7/19/2005
William C. Westmoreland
American Soldier says,
A great leader in Military history passed away last night. General William Westmoreland. I thought it would be appropriate to tell a little bit more about him other than the fact that he has left us.
William Childs Westmoreland (born March 26, 1914, Spartanburg County, South Carolina) is a retired United States General who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War from 1964-68 and served as US Army Chief of Staff from 1968 to 1972.
Early Career
Westmoreland entered West Point in 1932 after one year at the Citadel. His initial motive for entering was to “see the world”. Following graduation in 1936 he became an artillery officer and served in several different commands, reaching the ranks of lieutenant colonel and subsequently colonel during combat operations in the European theater during WW II.During WW II, in 1943 while in Sicily, his battalion was selected to be the artillery support for the 82nd Airborne Division.
Regimental and Division Command
Westmoreland’s WW II experience with the 82nd Airborne led to his being asked by General James M. Gavin to join the 82nd as a regimental commander after the war, which was the beginning of his professional association with airborne and airmobile troops. He served with the 82nd Airborne for four years.During the Korean Conflict he commanded the 187th Regimental Combat Team.
In late 1953 Westmoreland was promoted brigadier general and spent the next 5 years in the Pentagon. In 1958 he assumed command of the 101st Airborne Division. In 1960 he became Superintendent of West Point, in 1963 became commander of the XVIII Airborme Corps. Later that year he became deputy commander of MACV, assuming command of MACV from General Paul Harkins in 1964.
Vietnam Era
As the head of the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam he was known for highly publicized, positive assessments of US military prospects in Vietnam. However, as time went on the strengthening of North Vietnamese combat forces in the South led to regular requests for increases in US troop strength, from less than 100,000 when he arrived to over 500,000 in 1968.The most notable campaign was the 1968 Tet Offensive, in which Communist forces attacked cities and towns throughout South Vietnam. Westmoreland successfully fought off the Offensive, but the ferocity of the assault shook public confidence in his previous assurances about the state of the war. Political debate and public opinion led the Johnson administration to limit further increases in troops.
Post Vietnam
Westmoreland served as US Army Chief of Staff from 1968 to 1972 , then retired from the Army. Westmoreland ran unsucessfully for Governor of South Carolina in 1974. He published his autobiography »A Soldier Reports« the following year. Westmoreland later served on a task force to improve educational standards in the state of South Carolina.Personal Data
In 1947, he married Katherine (»Kitsy«) S. Van Deusen. They had three children: Katherine, Margaret, and James Ripley.
I will leave you with some of his more famous quotes:
“The military don’t start wars. Politicians start wars.”
“I do not believe that the men who served in uniform in Vietnam have been given the credit they deserve. It was a difficult war against an unorthodox enemy.”
“Television is an instrument which can paralyze this country.”
Thank you and see you on the other side Sir!
Filed under: General
19 Responses to “William C. Westmoreland”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
TrackBack To This Entry (Right-Click and Copy Shortcut)
William C. Westmoreland
A Military Great Passes On
…
Godspeed General Westmoreland
American Soldier has a post about the passing (last night) of General William Westmoreland.
Thank you for posting this. And, to echo Blackfive ~ “Godspeed, General.”
Reviled by the Left for his conduct of the Vietnam War, General Westmoreland was a hero anyway for his 40 years of honorable service to our country and his professionalism even under fire from his fellow countrymen.
He never stooped to the level of his detractors…
May America always have, and deserve, such great men. May we who remain learn from their examples and lift up those around us.
Gen. Westmoreland, Who Led U.S. in Vietnam, Dies
One of my many memories of Vietnam was watching a dozen or so helicopters flying into the Qui Nhon area and watching half of them land. The rest circled the skies and kept watch. All were “Gun Ships”, and the distinguished visitor was GEN William Wes…
God bless you General Westmoreland. I offer my last Salute to you, and offer condolences to your family, friends and Comrades.
Faded Away
General William Westmoreland, commander of Military Assistance Command and Army Chief of Staff during the Vietnam War, died yesterday of natural causes at age 91. While that war was lost (yes, I know why), General Westmoreland had been victorious in
Thanks AS for that eulogy of Gen WestMoreland. He will be missed. Honorable and brave leaders like that don’t come along everyday!
Yes I agree that the Vietnam vets didn’t get a fair deal in any form it seems. I just want to say that I honor them and appreciate what they did for our country! Thank you Vietnam vets everywhere!!
I blogged quite a bit on General Wesmoreland’s passing as well.
Seems like this was a man between a rock and a hard place. Unfairly reviled and not given the honor he deserved. Good to see you back home and back at work AS. Life does go on doesn’t it.
Everyone in Nam had to carry the M1911. The only time I saw Westmoreland he was wearing a Browning Hi-power 9mm. I was insulted.
If he wanted to win the war he should of put Hank Emerson or David Hackworth in charge, they would put the heat to metal and tracked the ememy down, why didn’t they listen to those on the ground? So Conkite et al could go cry. I’m still pissed about the upper levels of command that were in war 2 mode. GodSpeed Solider
“…an old Soldier who tried to do his Duty as God gave him the light to see that Duty.”
“Well done my good and faithful servant.”
AS, you always give me thigs to ponder. Thank you for bring this to me as well. I pray The Good Lord brings General William Westmoreland to his side, for he did a wonderful job of keeping his eye on America.
Thank you for that information. It ceratinly changes my opinion of him. At the time he was over there I had heard some things that made me think he didn’t look after his troops. I can see here from those in the know, from the field, that isn’t true. I guess the MSM wasn’t so trustworthy then either. They really dumped on the poor man. Maybe, like Patton, they were jealous of his genius.
I offer my sincerest condolances to The General’s family and friends.
May you rest in peace sir beside others as worthy as yourself.
“The politicians locked us into a defensive strategy, thereby preventing me bringing the war to a speedy conclusion”
-Gen. Westmoreland in a foreword to a Vietnam War book…
Proud to be one of Westy’s Warriors from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Vietnam 67 & 68
RIP Brother, Very proud to have gotten to me you at our reunion in Washington, DC
Gen. Westmoreland was a man of certain. I am proud to know that we shared the same blood, he led a victorious army during his time and most certainly earned his title. May God continue to look down upon Kathryn, Margaret and James, Bless the angels above and let the Westmoreland blood run strong as ever!
Dear Sir,
I have just this website .My name is Alisher .The purpose of my letter consist of that I want to know is that really true that American soldiers stand with each others?
I hope you will reply me all about this.
Sincerely yours
Alisher