Another Warrior passes: RIP Gen. W. Westmoreland

CHEMICAL SOLDIER · 07-19-2005, 12:21 AM

http://www.cnn.com/
I was surprised that he was still alive., but rest inpeace Gen. Westmoreland.

CHEMICAL SOLDIER · 07-19-2005, 12:24 AM

U.S.
Vietnam-era commander Westmoreland dead
Retired Army general was 91

Tuesday, July 19, 2005; Posted: 1:11 a.m. EDT (05:11 GMT)

story.westmoreland.bw.jpg
Westmoreland in a January 1972 photograph.

Obituaries (General)
Vietnam
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CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) -- Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded American troops in Vietnam -- the nation's longest conflict and the only war America lost -- died Monday night. He was 91.

Westmoreland died of natural causes at Bishop Gadsden retirement home, where he had lived with his wife for several years, said his son, James Ripley Westmoreland.

The silver-haired, jut-jawed officer, who rose through the ranks quickly in Europe during World War II and later became superintendent of West Point, contended the United States did not lose the conflict in Southeast Asia.

"It's more accurate to say our country did not fulfill its commitment to South Vietnam," he said. "By virtue of Vietnam, the U.S. held the line for 10 years and stopped the dominoes from falling."

He would later say he did not know how history would deal with him.

"Few people have a field command as long as I did," he said. "They put me over there and they forgot about me. But I was there seven days a week, working 14 to 16 hours a day.

"I have no apologies, no regrets. I gave my very best efforts," he added. "I've been hung in effigy. I've been spat upon. You just have to let those things bounce off."

Later, after many of the wounds caused by the divisive conflict began to heal, Westmoreland led thousands of his comrades in the November 1982 veterans march in Washington to dedicate the Vietnam War Memorial.

He called it "one of the most emotional and proudest experiences of my life."
A colonel by age 30

William Childs Westmoreland was born near Spartanburg, South Carolina, on March 26, 1914, into a banking and textile family.

He was an Eagle Scout and attended The Citadel for a year before transferring to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1936 and, during his senior year, held the highest command position in the cadet corps.

Westmoreland saw action in North Africa, Sicily and Europe during World War II. He attained the rank of colonel by the time he was 30.

As commander of the 34th Field Artillery Battalion fighting German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, he earned the loyalty and respect of his troops for joining in the thick of battle rather than remaining behind the lines at a command post.

He was promoted to brigadier general during service in the Korean War and later served in the Pentagon under Army Chief of Staff Maxwell Taylor.

Westmoreland became the superintendent of West Point in 1960 and, by 1964, was a three-star general commanding American troops in Vietnam.
Life after Vietnam

After his tour in Vietnam, Westmoreland was promoted to Army chief of staff. He retired from active duty in 1972 but he continued to lecture and participate in veterans' activities.

A decade after his retirement, Westmoreland fought another battle involving Vietnam.

In 1982, he filed a $120 million lawsuit against CBS over a documentary "The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception," which implied he had deceived President Johnson and the public about enemy troop strength in Vietnam.

At the time, Westmoreland said the question "is not about whether the war in Vietnam was right or wrong, but whether in our land a television network can rob an honorable man of his reputation."

After an 18-week trial in New York, the case was settled shortly before it was to go to the jury.

The settlement was characteristic of the general's ambivalent relationship with the press.

In his autobiography, "A Soldier Reports," Westmoreland wrote that in Vietnam, while he "tried to avoid any vendetta against the press," he sometimes resented the time he had to spend correcting "errors, misinterpretations, judgments and falsehoods" contained in news reports.

But he wrote that the press is "such a bulwark of the American system, that it is well to tolerate some mistakes and derelictions to make every effort to assure that total freedom and independence continue to exist."
Frequent speaker at veterans' gatherings

In later years, Westmoreland often spoke to Vietnam veterans' groups, accepting invitations to visit veterans' groups in all 50 states, his son "Rip" Westmoreland said.

"That became, in effect, his raison d'etre," the son recalled. "He did have a point of view on Vietnam but he did not speak about that. He was not out there trying to justify anything. He was there looking at the veterans with his wonderful presence.

"He shied away from making money," his son said. "That was primarily a function of him being old school, and he felt it was unsavory cashing in on his contacts. He actually had an agent at one point, and he fired the agent."

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Raiders Army · 07-19-2005, 07:11 AM

Really smart guy. It's gonna be a circus here next week, and he'll be buried right outside my window.

JonInMiddleGA · 07-19-2005, 10:19 AM

Like CS, I have to admit I was surprised to realize he was still alive (well, was until very recently ... you know what I mean).

I actually spent a few minutes pondering him last night, trying to decide my own personal version of "how history would treat him".

I finally settled on a sincere "Rest In Peace", because regardless of the outcome, I do generally believe he did the best he knew how to do given the situations & circumstances he faced.

wahoomac · 07-19-2005, 05:21 PM

I sincerely hope he Rests In Peace. My father was an attache to his staff during the Vietnam War (pre-1967) and I met him once when he was on tour signing his book ("A Soldier Reports"). My father always spoke highly of him. I remember he was very kind and he and my dad spoke for quite some time. I'll have to find that book and give it another read (I haven't read it in probably over 20 years).

Leonidas · 07-20-2005, 07:26 AM

It's a shame his legacy is stuck with that political shitstorm called the Vietnam conflict because he truly was a brilliant officer. Military history is quite kind and respectful of Westy's accomplishments before Vietnam. His efforts in WWII and Korea are highly, highly esteemed.

07-19-2005, 12:24 AM	#2
CHEMICAL SOLDIER College Starter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Henderson, Nevada	U.S. Vietnam-era commander Westmoreland dead Retired Army general was 91 Tuesday, July 19, 2005; Posted: 1:11 a.m. EDT (05:11 GMT) story.westmoreland.bw.jpg Westmoreland in a January 1972 photograph. Obituaries (General) Vietnam or Create Your Own Manage Alerts \| What Is This? CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) -- Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded American troops in Vietnam -- the nation's longest conflict and the only war America lost -- died Monday night. He was 91. Westmoreland died of natural causes at Bishop Gadsden retirement home, where he had lived with his wife for several years, said his son, James Ripley Westmoreland. The silver-haired, jut-jawed officer, who rose through the ranks quickly in Europe during World War II and later became superintendent of West Point, contended the United States did not lose the conflict in Southeast Asia. "It's more accurate to say our country did not fulfill its commitment to South Vietnam," he said. "By virtue of Vietnam, the U.S. held the line for 10 years and stopped the dominoes from falling." He would later say he did not know how history would deal with him. "Few people have a field command as long as I did," he said. "They put me over there and they forgot about me. But I was there seven days a week, working 14 to 16 hours a day. "I have no apologies, no regrets. I gave my very best efforts," he added. "I've been hung in effigy. I've been spat upon. You just have to let those things bounce off." Later, after many of the wounds caused by the divisive conflict began to heal, Westmoreland led thousands of his comrades in the November 1982 veterans march in Washington to dedicate the Vietnam War Memorial. He called it "one of the most emotional and proudest experiences of my life." A colonel by age 30 William Childs Westmoreland was born near Spartanburg, South Carolina, on March 26, 1914, into a banking and textile family. He was an Eagle Scout and attended The Citadel for a year before transferring to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1936 and, during his senior year, held the highest command position in the cadet corps. Westmoreland saw action in North Africa, Sicily and Europe during World War II. He attained the rank of colonel by the time he was 30. As commander of the 34th Field Artillery Battalion fighting German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, he earned the loyalty and respect of his troops for joining in the thick of battle rather than remaining behind the lines at a command post. He was promoted to brigadier general during service in the Korean War and later served in the Pentagon under Army Chief of Staff Maxwell Taylor. Westmoreland became the superintendent of West Point in 1960 and, by 1964, was a three-star general commanding American troops in Vietnam. Life after Vietnam After his tour in Vietnam, Westmoreland was promoted to Army chief of staff. He retired from active duty in 1972 but he continued to lecture and participate in veterans' activities. A decade after his retirement, Westmoreland fought another battle involving Vietnam. In 1982, he filed a $120 million lawsuit against CBS over a documentary "The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception," which implied he had deceived President Johnson and the public about enemy troop strength in Vietnam. At the time, Westmoreland said the question "is not about whether the war in Vietnam was right or wrong, but whether in our land a television network can rob an honorable man of his reputation." After an 18-week trial in New York, the case was settled shortly before it was to go to the jury. The settlement was characteristic of the general's ambivalent relationship with the press. In his autobiography, "A Soldier Reports," Westmoreland wrote that in Vietnam, while he "tried to avoid any vendetta against the press," he sometimes resented the time he had to spend correcting "errors, misinterpretations, judgments and falsehoods" contained in news reports. But he wrote that the press is "such a bulwark of the American system, that it is well to tolerate some mistakes and derelictions to make every effort to assure that total freedom and independence continue to exist." Frequent speaker at veterans' gatherings In later years, Westmoreland often spoke to Vietnam veterans' groups, accepting invitations to visit veterans' groups in all 50 states, his son "Rip" Westmoreland said. "That became, in effect, his raison d'etre," the son recalled. "He did have a point of view on Vietnam but he did not speak about that. He was not out there trying to justify anything. He was there looking at the veterans with his wonderful presence. "He shied away from making money," his son said. "That was primarily a function of him being old school, and he felt it was unsavory cashing in on his contacts. He actually had an agent at one point, and he fired the agent." Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. __________________ Toujour Pret Last edited by CHEMICAL SOLDIER : 07-19-2005 at 12:24 AM.

07-19-2005, 10:19 AM	#4
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	Like CS, I have to admit I was surprised to realize he was still alive (well, was until very recently ... you know what I mean). I actually spent a few minutes pondering him last night, trying to decide my own personal version of "how history would treat him". I finally settled on a sincere "Rest In Peace", because regardless of the outcome, I do generally believe he did the best he knew how to do given the situations & circumstances he faced. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

07-19-2005, 05:21 PM	#5
wahoomac Mascot Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Gainesville	I sincerely hope he Rests In Peace. My father was an attache to his staff during the Vietnam War (pre-1967) and I met him once when he was on tour signing his book ("A Soldier Reports"). My father always spoke highly of him. I remember he was very kind and he and my dad spoke for quite some time. I'll have to find that book and give it another read (I haven't read it in probably over 20 years). __________________ John "Wahoo" McDaniel UF Gator FB Fan / UK Wildcat BB Fan

07-20-2005, 07:26 AM	#6
Leonidas College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: East Anglia	It's a shame his legacy is stuck with that political shitstorm called the Vietnam conflict because he truly was a brilliant officer. Military history is quite kind and respectful of Westy's accomplishments before Vietnam. His efforts in WWII and Korea are highly, highly esteemed. __________________ Molon labe

07-19-2005, 07:11 AM	#3
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	Really smart guy. It's gonna be a circus here next week, and he'll be buried right outside my window.

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