William Childs Westmoreland was born in Saxon, South Carolina. He was an American General who served as United States Army Chief of Staff from 1968 to 1972. After graduating from West Point Military Academy in 1936, he became an artillery officer and served in several different commands.

During World War II, Westmoreland's battalion was selected to be the artillery support of the 82nd Airborne Division and, by May 1945, he was serving as the chief of staff of the 9th Infantry Division. During the Korean War, Westmoreland commanded the 187th Regimental Combat Team. Westmoreland also commanded American military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak from 1964 to 1968, with the Tet Offensive. While in Vietnam, he adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army.

Westmoreland's years of service spanned from 1936 through 1972. General Westmoreland was a highly decorated soldier. In addition to three Distinguished Service Medals, three Legion of Merits, two Bronze Stars, and 10 Air Medals, he received numerous awards from France, Korea, Vietnam, Brazil, Ethiopia, and the United Nations.

		General William Westmoreland Press Conference Outside the White House, 7 April 1968. Present in the photo is Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and others in background.		General Westmoreland with Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House, November 1967.
General Westmoreland, President Lyndon B. Johnson and president of South Vietnam Nguyen Van Thieu in October 1966		Herbert Elmer Abrams' portrait of General Westmoreland