Early Edward Walters Duncan was born in Woodsdale, North Carolina, on January 1, 1894. He was graduated from the University of North Carolina in June 1917 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. That same month he entered the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and on August 15, 1917, was commissioned a second lieutenant, Cavalry Section, Officers’ Reserve Corps. From that date until May 1918 he served on active duty with the 11th Cavalry at various stations throughout the United States. Om May 1, 1918, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Cavalry in the Regular Army.
He joined the 11th Cavalry at Camp Pike, Arkansas, in August 1917, served there for several months, and was then transferred to the following posts where served consecutively for brief periods: Camp Taylor, Kentucky; Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; Fort Myer, Virginia; and Fort Sam Fordyce, Texas.
In July 1919 he was transferred to the 9th Cavalry and sent to Camp Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands. In October 1920, he returned to the United States, and in November 1920 was assigned to the Air Service Pilot School, March Field, California. He proceeded to Kelly Field, Texas, in May 1921 where he served until June 1922. He was then assigned as Commanding Officer of the 59th Service Squadron, Kelly Field, Texas, and was transferred that same month with the 59th Service Squadron to Langley Field, Virginia. In October 1923 he was transferred to the 11th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bombardment Group, and served as Commanding Officer of the 11th Bombardment Squadron until September 1925 when he enrolled in the Air Service Tactical School, Langley Field, Virginia. He was graduated in June 1926.
In August 1926 he entered the Cavalry School, Advanced Course, Fort Riley, Kansas, and upon completing the course in June 1927 was assigned to the Sixth Corps Area, Chicago, Illinois, where he became Corps Area Air Officer in August 1927.
He enrolled in the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in August 1932; completed the two-year course in June 1933, and was assigned with the 18th Pursuit Group at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He served there in various staff capacities until September 1935 when he returned to the United States and was ordered to March Field, Riverside, California, for base and unit staff duties.
From October 1938 to October 1939 he was on detached service as War Department representative with the United States Navy and was attached to the Staff of Commander of Aircraft, Battle Force, United States Navy. In October 1939 he became the Air Officer, Eighth Corps Area, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, and served in that capacity until May 1940, when he was ordered to Athens, Greece as Military Attaché. The duties of Military Attaché necessitated a short period of detached service in the G-2 section of the War Department. He completed this duty and was preparing to sail when by executive orders the Mediterranean was closed. He was ordered in June 1940 to Lowry Field, Colorado, where he became Executive Officer of the Technical School. In November 1940 he became Commandant of Lowry Field.
In April 1942 he was ordered to the Air Corps Technical School, Lincoln, Nebraska, as Commanding Officer of Lincoln Army Air Base. He was assigned to the European Theater of Operations in May 1944, where he subsequently took command of the 24th Composite Wing in Iceland and served as Deputy Commander of the Iceland Base Command. In December 1944 he was announced as Commanding General of the United States Army Forces in Iceland. He returned to the United States in May 1945 for reassignment a month later to Santiago, Chile, as Commander of the United States Air Mission in Chile.
Returning to the United States in May 1946 he became Commanding Officer of Orlando Army Air Base (later, Air Force Base), Florida. In July 1948 he was assigned as Chief of the Personnel Services Division, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In February 1951 he was appointed Deputy National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., which position he held until his retirement from the Air Force on July 31, 1953, in the grade of Brigadier General.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
Second Lieutenant, Cavalry Section Officers’ Reserve Corps, August 15, 1917; active duty, August 15, 1917, to May 21, 1918; Second Lieutenant of Cavalry, May 1, 1918; First Lieutenant (temporary), June 12, 1918; First Lieutenant, September 25, 1919; transferred to Air Service, July 1, 1920; Captain, July 1, 1920; Major (temporary), March 12, 1935, to July 31, 1935; Major, August 1, 1935; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), September 2, 1938, to August 18, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel, August 18, 1940; Colonel (temporary), March 15, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S., December 24, 1941; Brigadier General, A.U.S., December 3, 1942; terminated Brigadier General, A.U.S., May 31, 1946; Colonel, A.U.S., March 15, 1941; retired in the grade of Brigadier General, July 31, 1953.
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant, Mexican Border Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Grand Knight’s Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon, Commander of the Chilean Order of Merit, Chilean Air Force Pilot Badge.