Calvin Waller

Calvin Augustine Hoffman Waller (December 17, 1937 – May 9, 1996) was a United States Army officer.

Early life and career
Waller was born to an African American family in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on December 17, 1937. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 1959 with a bachelor's degree and from Shippensburg College of Pennsylvania with a master's degree in public administration in 1978. Waller spent 32 years in the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War. Waller held a variety of staff and command positions which included: Chief of Staff, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized), V Corps, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army.

Persian Gulf War
Waller was the deputy commander-in-chief for military operations with United States Central Command (Forward), during the Persian Gulf War.

Fort Lewis and retirement
Waller's last duty assignment was as Commanding General, I Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington, before he retired from the military at the rank of Lieutenant General, on November 30, 1991.

Position on "Don't Ask Don't Tell"
Waller was vehemently opposed to allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the United States Armed Forces. During the 1993 U.S. Senate hearings on allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the United States military, Waller vigorously opposed it. He declared that "to compare [his] service in American's armed forces with the integration of avowed homosexuals is personally offensive."

Later life
After retiring from the military, Waller moved to Denver, Colorado and served as the president and chief executive officer of an environmental technology company, RKK Limited. He then became the senior vice president for the Department of Energy Programs for the ICF Kaiser Environmental and Energy Group. In July 1995, Waller became the Kaiser-Hill vice president for site operations and integration at Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site.

Death
Waller died in Washington, D.C. on May 9, 1996, at the age of 58, due to complications from a heart attack. Upon learning of his death, U.S. President Bill Clinton said, "His rise from humble beginnings to one of the highest-ranking African American officers in the U.S. military through stalwart determination and a record of excellence served as an inspiration to minority and non-minority officers." President Clinton also cited Waller's reputation as a "skillful and disciplined professional and a caring, enthusiastic commander."

Awards and decorations
Among his awards and decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Master Parachutist Badge.

Waller's civic awards include the Martin Luther King Jr. "Buffalo Soldier" Award from the Congress of Racial Equality, the Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award from the NAACP, the French Legion of Honor award from the Government of France and the "Star of Texas" award from the state of Texas.