William Westmoreland

United States Army general (1914-2005)

William Childs Westmoreland (March 26, 1914 – July 18, 2005) was an United States Army four-star general.

William Westmoreland
Birth nameWilliam Childs Westmoreland
Nickname"Westy"
Born(1914-03-26)March 26, 1914
Saxon, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedJuly 18, 2005(2005-07-18) (aged 91)
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Place of burialWest Point Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1936-1972
Rank General
Commands held504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
187th Regimental Combat Team

101st Airborne Division
Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy
XVIII Airborne Corps
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Awards Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star (2)
Air Medal (10)

Westmoreland commanded U.S. military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak (1964–68), including during the 1968 Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army.

He later served as U.S. Army chief of staff from 1968 to 1972.

He was mentioned in a Time magazine article as a potential candidate for the 1968 Republican nomination.[1]

References

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  1. "The Temper of the Times". Time (magazine). 1967-04-14. Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-09-14.

Other websites

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