” Devices, and multiple Bronze Star Medals for Meritorious Combat Service, six Air Medals, two Purple Hearts, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm Unit Award, Vietnamese Ranger Badge, Vietnamese Master Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

As Chief of Staff, Joint Task Force–South, and Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps, he would lead the deployment of Corps elements to Panama in preparation and implementation of Operation Just Cause. His units, to include a company of tanks from his own son’s tank battalion, would pre-stage and be a part of the surprise invasion and eventual capture of Manuel Noriega and his forces. Months later, Scholes led the deployment of the XVIII Airborne Corps elements into Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was the Forward Commander of XVIII Airborne Corps forces deployed to Saudi Arabia for first three weeks in the early stages of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, responsible for command supervision of 50,000 soldiers of Corps units for combat operations and support during the war. After returning home from Saudi Arabia he lead the XVIII Airborne Corps Task Force who responded to the devastating CAT 5 Hurricane Andrew that cut through the heart of Florida in 1992.

Once Ed Scholes retired from active military in 1996 as Major General out of Fort Benning, Georgia, he assumed the position as Program General Manager for the Vinnell Corporation, supervising a contract to provide training and support to the Saudi Arabian National Guard. After six and a half years in Saudi Arabia, he returned to the U.S. in 2002 and served as a consultant for several U.S firms involving defense-related work in Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Algeria, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia and the USA. He retired to Franklin, Tennessee, while also spending time at his hunting cabin on the Duck River in Centerville, Tennessee.

He is preceded in death by his father Alvin Lee Scholes and mother Marie Plemmons Scholes, sister Sherry Scholes Welch (Bob), and brother Barry Scholes. He is survived by his wife Elva Bussey Scholes, daughter Kim (Adam), daughter Tracy (John), son Mike (Jessica), grandchildren Michael Jr. (Sarah), Ally (Garrett), Kyndal (Blake), Peyton, Andrew, Reagan, Nate, and great-grandchildren Easton, Magnolia, and Clayton.

He was indeed an American hero, a great leader, and the epitome of the caliber of soldier’s soldier he always strived to be, but mostly he should be remembered for his unerring commitment to God, Country, and Family.

Tributes and condolences may be added to the funeral home webpage of Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home 9010 Church St E, Brentwood, TN 37027. for the visitation on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. Services will be held at the Franklin First United Methodist Church 120 Aldersgate Way, Franklin, TN 37069 Tennessee, with an 11:00 AM Visitation and 12:00 PM Service, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Major General Scholes will be interned in Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Wounded Warrior Foundation, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org, or any veterans’ charity of choice because, for him, it was always about the soldier.