William Nolde
Encyclopedia
Colonel
William Benedict Nolde (August 8, 1929 – January 27, 1973) was an officer in the United States Army
. Born in Menominee, Michigan
, Nolde was a professor of military science at Central Michigan University
before joining the army. He is known for being the last official combat casualty of the Vietnam War
.
As an officer, he served in both the Korean War
and the Vietnam War
, acting as an advisor to the South Vietnam
ese forces in the latter. William B. Nolde was killed by shell fire at An Loc
eleven hours before the cessation of all hostilities in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords
. He was the last official American combat casualty of the war - the 45,914th confirmed death during the conflict. While other Americans lost their lives after the truce was enacted, these were not recorded as combat casualties. During his time in the armed forces, he had accumulated four medals, including the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. Nolde was on the promotion list to colonel at the time of his death and was posthumously promoted. In 1997, Colonel Nolde was one of the first members inducted into the Central Michigan University Reserve Officer’s Training Corps Hall of Fame. In 2006, Colonel Nolde was also inducted into the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School
Hall of Fame.
campus and community. This program is sponsored by the university’s Military Science Department. The following are the lectures presented:
(his widow Joyce was buried beside him in 2005). As the last official combat casualty, his funeral was broadcast on television and was attended by "considerably more brass than the funeral of a field-grade officer would normally command" including General Alexander Haig
and President Richard Nixon
.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
William Benedict Nolde (August 8, 1929 – January 27, 1973) was an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Born in Menominee, Michigan
Menominee, Michigan
Menominee is a city in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,131. It is the county seat of Menominee County. Menominee is the fourth-largest city in the Upper Peninsula, behind Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, and Escanaba...
, Nolde was a professor of military science at Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
before joining the army. He is known for being the last official combat casualty of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Military career
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, acting as an advisor to the South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
ese forces in the latter. William B. Nolde was killed by shell fire at An Loc
An Loc
An Loc is a small town in Bình Phước Province in southern Vietnam, located approximately 90 km north of Saigon with a population of 15,000...
eleven hours before the cessation of all hostilities in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War, ended direct U.S. military involvement, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam...
. He was the last official American combat casualty of the war - the 45,914th confirmed death during the conflict. While other Americans lost their lives after the truce was enacted, these were not recorded as combat casualties. During his time in the armed forces, he had accumulated four medals, including the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. Nolde was on the promotion list to colonel at the time of his death and was posthumously promoted. In 1997, Colonel Nolde was one of the first members inducted into the Central Michigan University Reserve Officer’s Training Corps Hall of Fame. In 2006, Colonel Nolde was also inducted into the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
Hall of Fame.
Lecture Series
The William B. Nolde Lecture Series has the purpose to promote an understanding of the role of the United States Armed Forces in the life and history of the United States and to recognize the tie between military science and the broader disciplines within the university. The lectures serve as a stimulus to intellectual activity for future leaders both in the military and across the Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
campus and community. This program is sponsored by the university’s Military Science Department. The following are the lectures presented:
| William B. Nolde Lectures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Lecturer | Organization | Topic |
| Fall 1998 | Dr. Jerold Brown | Historian, Combat Studies Institute, Ft. Leavenworth | The Citizen-Soldier and the American Military Tradition |
| Spring 1999 | Hon. Dave Camp | US Representative, Michigan 4th Congressional District | The Role of Congress in Raising and Supporting the US Armed Forces |
| Fall 1999 | Dr. Gregory M.A. Gronbacher | Director, Center for Economic Personalism, Action Institute | The Just War Tradition: Will it Survive the 21st Century |
| Spring 2000 | Col. Edwin F. Veiga | Director of Media Relations, Office of Chief of Army Public Affairs | Media and the Military: Meeting the Challenge |
| Fall 2000 | Maj. Gen. E. Gordon Stump | Adjutant General, State of Michigan | The Role of the Michigan National Guard |
| Spring 2001 | Col. James M. McDonald | Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, US Army | US Army Transition |
| Fall 2001 | Dr. Hans A. Andrews | President, Olney Central College | Leadership Education |
| Spring 2002 | Col. Genaro J. Dellarocco | Project Manager, Force Projections Combat Services Support, TACOM | Force Projection: The Spear of our Nation’s Military Power Projection |
| Fall 2002 | Pres. Michael Rao Michael Rao Dr. Michael Rao is the president of Virginia Commonwealth University, and the former President of Central Michigan University. He was selected to be the President of VCU in 2009.... , |
Central Michigan University (with Dani Hiar, Jamie Brown, Jennifer Ireland, Michelle Howard, Nathan Westfall, and Nicole Wright) | CMU Student Leader Development: Preparing Leaders for our University, Community, Nation, and World |
| Spring 2003 | Brig. Gen. John G. Kulhavi and Terence F. Moore | Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch and President/CEO, Mid-Michigan Healt | Leadership in the Military and the Business World |
| Fall 2003 | Brig. Gen. Roger L. Allen | Deputy STARC Commander, Michigan Army National Guard | Building Leaders for Tomorrow |
| Fall 2004 | Capt. Shawn Abbe | Commander, 1437th Multi-Role Bridge Company | Leadership in Times of Conflict |
| Spring 2005 | Brig. Gen. Anne F. McDonald | Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center | Gold Nuggets I Wish I had Known |
| Fall 2005 | Col. R. John Cully | Vice President, Trading Places International | Eastern Region Government and Armed Forces Cooperative |
| Spring 2006 | Lt. Col. Gary Brito | Commander, 1st Battalion, 15th Regiment (Mechanized), 3rd Infantry Division | Students should not be afraid to take risks |
| Fall 2006 | Col. James P. Coates | Commander. 9th Brigade, Western Region, US Army Cadet Command | OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer |
| Fall 2007 | Lt. Col. Brian Mays | Assistant Principal, Colin Powell Middle School | OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer |
| Spring 2008 | Col. Thomas Rini | Investigator, Office of the Inspector General, DoD | OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer |
| Fall 2008 | Lt. Col. David A. Burdette | Vice President, Central Michigan University | Student, Citizen, and Soldier in the 21st Century |
| Spring 2009 | Col. Scott S. Haraburda | Director, Manufacturing & Engineering, Crane Army Ammunition Activity | Success by Surviving Changes |
| Fall 2009 | Lt. Col. Brian Eifler | Commander, Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | Reflections of a CMU Ranger |
| Fall 2010 | Col. Elaine A. Edwards | Director of Marketing, US Army Cadet Command | OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer |
Nolde Scholarship
At Central Michigan University the William B. Nolde Scholarship was established in memory of the Colonel by students, family and friends.Burial
Nolde was buried on February 5, 1973 in Section 3 of Arlington National CemeteryArlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
(his widow Joyce was buried beside him in 2005). As the last official combat casualty, his funeral was broadcast on television and was attended by "considerably more brass than the funeral of a field-grade officer would normally command" including General Alexander Haig
Alexander Haig
Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
and President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
Awards and decorations
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
Vietnam Service MedalVietnam Service MedalThe Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
Vietnam Campaign MedalVietnam Campaign MedalThe Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is...