Ernest Jeunet Whitaker (September 30, 1916 - July 23, 2006) was a career U.S. Army officer. Born in Virginia, Whitaker attended the United States Military Academy at West Point from July 1, 1937 through June 10, 1941. Commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant, and then attended the Field Artillery School Officers' Course at Fort Sill from August to October 1941. Then he completed Armored Force School in January 1942. Soon he was on his way to the European Theater, where he served as the intelligence officer for the Sixth Field Artillery Group in the Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, and Southern France campaigns. He then was promoted to major and made the executive officer of the 59th Armored Field Artillery Battalion and fought in the Rhineland and Central European campaigns. He also served occupation duty in German and Belgium before returning to the United States. In January 1946, Whitaker was named an instructor at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Whitaker eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and fought in the Korean War. After the Korean War, he graduated from the Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in June 1955. He married Mary Catherine Miles (b. May 23, 1919) on December 31, 1941, and they had six children