William B. Caldwell III

Caldwell was born on July 20, 1925 at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, into a military family. His father was a soldier, and his grandfather fought for the Union Army in the American Civil War.[1]

Both of his parents were natural leaders and their home overflowed with friends associated with the military. Young Bill Caldwell basked in their camaraderie, emulated their character, and looked forward to the day when he could wear an officer's uniform.

When Caldwell was 16, he lived with his family at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, the Caldwells were horror-struck as they heard the roar of Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor and witnessed[2] a Japanese plane strafe an officer running down their street. The next day, Bill helped at the base hospital and for the weeks that followed, drove an ammunition truck. Dependents were later evacuated from Hawaii; Bill, his mother, and his sister moved to Los Angeles where he finished high school.

One of Caldwell's childhood dreams was to attend West Point, but he did not think he could get in and almost enlisted in the Marine Corps. He later said, "When the telegram came telling my family and me that I was accepted into West Point and I was to report there in two days or three days, I immediately caught a train out of El Paso and went to West Point."[2]

Caldwell on his wedding day in 1949.

Commissioned as second lieutenant in the infantry in 1948, Caldwell attended ground general school at Fort Riley, Kansas and the Infantry School at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. While in Columbus, he met his future wife Tudy Dismuke. Soon after their marriage, Second Lieutenant Caldwell was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, which served as a Japanese occupation force on Kyushu. His unit was later deployed to Korea and was one of the first U.S. combat troops there. For heroism and gallantry in the Korean War, he was awarded two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star with Valor.

After the Korean War, Caldwell served in a variety of command staff positions in the United States and Europe. In 1954, Caldwell served as Operations Officer for the 1st Infantry Division in Germany and in Fort Riley, Kansas. As he departed Fort Riley, his efficiency report highlighted that he is "...a positive and incisive thinker and meticulous planner... natural leader... possesses a well-developed sense of humor, tact and diplomacy."

COL Caldwell commanded the Second Regiment of the U.S. Cadet Corps.

Caldwell served at West Point twice during his career. First, as a tactical officer in 1960 and again as the commander of the Second Regiment of the U.S. Cadet Corps from 1968 to 1969. Caldwell loved West Point and imparted his tactical knowledge, dedication to the Army, and his leadership philosophy to the Corps of Cadets.

During the Vietnam War, he served as a brigade commander for the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.[3]

When his brigade was under assault, Colonel Caldwell directed a counter-assault and was awarded his third Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. After brigade command, he remained in Vietnam and served as a senior military advisor at the Civil Operations Development Center, III Corps.

After a combat tour in the Vietnam War and his tour at the U.S. Military Academy, Caldwell and his family boarded the Queen Mary for an assignment at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). After three years in Belgium, he and his family moved to Germany where he served as Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) of the Fourth and later the First Armored Division.

In 1973, Caldwell returned with his family to Washington, D.C. where he oversaw the dissemination of all foreign military aid from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Then, he commanded the Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He instituted the post's motto, "Victory Starts Here." In 1975, Time magazine did a profile of training the post-Vietnam War U.S. Army.[4] Caldwell, who oversaw the effort to train an all-volunteer force said, "Our mission is to develop a highly motivated, disciplined soldier who knows the basic skills of his craft. Unlike the Marines—and I don't mean to criticize them—we don't first break a man down and then rebuild him. We think that he should be able to think for himself. He should respond to orders, but we don't want to set him in a mold."[5] Caldwell's installation was also considered to be the most gender friendly in the country and he actively supported the recruitment and integration of women in the U.S. Army.

He held two final command positions before retirement in 1980. His penultimate position was as commander for Readiness Region VI at Fort Knox, Kentucky. And in July 1978, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of Fifth Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. At Fifth Army, he oversaw the training of about 270,000 National Guardsmen and Army Reservists.

Caldwell with a color guard at San Antonio's "Remember the Alamo" parade.

Vietnam War

In Vietnam, Caldwell oversaw training and equipping of paramilitary forces.

Five months after the birth of his last child, the newly appointed Colonel Caldwell reported for duty in Vietnam from 1967–8 initially as commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.[8]

On February 24, 1967, Caldwell learned that his brigade was under heavy assault near Ap Gu and flew to the combat zone. He initially directed fire from the air; after his helicopter landed in a non-secure area, Caldwell directed the counter-assault from the ground with his troops. Because of his actions that day, he was awarded his third Silver Star for gallantry in action against a hostile force. The citation partly read, "Although continuously exposed to intensive hostile fire... Through superb planning and tireless supervision... With complete disregard for his personal safety... His presence in the areas of heaviest conflict greatly inspired his men and they soon routed the large insurgent force." For his heroism that day, Caldwell also received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

From September 1967 to January 1968, Caldwell served as a senior military advisor at the Civil Operations Development Center, III Corps. In this capacity, he oversaw the training and equipping of the South Vietnamese paramilitary forces. While not exercising command and control of RVN forces, he was present during many battles advising RVN commanders on tactics.

Caldwell spent one semester at Texas A&M University before attending Millard Preparatory School in Washington, D.C.. From there, he was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. At West Point, he was among the top five for physical achievement and earned A's for boxing and golf. He also served as a member of the Brigade Staff. After graduation from West Point in 1948, Caldwell served in posts throughout the country and the world.

After serving as the operations officer for the 1st Division in Germany, he attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. During 1963–64, he attended the National War College and George Washington University, where he earned a master's degree in international relations.

• 2LT – 1948
• 1LT – 1950
• CPT – 1950 (battlefield promotion)
• MAJ – 1954
• LTC – 1960
• COL – 1966
• BG – 1969
• MG – 1973
• LTG – 1978

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William B. Caldwell, III.

• Military Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Republic of Vietnam 1955–1975