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William Childs Westmoreland (March 26, 1914 – July 18, 2005) was a United States Army general, most notably commander of United States forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1968 to 1972.
Westmoreland adopted a strategy of attrition against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, attempting to drain them of manpower and supplies. He also made use of the United States' edge in artillery and air power, both in tactical confrontations and in relentless strategic bombing of North Vietnam. Many of the battles in Vietnam were technically United States victories, with the United States Army in control of the field afterward; holding territory gained this way proved difficult, however. Public support for the war eventually diminished, especially after the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive in 1968. By the time he was re-assigned as Army Chief of Staff, United States military forces in Vietnam had reached a peak of 535,000 personnel. Westmoreland's strategy was ultimately politically unsuccessful. Growing United States casualties and the draft undermined United States support for the war while large-scale casualties among non-combatants weakened South Vietnamese support. This also failed to weaken North Vietnam's will to fight, and the Government of South Vietnam—a factor largely out of Westmoreland's control—never succeeded in establishing enough legitimacy to quell defections to the Viet Cong.
Westmoreland adopted a strategy of attrition against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, attempting to drain them of manpower and supplies. He also made use of the United States' edge in artillery and air power, both in tactical confrontations and in relentless strategic bombing of North Vietnam. Many of the battles in Vietnam were technically United States victories, with the United States Army in control of the field afterward; holding territory gained this way proved difficult, however. Public support for the war eventually diminished, especially after the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive in 1968. By the time he was re-assigned as Army Chief of Staff, United States military forces in Vietnam had reached a peak of 535,000 personnel. Westmoreland's strategy was ultimately politically unsuccessful. Growing United States casualties and the draft undermined United States support for the war while large-scale casualties among non-combatants weakened South Vietnamese support. This also failed to weaken North Vietnam's will to fight, and the Government of South Vietnam—a factor largely out of Westmoreland's control—never succeeded in establishing enough legitimacy to quell defections to the Viet Cong.
William Westmoreland - Wikipedia
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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.: The Crisis in the U.S. Military
Episode S0386, Recorded on September 20, 1979 Guest: William C. (William Childs) Westmoreland For more information about this program, see: http://digitalcol...
Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that March 26 is the anniversary of the birth of United States Army General William Childs Westmoreland who most notably commanded U.S. forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968
William Childs Westmoreland graduated with the USMA, West Point Class of 1936 as graduate number 10,571. He served with the 9th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations during WWII, in the Korean War and in the Vietnam War.
Rest in peace William Childs Westmoreland!
Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.: The Crisis in the U.S. Military
Episode S0386, Recorded on September 20, 1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl35RzSOcTg
Images: 1914- 2005 William Childs Westmoreland 'I have no apologies, no regrets. I gave my very best efforts'
Background from west-point.org/users/usma1936/10571/
Gen. Westmoreland died at the age of 91
Graduate West Point class of 1936.
During WWII commanded artillery battalions in Sicily and North Africa
Chief of Staff 9th Infantry Division
Instructed at Command and General Staff College; Army War College
Commanded 187th Airborne Infantry Reg Combat Team, Korea
Commanded 101st Airborne Division
Commanded XVIII Airborne Corps
Appointed Deputy Commander MACV on 6-20-64
Attended Harvard Business School AMP.
5 Honorary Degrees. 17 Battle campaign in 3 wars.
4 Distinguished Service Medals.
Decorated by 16 foreign countries. (4 from S. Amer., 5 Eur., 7 Far East).
Commanded all military elements from Platoon to Chief of Staff.
Superintendent, US Military Academy.
Commanded 3 major Army posts.
Commanded US troops in Vietnam and advised S Vietnam military for over 4 years Chief of Staff, US Army, for 4 years.
Man of Year - TIME Mag. '65
Headed Task Force for Economic Growth for Governor of S Carolina.
Traveled extensively. Lecturer - Spoken to numerous college audiences and civic groups.
Board Director of a number of corporations and organizations.
Paratrooper, helicopter pilot.
Sports: golf, swimming, hunting.
Memoirs:
"A Soldier Reports", (a memoir of 40 years in uniform - unique Vietnam experience, centerpiece.) Author: Westmoreland - Published by Doubleday, (May '80 published by Dell in paperback.)
"Riding to Battle: Reminiscence of 1941-43". (Westmoreland, William C., Army, Apr 1993,pp. 43-44).
Samuel Zaffiri,"Westmoreland: A Biography of General William C. Westmoreland",(1995, ISBN [login to see] , Amazon.com).
"The Eagle Scout"; US News and World Report (Special Report) March 16, 1998.
He is survived by his wife Kitsy, and 3 children
Interment services will be Saturday, July 23, 2005 at West Point. The chapel service will be closed to the public. Burial in the West Point cemetery will follow, and is open to the public. Since the chapel service is at 1000 hours, it is estimated that time of the graveside service will be approximately 1045-1100 hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Army Emergency Relief Fund, 200 Stovall Street, Suite 5n13, Alexandria, VA 22332; The American Red Cross, Lowcountry Chapter, 5290 Rivers Avenue, Charleston, SC 29406; The Salvation Army, 4248 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405, or West Point Fund, Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, New York, 10996."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
William Childs Westmoreland graduated with the USMA, West Point Class of 1936 as graduate number 10,571. He served with the 9th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations during WWII, in the Korean War and in the Vietnam War.
Rest in peace William Childs Westmoreland!
Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.: The Crisis in the U.S. Military
Episode S0386, Recorded on September 20, 1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl35RzSOcTg
Images: 1914- 2005 William Childs Westmoreland 'I have no apologies, no regrets. I gave my very best efforts'
Background from west-point.org/users/usma1936/10571/
Gen. Westmoreland died at the age of 91
Graduate West Point class of 1936.
During WWII commanded artillery battalions in Sicily and North Africa
Chief of Staff 9th Infantry Division
Instructed at Command and General Staff College; Army War College
Commanded 187th Airborne Infantry Reg Combat Team, Korea
Commanded 101st Airborne Division
Commanded XVIII Airborne Corps
Appointed Deputy Commander MACV on 6-20-64
Attended Harvard Business School AMP.
5 Honorary Degrees. 17 Battle campaign in 3 wars.
4 Distinguished Service Medals.
Decorated by 16 foreign countries. (4 from S. Amer., 5 Eur., 7 Far East).
Commanded all military elements from Platoon to Chief of Staff.
Superintendent, US Military Academy.
Commanded 3 major Army posts.
Commanded US troops in Vietnam and advised S Vietnam military for over 4 years Chief of Staff, US Army, for 4 years.
Man of Year - TIME Mag. '65
Headed Task Force for Economic Growth for Governor of S Carolina.
Traveled extensively. Lecturer - Spoken to numerous college audiences and civic groups.
Board Director of a number of corporations and organizations.
Paratrooper, helicopter pilot.
Sports: golf, swimming, hunting.
Memoirs:
"A Soldier Reports", (a memoir of 40 years in uniform - unique Vietnam experience, centerpiece.) Author: Westmoreland - Published by Doubleday, (May '80 published by Dell in paperback.)
"Riding to Battle: Reminiscence of 1941-43". (Westmoreland, William C., Army, Apr 1993,pp. 43-44).
Samuel Zaffiri,"Westmoreland: A Biography of General William C. Westmoreland",(1995, ISBN [login to see] , Amazon.com).
"The Eagle Scout"; US News and World Report (Special Report) March 16, 1998.
He is survived by his wife Kitsy, and 3 children
Interment services will be Saturday, July 23, 2005 at West Point. The chapel service will be closed to the public. Burial in the West Point cemetery will follow, and is open to the public. Since the chapel service is at 1000 hours, it is estimated that time of the graveside service will be approximately 1045-1100 hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Army Emergency Relief Fund, 200 Stovall Street, Suite 5n13, Alexandria, VA 22332; The American Red Cross, Lowcountry Chapter, 5290 Rivers Avenue, Charleston, SC 29406; The Salvation Army, 4248 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405, or West Point Fund, Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, New York, 10996."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG William Jones SSG Diane R.
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