William G. Bainbridge

William G. Bainbridge (April 17, 1925 – November 29, 2008) was a United States Army soldier who served as the fifth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on July 1, 1975, and served until June 1979. He was the last World War II veteran to hold the position of Sergeant Major of the Army.

Early life

Bainbridge was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on April 17, 1925.

Military career

Bainbridge entered the United States Army in June 1943 from Williamsfield, Illinois. His first unit of assignment was with the 423d Infantry Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division, the last army division organized for service in World War II. After deploying into the Ardennes region of Belgium in late 1944, Bainbridge's regiment was overrun by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. He was captured and spent the remaining months of the war in a German prisoner of war camp before being liberated by the 6th Armored Division.

Upon returning to the United States, Bainbridge left active duty and joined the Army Reserve. He was recalled to active duty in January 1951. Following assignments at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, Fort Riley, and Fort Leonard Wood, he was reassigned to Europe and served as the Operations Sergeant with Headquarters, VII Corps. In 1962 he returned to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he served with the 1st Infantry Division as sergeant major of the 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry, later reorganized as the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry. In 1965 he accompanied the battalion to South Vietnam. Midway through his tour in Vietnam, Bainbridge was appointed command sergeant major of the II Field Force.

From September 1966 through August 1967, Bainbridge was command sergeant major of the United States Army Infantry Training Center, Fort Benning, Georgia. He then was appointed the command sergeant major of the First United States Army at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland and later selected to serve as command sergeant major of the United States Army, Pacific located in Fort Shafter, Hawaii. In October 1972, Bainbridge became the first command sergeant major of the newly created United States Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas and remained there until his appointment as Sergeant Major of the Army on 1 July 1975.

Later life

File:Flickr - The U.S. Army - Final playing of Taps for former Sergeant Major of Army.jpg

A bugler from the U.S. Army Band plays taps at the burial service for William G. Bainbridge at Arlington National Cemetery (January 28, 2009)

In July 1991, Bainbridge retired to Palm Bay, Florida. He died there on November 29, 2008, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and decorations

File:CIB2.png Combat Infantry Badge, 2 awards

Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Army Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Bronze Star
Template:Ribbon devices/altFile:Award numeral 2.png	Air Medal with award numeral 2
Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Meritorious Unit Commendation
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Prisoner of War Medal
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Army Good Conduct Medal (9 awards)
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	American Campaign Medal
Bronze star Bronze star Bronze star Template:Ribbon devices/alt	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three service stars
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	World War II Victory Medal
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Army of Occupation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster Template:Ribbon devices/alt	National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star Bronze star Bronze star Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars
File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Template:Ribbon devices/alt	Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

• 9 Service stripes.

References

• The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.

External links

• [1] William G. Bainbridge, In Memoriam