Walter T. Kerwin, Jr.
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| Walter T. Kerwin, Jr. | |
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| Born 1917 | |
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| Nickname | Dutch |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1939-1978 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Forces Command |
| Battles/wars | World War II Vietnam War |
| Awards | Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Air Medal (11) Purple Heart |
Walter T. Kerwin, Jr. was a United States Army four star general who served as Commanding General, U.S. Continental Army Command (CG CONARC), 1973; Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command (CG FORSCOM) from 1973 to 1974; and Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army (VCSA) from 1974 to 1978.
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[edit] Military career
Kerwin graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1939 and was commissioned in the field artillery and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. During World War II he fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France. In December 1944, while in France, he was wounded in Mutzig and evacuated to the United States, returning to Europe in 1945 and assigned to the Theater Operations Division of the War Department's General Staff.
After World War II, he attended the Army War College and the National War College, and served in various assignements, including Plans and Operations Officer at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory; Commander of the 56th Artillery Group, XVIII Airborne Corps; and Deputy Director in the Army's Office of the Chief of Research and Development.
As a brigadier general he took command of the 3rd Armored Division Artillery in Hanau, Germany in August 1961. During the 1960s he held various flag officer billets to include Chief of Staff, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), Commander, II Field Force, Vietnam, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army for Personnel, and Commanding General of the Continental Army Command, later renamed Forces Command.
On October 29, 1974 he became Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army during the army's transition to an all volunteer force and post-Vietnam War restructuring.
Kerwin awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with "V" device, and the Purple Heart.
[edit] Post military
After retiring from the army, Kerwin continued to work for the Department of Defense in different capacities. He also served for 17 years as a consultant for Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin. Having been a member of the Board of Directors of the Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association since 1969, he became its Chairman in 1982, serving in that capacity until 1997. He has also been involved with the Association of the United States Army, the Field Artillery Association, and the Army Emergency Relief Association. He received the 2003 Distinguished Graduate Award from the Association of Graduates, the West Point alumni organization.
