William R. Richardson
Encyclopedia
General William Rowland Richardson (born March 25, 1929) was a U.S. Army four star general and former Commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
He was born in Taichow, Kiangsu, China, on March 25, 1929 to missionary parents. Richardson graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1951 and was commissioned in the Infantry. His initial assignment was with the 24th Infantry Division on occupation duty in Japan.
He was deployed to Korea in 1953 with the 7th Infantry Division. After the end of the Korean War
, he subsequently served in various staff positions before taking command of the 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division in 1966. He deployed with his battalion to Vietnam, and later was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, of the 9th Infantry Division. He returned to Vietnam in June 1971 as the Commander of the 198th Infantry Brigade
, Americal Division
, and later became the Division Chief of Staff. In 1972 he became the Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School. In 1974 he served as Commander of the 193rd Infantry Brigade
in the Panama Canal Zone
from December 1974 to June 1977. He followed his second brigade command as the Director of Requirements on the Army Staff from 1977 to 1979.
Richardson served as Commander of the Combined Arms Center and Commandant of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth
from 1979 to 1981. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans from 1981 to 1983, and in 1983, he became Commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, retiring from this position in 1986.
His education includes the Canadian Army Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
, and a masters degree from the George Washington University
. His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medalwith one Oak Leaf Cluster,the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star
with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit
with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
, the Bronze Star
with "V" device and three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart
, the Combat Infantryman Badge
, and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Tong II Medal.
After retirement, he became Executive Vice President, Army Programs at Burdeshaw Associates, Ltd., a position he filled until 1995,when he became a BAL Senior Associate. He serves on the Board of Advisors of the National Infantry Foundation. He is a Senior Associate and on the Board of Directors of O'Connell and Associates, a defense consulting firm. In February 2007 he was named to the Board of Trustees of the Command and General Staff College Foundation.
Richardson was awarded the Doughboy Award in 1999 by the Infantry Center and was inducted ino the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame in 2008.
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Established 1 July 1973, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command is an army command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces, the development of operational doctrine, and the development and procurement of...
He was born in Taichow, Kiangsu, China, on March 25, 1929 to missionary parents. Richardson graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1951 and was commissioned in the Infantry. His initial assignment was with the 24th Infantry Division on occupation duty in Japan.
He was deployed to Korea in 1953 with the 7th Infantry Division. After the end of the Korean War
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...
, he subsequently served in various staff positions before taking command of the 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division in 1966. He deployed with his battalion to Vietnam, and later was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, of the 9th Infantry Division. He returned to Vietnam in June 1971 as the Commander of the 198th Infantry Brigade
198th Infantry Brigade (United States)
The 198th Infantry Brigade, was first formed as part of the United States Army Reserve's 99th Division. It was active from 1967 through 1971 and has been active since 2007 as an Infantry Training Brigade as part of the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.- Vietnam War :During the...
, Americal Division
Americal Division
The 23rd Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Americal Division of the United States Army was formed in May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. In the immediate emergency following Pearl Harbor, the United States had hurriedly sent three individual regiments to defend New Caledonia...
, and later became the Division Chief of Staff. In 1972 he became the Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School. In 1974 he served as Commander of the 193rd Infantry Brigade
193rd Infantry Brigade (United States)
The 193rd Infantry Brigade is a United States Army infantry brigade, which was originally constituted in the Army's organized reserves on 24 June 1922 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 97th Division. The brigade was reorganized and reconstituted in...
in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
from December 1974 to June 1977. He followed his second brigade command as the Director of Requirements on the Army Staff from 1977 to 1979.
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
from 1979 to 1981. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans from 1981 to 1983, and in 1983, he became Commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, retiring from this position in 1986.
His education includes the Canadian Army Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
, and a masters degree from the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medalwith one Oak Leaf Cluster,the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The 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...
with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The 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...
with "V" device and three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The 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...
, the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Tong II Medal.
After retirement, he became Executive Vice President, Army Programs at Burdeshaw Associates, Ltd., a position he filled until 1995,when he became a BAL Senior Associate. He serves on the Board of Advisors of the National Infantry Foundation. He is a Senior Associate and on the Board of Directors of O'Connell and Associates, a defense consulting firm. In February 2007 he was named to the Board of Trustees of the Command and General Staff College Foundation.
Richardson was awarded the Doughboy Award in 1999 by the Infantry Center and was inducted ino the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame in 2008.