William Westmoreland

William Westmoreland – Life, Military Career, and Legacy

Explore the life of U.S. General William C. Westmoreland (1914–2005), commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam (1964–68), his strategy of attrition, controversies, later life, and how his legacy is viewed today.

Introduction

William Childs Westmoreland (March 26, 1914 – July 18, 2005) was a United States Army general best known for commanding American military efforts in the Vietnam War during its peak years, from 1964 to 1968. His tenure was marked by a controversial strategy of attrition, massive troop escalations, and the political fallout of the Tet Offensive. Later, he served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. His legacy remains debated—some view him as a dedicated soldier doing his duty, others critique his strategic assumptions and public optimism.

In this article, we'll trace his early life, military path, role in Vietnam, controversies, later years, and how historians interpret his impact.

Early Life and Education

• William Westmoreland was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina (or near Saxon, SC) on March 26, 1914.

• His parents were James Ripley Westmoreland and Eugenia Talley Childs.

• He grew up in a family with ties to the textile industry in South Carolina.

• Early on, he was active in the Boy Scouts; he became an Eagle Scout and later received distinguished awards from the Boy Scouts of America.

• Before entering West Point, he spent a year at The Citadel (a military college in South Carolina).

• He was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point (class of 1936).

• At West Point, he distinguished himself: he was chosen First Captain (the highest cadet rank), and won the Pershing Sword for military excellence.

These early milestones marked him as a promising military leader, with discipline, ambition, and recognition from peers.

Military Career Before Vietnam

World War II

• After graduating, Westmoreland entered the U.S. Army as an artillery officer.

• He served in multiple campaigns in the European theater: North Africa, Sicily, France, and into Germany. He commanded the 34th Field Artillery Battalion with the 9th Infantry Division.

• By late in the war, he became chief of staff of the 9th Infantry Division.

Postwar & Korea

• After WWII, Westmoreland continued rising through the ranks. He earned airborne qualification and commanded the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 82nd Airborne Division.

• In the Korean War era, he commanded the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team in Korea.

• He held staff and command posts stateside, taught at staff colleges, and rose rapidly: by 1952, he was a brigadier general (making him one of the younger generals for his time).

• He commanded the 101st Airborne Division, was Superintendent of West Point (1960–63), and later led the XVIII Airborne Corps.

These assignments cemented his reputation as a professional soldier with credentials in airborne, staff, educational, and command roles.

Command in Vietnam

Appointment & Strategy

• In June 1964, Westmoreland became commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), i.e. the top U.S. military commander in Vietnam.

• He pursued a strategy of attrition: the idea was to inflict heavy losses on the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army via firepower, large-unit engagements, and superior logistics, hoping eventually to exhaust the enemy.

• Under his command, U.S. troop levels in Vietnam escalated dramatically—from roughly 16,000 when he arrived to over 500,000 by 1968.

• He leaned heavily on artillery, air power, search-and-destroy operations, and efforts to draw enemy forces into pitched battles.

Tet Offensive & Political Fallout

• In early 1968, the Tet Offensive took place: communist forces launched widespread attacks across South Vietnam, including major urban centers.

• Militarily, the offensive was costly for the enemy, and U.S./South Vietnamese forces repelled many attacks. But the scale and surprise of the offensive shook U.S. public confidence and contradicted Westmoreland’s narrative of steady progress.

• Critics argue that Westmoreland’s reliance on positive “indicators,” optimistic public statements, and focus on body counts masked deeper strategic weaknesses.

• In June 1968, he was reassigned—General Creighton Abrams took over command in Vietnam, while Westmoreland became Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

Controversies & Lawsuit

• In 1982, the CBS News report The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception alleged the Westmoreland command under-reported enemy strength. Westmoreland sued for libel.

• The case was settled before going to trial.

• Some historians argue Westmoreland misled the public and Congress, while defenders maintain he acted under the constraints and expectations of civilian oversight and strategic pressures.

Westmoreland’s Vietnam command remains the central—and most contested—phase of his career.

Later Career & Retirement

• After Vietnam, Westmoreland served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1972.

• As Chief of Staff, he initiated a report titled Study on Military Professionalism (1970), analyzing leadership, ethics, and morale in the Army, especially in light of Vietnam’s strains.

• He introduced changes in Army life to adapt to the shift toward an all-volunteer force: easing certain practices, improving morale measures, etc.

• He retired from active service on June 30, 1972.

• In 1974, he ran for Governor of South Carolina as a Republican but lost.

• He published his autobiography, A Soldier Reports, in 1974.

• He remained active in veterans’ affairs and public service. In 1986, he served as grand marshal of the Chicago Vietnam Veterans parade, helping to heal some divisions between veterans and the public.

These later years reflect his continued engagement with military and public issues after leaving command.

Personal Life & Death

• Westmoreland married Katherine “Kitsy” Stevens Van Deusen in May 1947. They had three children.

• Tragically, just hours after Westmoreland was sworn in as Army Chief of Staff in 1968, his brother-in-law Lt. Col. Frederick Van Deusen was killed in Vietnam when his helicopter was shot down.

• In his later years, Westmoreland suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

• He died on July 18, 2005, at age 91 in Charleston, South Carolina.

• He was buried at the West Point Cemetery.

Legacy & Historical Assessment

Achievements & Recognition

• Westmoreland was widely visible during the Vietnam era—his decisions shaped U.S. military involvement at its height.

• He received multiple awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf clusters), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and various foreign military honors.

• In 1965, Time named him Person of the Year for his role in Vietnam.

• In his home state, he was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.

• Infrastructure and memorials have honored him: e.g. the General William C. Westmoreland Bridge in Charleston.

Criticisms & Controversy

• Westmoreland’s strategy of attrition is often criticized for being too mechanistic, over-reliant on body counts, and insensitive to the political, social, and guerrilla nature of the war.

• His public optimism and assurances were later judged by critics to have misled the American public and masked deteriorating conditions.

• The Tet Offensive is seen by many historians as a turning point in public opinion—a blow to faith in U.S. progress, even though militarily the attacks were repelled.

• The CBS libel case remains a landmark in the intersection of military accountability and media scrutiny.

Interpretations Over Time

• Some defenders argue Westmoreland worked within constraints of political oversight, domestic pressure, limited public backing, and the complexity of counterinsurgency warfare.

• Revisionist historians often underscore that the U.S. could never rely solely on attrition or brute force in Vietnam's context and that strategic flexibility was insufficient.

• Today, Westmoreland is studied not only for tactical decisions, but as an emblem of the challenges of waging war in an asymmetrical, ideologically-charged environment.

In short, his legacy is mixed: his duty and professional stature are often acknowledged; his strategic assumptions and judgments remain debated.