Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

34th Field Artillery Regiment, 9th Infantry Division "Old Reliables", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

May 13th, 1943

For his actions at Thala, Kasserine Pass, and El Guettar.

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

General

Unit:

Military Assistance Command Vietnam, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

December 1st, 1966

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General William Childs Westmoreland (ASN: 0-20223), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, during the period from August 1964 to December 1965."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 45

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

General

Unit:

Military Assistance Command Vietnam, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

April 8th, 1968

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General William Childs Westmoreland (ASN: 0-20223), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, during the period from January 1966 to December 1967."

Second DSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

General

Unit:

Military Assistance Command Vietnam, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

August 22nd, 1968

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General William Childs Westmoreland (ASN: 0-20223), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, during the period from December 1967 through July 1968."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 44
--
Third DSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

General

Unit:

Chief of staff of the Army (CSA), U.S. Department of the Army, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Government

Awarded on:

February 18th, 1972

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

General

Unit:

Chief of staff of the Army (CSA), U.S. Department of the Army, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Government

Awarded on:

July 6th, 1972

"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General William Childs Westmoreland (ASN: 0-20223), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Chief of Staff, United States Army, from July 1968 to July 1972. During a period marked by significant changes in national strategy and priorities, General Westmoreland's outstanding professional ability, personal integrity, and untiring leadership efforts were an inspiration to all the Army. Under his guidance, the Army began the complex transition from a force of one and a half million men, shouldering the major burden of our prolonged national commitment in Southeast Asia, to a smaller, highly professional force, qualitatively structured to support the national strategy requirement of the Seventies. General Westmoreland initiated programs to provide for the restructuring, realignment, and modernization of Army forces in order to improve force capabilities and best meet our global national commitments. He instituted measures to revitalize leadership and professionalism throughout the ranks, to include the design of a new Officer Personnel Management System, a Noncommissioned Officer Education System, and an Enlisted Qualitative Management Program. General Westmoreland was particularly concerned with the men and women of the Army and devoted himself unsparingly to improving service life and providing the soldier with an unprecedented sense of personal choice, dignity, and self discipline. He insisted on meaningful and challenging training for every person in the Army and the effective utilization of skills in tasks directly related to unit missions. He directed that the responsibilities for designing unit training programs be returned to the unit commanders and urged leaders at all levels to make use of mission-type orders and permit their subordinates maximum initiative in accomplishing assigned tasks. In adjusting the priorities for future military spending, General Westmoreland resolutely defended programs aimed at improving the working environment and living standard of American soldiers worldwide. His imaginative and unrelenting efforts to improve service attractiveness, job satisfaction, and public understanding have been instrumental in moving the Army toward the President's goal of an all-volunteer force. His exceptional leadership and selfless dedication to duty throughout this period are the hallmarks of his brilliant career. A grateful Nation recognizes that General Westmoreland's long and distinguished service, covering three wars and more than 36 years of devoted duty, has been in the finest traditions of the military profession. His loyal and illustrious service to the United States, in successive positions of the greatest responsibility, reflects the highest credit upon himself, the Army, and the Nation."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 30
--
Fourth DSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Second LoM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

187th Regimental Combat Team "Rakkasans", 11th Airborne Division "Angels", U.S. Army

"Brigadier General William Childs Westmoreland (ASN: 0-20223), United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, 187th Regimental Combat Team, in Korea, from 1952 to 1953."

Third LoM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Second BSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Second AM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Third AM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Fourth AM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Fifth AM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Sixth AM received as Silver Oak Leaf Cluster

Idem

Idem

Idem

Idem

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With one  3⁄16" silver star and two  3⁄16" bronze stars

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

"Germany"

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

With one  3⁄16" silver star and two  3⁄16" bronze stars

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

With two  3⁄16" bronze stars

Rank:

Cadet

Unit:

West Point

Awarded on:

1936

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 10th, 1950

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With palm