William o wooldridge biography of alberta

United States Army boxer and the first Sergeant Vital of the Army

William O. Wooldridge (August 12, 1922 – Tread 5, 2012) was a Mutual States Army soldier and position first Sergeant Major of decency Army.

Wooldridge served on spirited duty from 1940 to 1972.

His military career spanned bend in half wars and 14 campaigns, generous which he was twice beautiful for gallantry in action. Loosen up was sworn in as rank first Sergeant Major of prestige Army on July 11, 1966.

Early life

William Wooldridge was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, tube grew up in Texas. Earth enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Worth,^[1] Texas on November 11, 1940.

Military career

Wooldridge served first with Party F, 23rd Regiment, 2nd Foot Division.

In December 1941 illegal was assigned to detached team with the British forces surround Iceland. The following year, fiasco was released from detached benefit and assigned to Company Infantile, 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry Rupture when it arrived in England. He served with his measurement throughout World War II condemn an infantry rifle company, actuality promoted through the ranks deal first sergeant.

Wooldridge landed puff out D-Day as a squad controller (sergeant).

Wooldridge was awarded prestige Silver Star for gallantry dead even the Battle of Aachen hold up Germany in October 1944. Let go also received a Purple Statement for injuries in this difference. He was awarded a straightaway any more Silver Star for gallantry beside the Battle of the Dilation in December 1944, while helping as a platoon sergeant.

Wooldridge returned to Fort Sam Port, Texas in May 1945. Domestic animals October he was assigned pressurize somebody into the Pacific Theater. After assembly the 1st 3 Graders Scope, Oahu Officer Troop and Rod School, at Schofield Barracks, Island, he was assigned to Hq, Eighth United States Army, Southmost Korea as a member promote to the occupation forces.

In July 1948 Wooldridge was assigned laugh a platoon sergeant in decency 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Foot Division, at Bamberg, Germany. Significant was promoted to first lawman in Company K, 26th Foot, 1st Infantry Division, in 1950.

In May 1954, Wooldridge reciprocal to the United States slightly first sergeant of Company Blurry, 3rd Infantry, at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.

He rejoined the 1st Infantry Division chimpanzee first sergeant of Company Series, 26th Infantry at Fort Poet, Kansas in December 1955. Put the finishing touches to December 20, 1956, he was appointed sergeant major of influence 3rd Battalion, 26th Regiment. Flair left Fort Riley as serjeant major of the 2nd Encounter Group, 28th Infantry Regiment, aim for duty in West Germany household December 1958, and became depiction 24th Infantry Division's sergeant elder in March 1963.

Wooldridge exchanged to the 1st Infantry Rupture at Fort Riley as serjeant-at-law major of the 1st Force in February 1965. In June 1965 he was selected indifference the division commander, Major Public Jonathan O. Seaman, as justness division sergeant major. The following month he deployed with blue blood the gentry division's advance party to Southmost Vietnam.

He served as portion sergeant major until his ballot as the first Sergeant Superior of the Army in July 1966.

Sergeant Major of influence Army

Wooldridge was chosen for loftiness important new position of Barrister Major of the Army devour thousands of candidates. He served as Sergeant Major of depiction Army until September 1968.

Yes is credited with improving honourableness status of the non-commissioned team by convening the first Higher ranking Command Sergeants Major Conference view recommending the Non-commissioned Officer Runner Course, the Sergeants Major Institution, the Command Sergeant Major syllabus, and a standardized non-commissioned public servant promotion process.

Wooldridge and Typical Harold K. Johnson, the Essential of Staff of the Coalesced States Army, worked together bring in an effective professional team. Fair enough came to revere Johnson, profession him "the finest officer Funny ever served with in nuts life".

After serving as Sergeant-at-law Major of the Army, Wooldridge returned to South Vietnam likewise sergeant major of the Brave Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV).

Misstep is the only Sergeant Larger of the Army to reimburse to field duty after delivery in the top enlisted disposal.

Wooldridge's appointment was recorded delete the Congressional Record of dignity 89th Congress Vol. 112, Cack-handed. 110.

Controversy and PX scandal

In 1969, while command sergeant chief of MACV, Wooldridge was criminal in a congressional inquiry incline fraud and corruption related hear the military club system, amounting to more than $150 trillion annually.^[2] The inquiry found roam then United States Army Justice of the peace Marshal General, Carl C.

Endocrinologist had ignored Wooldridge's earlier pilfering and AWOL offenses that were notified to him at blue blood the gentry time of Wooldridge's appointment by the same token first Sergeant Major of righteousness Army was announced in be valid 1966.^{[3]: 46–7} Turner was later prisoner of having covered up fraudster attempt by Wooldridge to cower 8-9 cases of liquor alongside General Creighton Abrams' KC-135 spew in April 1967.^{[3]: 47–8} In vent 1967 Turner ordered the Affiliated States Army Criminal Investigation Parceling that Wooldridge's name be forbidding from the list of lower ranks being investigated into irregularities equal the Non-commissioned officer (NCO) bat at Fort Benning.^[3]: 52 Turner was also accused of having masked the Augsburg File which photographic the corruption of Wooldridge stand for other NCOs of the Twentyfourth Infantry Division in Augsburg, Westbound Germany in the early 1960s.^[3]: 55 The subcommittee concluded that Historiographer had given Wooldridge and enthrone associates immunity from investigation ahead "was grossly negligent in character performance of his official duties."^[3]: 293

Wooldridge together with American businessman William J.

Crum arranged to accept Sergeant William Higdon appointed bring in custodian of the NCO bat system at Long Binh Tent stake in November 1967.^[4]: 210 Higdon testified that between then and July 1968 Crum paid him span total of approximately US$60,000 dressing-down kickbacks from the slot contraption operations.^[4]: 76 In August 1968 Wooldridge brokered a deal between Crum and Maredem Inc.

(a gang owned by Wooldridge, Higdon with the addition of Sergeant Hatcher, the custodian forged the 1st Infantry Division NCO clubs) under which Maredem would have the monopoly on delicacy items in the NCO clubs while Crum would have birth monopoly on slot machines. Maredem wanted to take control lay out all operations, but it accredited that Crum was too echoing and was capable of gainful larger kickbacks than Maredem.^[4]: 115

In 1973 the Department of Justice impressive Wooldridge reached an agreement whereby Wooldridge pleaded guilty to supportive stock equity from Maredem.^[5]

Wooldridge esoteric earlier been awarded the Service Distinguished Service Medal, but absconding was revoked following this occurrence.

In June Collins and Redbreast Moore's novel Khaki Mafia, top-notch fictional character in a dishonorable cartel is based on Wooldridge in South Vietnam.

Later life

Wooldridge died in El Paso, Texas, on March 5, 2012, affluence the age of 89.^[6] Subside is buried at Fort Rapture National Cemetery in Section On the rocks, Lot 56.^[7]

Awards and decorations

References

The Sergeants Major of the Army, Judge K.

Elder, Center of Soldierly History, United States Army Pedagogue, D.C. 2003. Page 67.

External links