Retired U.S. Army Colonel Warner "Rocky" Dahlgren Farr

Physician and Retired U.S. Army Colonel Warner “Rocky” Dahlgren Farr of Tampa, Florida, passed away on November 20, 2024, in the company of his wife, Kathleen Dunn Farr, and his favorite dachshund, Dartle. He was 76 years of age, and is survived by his wife, Physician and Retired U.S. Army Colonel Kathleen Dunn Farr, his sons, Retired U.S. Army Colonel/Honorable (Senior District Judge) David Dahlgren Farr (Betsy) and Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Timothy Andrew Farr (Cecilia) and grandchildren Megan Elizabeth, Kathryn Marye, and Jack Dahlgren Farr, and Seth Jonathan and Sarah Marie Farr.

Rocky was born May 30, 1948, to Retired U.S. Army Colonel Charles Dahlgren Farr and Marye Elizabeth Harris Farr in Little Rock, Arkansas. He enlisted in the Airborne Infantry on April 23, 1967, and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He volunteered for service in Vietnam and served with the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam Studies & Observation Group (MACV-SOG). After attending the Defense Language Institute, he joined Detachment A, Berlin Brigade. He then returned to the States and became an instructor at the ROTC Detachment, Northeast Louisiana University, where he completed his Bachelor’s in Medical Technology. As a Sergeant First Class he taught the 18 Delta course and was ultimately selected for Master Sergeant. In 1979, he was accepted into medical school and attended the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. Rocky was the distinguished honor graduate of his Army Flight Surgeon Course, and solo qualified in the TH-55 helicopter. In 1983, he received his Doctor of Medicine and completed residencies and board certifications in aerospace medicine as well as both anatomic and clinical pathology.

Rocky’s many decades of Service included many significant assignments not limited to the following: Flight Surgeon, 50th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Division Surgeon, 10th Mountain Division; Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Aeromedical Center and Lyster Army Hospital; Deputy Chief of Staff, Surgeon, U.S. Army Special Operations Command; Command Surgeon, U.S. Army Special Forces Command and U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command; Command Surgeon of the U.S. Special Operations Command; and Command Surgeon, Special Operations Command. As a member of the Department of Defense Tactical Combat Casualty Care Committee, he established training requirements for battlefield care and routinely conducted training for deploying medical personnel. He retired from the Army as the third-longest serving U.S. Army soldier on May 1, 2013. Rocky’s additional educational accomplishments include a Masters of Public Health at the University of Texas and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the Air War College.

After his military retirement, Rocky taught at the Bradenton, Florida, campus of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine as the Associate Clinical Professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine.

Rocky’s military awards include the Combat Medical Badge with Star, Expert Infantryman Badge, Army Master Flight Surgeon Wings, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Scuba Badge, Special Forces Tab, Defense Superior Service Medial with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for Valor with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 2 devices, Joint Service and Army Commendation Medals, Good Conduct Medal with clasp and 4 loops, President, Valorous, Meritorious and Joint Unit Citations, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the U.S. Air Force Operational Excellent Unit Citation.

Rocky enjoyed many interests during his lifetime with a keen interest in the history of the Civil War, “The Republic of Texas” and just about anything medical-related and left behind an enormous academic library. He was fluent in numerous languages including German, Farsi, and Dari and played the bagpipes as a nod to the Farr family’s Scottish lineage. He enjoyed “ranching” in the Hill Country and many great long Texas evenings by the campfire with his grandchildren at the Farr Ranch in Camp Wood, Texas. Rocky was instrumental over several decades in mentoring countless Special Forces medical professionals and in setting the stage for improved combat medical effectiveness in both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of combat. His legacy is the development of a long line of medical professionals, both military (officer and non-commissioned officer) and civilian. His significant impact on the medical profession helped save the lives of his fellow Soldiers in multiple combat zones. The World will miss his ability to lead from the front; his willingness to assist with almost anything you asked of him; and his calm and direct ability to manage most any challenge.

Rocky will be laid to rest with full military honors at the National Cemetery at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas at 11:00 a.m. on December 20, 2024. A celebration of his life will be held afterwards at 1:00 p.m. at the Longtab Brewery located at 4700 Timco W Suite 105, San Antonio, TX 78238. “De Oppresso Liber”.