Inspirational Quotes by William Westmoreland (American Soldier)

William Childs Westmoreland (1914–2005) was a U.S. Army officer who commanded U.S. forces in the Vietnam War 1964–68. This became the worst military defeat ever suffered by America. He later served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army 1968–72.

Born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Westmoreland attended South Carolina’s Citadel military college and graduated from West Point in 1936, and saw action in North Africa and Europe during World War II. After fighting in the Korean War, he was appointed superintendent of West Point (1960–63.)

Westmoreland was the senior military commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam (1964–68.) He favored the strategy of escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War—requesting an additional 200,000 troops to add to the existing 550,000. After the 1968 Tet Offensive, in which communist forces attacked cities and towns throughout South Vietnam, he was replaced as commander and returned to the USA, serving as army chief of staff (1968–72.)

Westmoreland never accepted, or understood, America’s defeat in Vietnam.

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