William Wilson Quinn

Chevalier Lieutenant General William Wilson "Buffalo Bill" Quinn (November 1, 1907 - September 11, 2000) was a G2 Intelligence Officer in World War II. Born in Crisfield, Somerset, Maryland and a 1933 graduate of West Point, Quinn retired as a Lieutenant General (three stars) on March 1, 1966 as the commanding general of the Seventh United States Army. He died in Washington, DC at Walter Reed Army Hospital at 92 years old.

Education
Quinn graduated from Crisfield High with the class of 1925 and then from United States Military Academy with the class of 1933, and in 1938 attended United States Army Infantry School; in 1942 Quinn graduated from Command and General Staff College. In August 1947 he graduated from the National War College.

Commands Held
From 1933-1935 at Fort McKinley Quinn was the commanding officer of Company L. 1935-1936 General Quinn was assigned to Company D and then from 1936-1938 assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 31st Infantry. In 1940 he was the Command of Headquarters Company of the 4th Infantry Division, and the Commanding Officers of Company D, 8th Infantry Division. In July 1942 he became the United States Chief of Staff of the G-2 IV Army Corps. In 1945 he became the Director of the OSS, which he founded. In 1949 Quinn was the Commanding Officer of the Far East 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Division. In April 1949 he became Chief of the Training Sub-section, I Corps. In January 1950 he became the Assistant Chief of Staff of the G-3 I Corps from February to March. In January 1951, Quinn was the Commanding Officer of the 17th Infantry, 7th Division in Korea. In 1952 Quinn became the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Pentagon and Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Coordination of the Office of Chief of Staff, and then eventually became the Chief of Staff of the Pentagon. In 1953 Quinn was transferred to Greece and to be the Head of the Army Section, Joint Military Aid Group to Greece. In January 1957 he was the Commanding Officer of the 4th Infantry Division of the Strategic Army Corps at Fort Lewis. In July 1958 he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for the G-2 Intelligence of the United States Army. From 1959-1961, Quinn served as the Army's Chief of Information, and in 1959 he became the Chief of Public Information of the Department of the Army. In 1961 Quinn became the Deputy Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency and promoted to Lieutenant General. From 1964-1966, Quinn was the Commanding General of the United States Army Europe and 7th Army in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. The United States Army Europe and 7th Army was and still is the worlds largest army. On March 1, 1966 Quinn retired but became Honorary Colonel of the 17th Infantry, The Buffalos.

World War II
Quinn participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Operation Dragoon and on January 1, 1945 he was part of Operation Northwind.

Korea
Quinn was in Korea from 1951 to 1952 and in August 1951 Quinn was wounded in Korea. While in Korea he won and was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star with the "V" Device. He was also in the Battle of Inchon. While he was in Korea he was the commanding Officer of the 17th Infantry Regiment which was part of the 7th Infantry Division (the 17th Infantry was, and still is, nicknamed "the Buffalo's")

Awards
Knight Order of the Legion of Honor, Officer Order of the Legion of Honor, Order of St. George (Third Class), Croix de guerre (French Cross of War), Purple Heart, American Legion of Merit, American Defense Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, World War II Victory Medal, Air Medal, Silver Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal (Korea), Korean Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross.