William E. DePuy

William Eugene DePuy (October 1, 1919 – September 9, 1992) was a U.S. Army general and the first commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. He is widely regarded as one of the principal architects of the restructuring of U.S. Army doctrine after the American withdrawal from Vietnam.

Early life and career
DePuy was born in Jamestown, North Dakota. His military career began when he enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard, eventually becoming a squad leader. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Infantry in 1941. His first assignment was with the 20th Infantry Regiment at Fort Leonard Wood, and during this time he walked to the Louisiana Maneuvers and back with his platoon. Assigned to the 90th Infantry Division during World War II, he served as an operations officer and battalion commander in the fierce fighting from Utah Beach through the Battle of the Bulge.

Post World War II
Following the war, DePuy served in myriad command and staff positions, including command of the 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, and the 1st Battle Group, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, both in the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1948 he attended the Defense Language Institute for a year to learn Russian, followed in 1949 by assignment as Assistant Military Attaché, and later the acting Army Attaché in Budapest, Hungary.

He met Marjory Kennedy Walker of Salem, Virginia, a Far East specialist who served with both the Office of Strategic Services and the Central Intelligence Agency, and they were married in June 1951. A son, William E DePuy, Jr. was born in July 1952, and daughters Joslin and Daphne in July 1953 and 1954, respectively.

Vietnam
First deployed to Vietnam in 1964, he served as Chief of Staff of Operations for Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, and in March 1966 he assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division ("the Big Red One"). During his time as commander, he established a scholarship fund for the children of 1st Infantry Division soldiers killed in Vietnam, which eventually became the 1st Infantry Division Foundation.

Post-Vietnam
DePuy is perhaps best remembered for his efforts while commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, where he helped create a new, innovative fighting doctrine for the Army. His wide-ranging and sometimes controversial changes in combat development and the way the Army trains sparked a debate that resulted in the widely accepted AirLand Battle Doctrine. He retired from active duty in July 1977 and settled in Highfield, Virginia. He died on September 9, 1992 of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and his wife died on March 15, 2002.

Decorations
DePuy awards included two Distinguished Service Crosses, five Distinguished Service Medals, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, three Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and Air Medal with "V" device. His foreign decorations include the Order of Commander in the French Legion of Honor, the Knight's Cross of the German Order of Merit, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit First Class.


 * Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Cross
 * Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal
 * Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
 * SilverStar.gif Silver Star
 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
 * Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross
 * Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star
 * Purple Heart BAR.svg Purple Heart
 * Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal
 * Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg Legion of Honor
 * Bundesverdienstkreuz.png Knight's Cross of the German Order of Merit
 * Tong-il Security Medel Ribbon.png Tong-il Medal
 * Vietnam gallantry cross-w-palm-3d.svg Vietnam Gallantry Cross