Bernard W. Rogers

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Bernard W. Rogers
1921-
GEN Bernard Rogers, official portrait by Robert Clark Templeton
Place of birth	Fairview, Kansas
Years of service	1943-1987
Rank	General
Commands	Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Defense Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star (2) Air Medal

General Bernard William Rogers is a retired American general who served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander in Chief, United States European Command from July 1, 1979 to June 26, 1987. He is currently an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford University, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and a Patron Councilor of the Atlantic Council of the U.S.

1 Life
2 Non-military awards
3 Promotion dates
4 References
5 Notes

[edit] Life

Rogers was born in Fairview, Kansas on July 16, 1921. He spent a year at Kansas State University before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy in 1940, where he was First Captain of the Corps of Cadets. He graduated in June 1943 as a Second Lieutenant of the Infantry and attended the officer basic course at the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning. Rogers was promoted to temporary first lieutenant in December 1943, and assigned to the 275th Infantry from 1943 to 1944. He returned to West Point as an instructor of economics, government, and history from 1944 to 1946 receiving a promotion to temporary captain in February 1945. He next served as aide to the High Commissioner to Austria and to the commander of the Sixth Army from 1946 to 1947. In 1947, after the Second World War he attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1950 (he was later awarded an MA in the same subject). During his time at Oxford he was promoted to permanent captain.

Following graduation he was aide to the chief of Army Field Forces from 1950 from 1951, being promoted to temporary major in July 1951. He graduated from the Infantry School advanced course in 1952. Rogers was then deployed to the Korean War where he commanded the 3d Battalion, 9th Infantry from 1952 to 1953, being promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel in August 1953. He next was aide to the commander in chief and staff intelligence officer of the United Nations and Far East Commands from 1953 to 1954. Rogers returned stateside and graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in 1955. He next commanded the 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry from 1955 to 1956, the served in the Coordination Division, Office of the Chief of Staff from 1956 to 1958. This was followed by duty as executive and senior aide to the chief of staff from 1958 to 1959 and promotion to permanent major January, 1959 and temporary colonel in September, 1959. He was selected to attend the Army War College and graduated in 1960, going on to command the 1st Battle Group, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division in Europe from 1960 to 1961. His next assignment in the division was as chief of staff and he also served as chief of the Troop Operation Branch, Operations Division, United States Army, Europe from 1961 to 1962. Rogers next duty was as military assistant and executive officer to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs from 1962 to 1966. He was promoted to permanent lieutenant colonel in January 1964 and temporary brigadier general in October 1966, moving on to become the assistant division commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam operations from 1966 to 1967. He again returned to West Point as commandant of cadets from 1967 to 1969, being promoted to permanent colonel in June 1968. He was chosen for division command, commanding the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and also Fort Carson from 1969 to 1970 and was promoted to temporary major general in February 1970 and permanent brigadier general in August 1971. He was promoted to temporary lieutenant general in November 1972, and permanent major general in June 1973 while serving as deputy chief of staff for personnel of the Army, from 1972 to 1974. He was promoted to temporary general in November 1974 and chosen to command the United States Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson from 1974 to 1976. Following this assignment he was selected to be Chief of Staff of the United States Army, a post he held from October 1, 1976 until June 21, 1979. Some highlights of his tenure include supervising the Army's move to a 24-division, all-component force; establishing priorities for near-term readiness, midterm modernization, and long-term sustainability; establishing a program to enhance the quality of life of Army personnel; and suggesting a limited draft to fill the Individual Ready Reserve. He was appointed Supreme Allied Commander, North Atlantic Treaty Organization in July 1979[1], and retired from active service in June 1987.

Rogers is an Honorary Director of The Atlantic Council of the United States,^[1] and sits on the Association of the United States Army's Council of Trustees.^[2] He is also a supporter of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.^[3]

He married the former Ann Ellen Jones in 1944.

[edit] Non-military awards

Distinguished Service Citation Honorary Alumni Citees, University of Kansas Alumni Association, 1984^[4]
H.H. Arnold Award, Air Force Association, 1985^[5]
Distinguished Graduate Award, USMA Association of Graduates, 1995^[6]
George C. Marshall Medal, United States Army Association, 1999^[7]

[edit] Promotion dates

Rank	Temporary	Permanent
2nd Lieutenant	--	June 1943
1st Lieutenant	December 1943	?
Captain	February 1945	January 1949
Major	July 1951	January 1959
Lieutenant Colonel	August 1953	January 1964
Colonel	September 1959	June 1968
Brigadier General	October 1966	August 1971
Major General	February 1970	June 1973
Lieutenant General	November 1972	?
General	November 1974	?

[edit] References

Information is taken from Rogers' NATO biography.

Preceded by Gen. Alexander Haig	Supreme Allied Commander Europe (NATO) 1979—1987	Succeeded by Gen. John Galvin
Preceded by Frederick C. Weyand	Chief of Staff of the United States Army 1976–1979	Succeeded by Edward C. Meyer