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Leadership Profile

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William C. Westmoreland!

William C. Westmoreland

Portrait: George Washington
National Archives


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Biography:

Born on March 26, 1914 into a wealthy family of textile manufacturers, William Westmoreland led a life of leadership. He graduated from West Point with many awards, including the Pershing Award for leadership. He commanded artillery units in North Africa and Sicily in World War II. During the Korean War, Westmoreland commanded an airborne brigade, and later he commanded the 101st Airborne Division. He later became the youngest major general and the second youngest superintendent (after MacArthur) of West Point. Westmoreland is best known for commanding the war effort in Vietnam.

Leadership Attributes:

General Westmoreland was generally a careful strategist. In Vietnam, he followed a conservative strategy, advocating a war of attrition against the Viet Cong. Westmoreland normally allowed no operations by units smaller than the battalion, and he insisted on strong artillery support. Westmoreland was more a warrior than diplomat. He found it difficult to tread the fine line of public ambivalence to the Vietnam War. Personally, Westmoreland was brave in battle. During World War II, he often scouted ahead of the guns; while doing so in Sicily, his jeep was hit but he escaped injury.

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