George W. Casey Sr.

George William Casey Sr. (March 9, 1922 – July 7, 1970) was a United States Army major general who was killed in a helicopter crash in July 1970, in South Vietnam. General Casey who had served in World War II and the Korean War, was in command of the US 1st Cavalry Division at the time of his death.

His son George W. Casey Jr. served as the 36th Chief of Staff of the United States Army from April 2007 to April 2011.

Biography
Casey was born into an Irish-American family in Boston, Massachusetts on March 9, 1922. He attended Harvard College for a year before transferring to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1945. He earned a Master of Arts degree in international relations from Georgetown University in 1958 and a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University in 1965. He went on to conduct postgraduate study at the Center for International Affairs at Harvard University.

He served in Japan, Virginia and Kentucky at the end of World War II and in the late 1940s. His post-war assignments included aide-de-camp to General Lyman L. Lemnitzer.

Casey served in combat during the Korean War, commanding a 7th Infantry Division company in engagements including the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge, for which he received the Silver Star.

In 1957 he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College. In 1963 he graduated from the National War College. He commanded 3rd Brigade, 8th Infantry Division in West Germany from 1963 to 1965.

In the late 1960s he served with the 1st Cavalry Division, first as chief of staff and later as assistant division commander. While home on leave from serving in Vietnam, he was promoted to major general during a ceremony on April 30, 1970, at the Pentagon. In May 1970, he assumed command of the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam.

On July 7, 1970, he was killed in a helicopter crash in South Vietnam when the UH-1H Huey helicopter he was piloting hit a mountain due to poor weather near Bao Luc as he was en route to Cam Ranh to visit wounded troops.

Casey was survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons. On July 23, 1970, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.