William G. Leftwich, Jr.

William Groom Leftwich, Jr. (April 28, 1931 – November 18, 1970) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps who served during the Vietnam War. In 1970, he was killed in a helicopter crash during a combat mission in the Vietnam War.

Early life
William Leftwich was born on April 28, 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee, where he graduated from Central High School. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on June 5, 1953 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy. His roommate during part of his time at the Academy was Ross Perot. As Brigade Commander in his senior year at the Naval Academy, he was specially commended at graduation for exemplary officer-like qualities, which contributed “to the development of naval spirit and loyalty within the Brigade.”

Military career
Upon entering the Marine Corps, Leftwich completed The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia in January 1954, and later served as a rifle platoon commander with the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. During 1955–56, he served with the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa. On his return to the United States, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California, where he was promoted to captain in July 1957. He then began a three-year assignment at the Naval Academy, serving as a company officer. An athlete himself, he also voluntarily performed collateral duty as assistant varsity tennis coach and battalion football coach.

In 1960, Leftwich rejoined the 2nd Marine Division, serving as a company commander until 1962 when he was named aide-de-camp to the Commanding General. In June 1963, he was assigned as aide to the Commander of Marine Corps Schools. He was promoted to major in July 1964. He later completed a course of study in the Vietnamese language prior to reporting for duty in Vietnam in January 1965 as Assistant Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Brigade.

Joining Task Force Alfa, Leftwich participated in 27 major operations against the Viet Cong in the central highlands of Vietnam, and spent more than 300 days in the field. He was wounded in the Battle of Hoai An on March 9, 1965 and awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for extraordinary heroism. According to his citation, he “…played a major part in all phases of the successful relief of the village of Hoai An, which was under heavy enemy attack by two Viet Cong battalions… By his own personal example…, he led the attack… Despite injuries by enemy machine-gun bullets in the back, cheek and nose, he went to the aid of a mortally wounded comrade … and delayed his own evacuation until he could call for additional air strikes and brief the task force commander of the situation.”

Leftwich returned to the United States in January 1966, served as an instructor at The Basic School, then completed the Command and Staff College in June 1967 and was named to the Schools Honor List. Assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in November 1967 while serving as a systems analyst with the Manpower Management Information Branch, G-1 Division. He later became head of the Systems Analysis Section. In 1968, he was selected by the Under Secretary of the Navy to be his Special Assistant and Marine Corps Aide. He served in this capacity under Charles F. Baird and John W. Warner.

In April 1970, Leftwich began his second tour of duty in Vietnam, serving initially as the commander of 2nd Battalion 1st Marines. On September 13, he assumed duty as Commanding Officer of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

Death
On November 18, 1970, Leftwich was killed in a helicopter crash during an emergency extraction of one of his reconnaissance teams. In accordance with his practice of accompanying every emergency extraction called for by his teams, he was serving as senior “extract officer” for such a mission on the day of his death. The team had incurred casualties and requested an emergency extraction from enemy-infested territory, in an area beginning to be enveloped by dense fog. The team was extracted under LtCol Leftwich’s personal supervision, then, as the helicopter began its ascent, it crashed into a mountainside in enemy territory, killing all aboard.

Awards and honors
A partial list of Leftwich’s medals and awards includes:


 * In 1978, the destroyer USS Leftwich (DD-984) was named in his honor.


 * In June 1979, the Marine Corps awarded the very first Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership in Leftwich’s memory. The award is presented annually to an outstanding Marine captain serving with the ground forces of the Fleet Marine Force at the time of nomination.


 * The visitor center at the United States Naval Academy is named after LtCol Leftwich and his classmate, Lyle O. Armel II, and is named the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center.

Monument
A monument that represents him stands at Camp Barrett at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Felix de Weldon sculpted the statue.