Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Westmoreland Dead
For some reason, despite my love for U.S. history, I thought Westmoreland died a long time ago. He had a very interesting life:
It doesn't even mention that he found time to go to Harvard Business School. To sum it up: Interesting guy who's sunny optimism on the Vietnam War may have helped lead us to our doom there. Rest in Peace.
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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.
It doesn't even mention that he found time to go to Harvard Business School. To sum it up: Interesting guy who's sunny optimism on the Vietnam War may have helped lead us to our doom there. Rest in Peace.
