William R. Bond
| William R. Bond | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Ross Bond |
| Born | December 4, 1918 |
| Died |
April 1, 1970 (aged 51) Bình Thủy District, South Vietnam |
| Place of burial | Stockbridge Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1970 |
| Rank |
Brigadier General  |
| Unit | 199th Infantry Brigade (Light) |
| Commands held | 199th Infantry Brigade |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War † |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Air Medal (9) Prisoner of War Medal Order of the Crown of Thailand (Knight Commander) |
William Ross "Billy" Bond (December 4, 1918 – April 1, 1970) was a United States Army brigadier general who was killed by an enemy sniper in 1970 while commanding the 199th Infantry Brigade in South Vietnam. General Bond also served in World War II with the Army Rangers and was a prisoner of war.[1]
Early life and education
William Ross "Billy" Bond[2] was raised in Maryland and Virginia. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree in political science and history. He was also a graduate of the Army War College and other senior service schools.[3]
US Army career
General Bond enlisted in the Army in 1940. He participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily and later led his company in the Salerno landings in September 1943. On January 22, 1944, Bond's unit landed at Anzio. In a night attack at Cisterna, Bond was awarded the Silver Star, but was captured by the Germans and was held in a prisoner of war camp in Poland.
General Bond began his first tour in Vietnam in 1959 as a part of the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group.
In 1966, he became Chief of Staff. In 1969 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Personal life
General Bond married Theodora Sedgwick in 1960,[3] a distant descendent of Union General John Sedgwick who was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in 1864.
Death
On April 1, 1970, Brigadier General Bond was killed by a sniper's bullet shortly after landing in his command helicopter to oversee an operation 70 miles (110 km) northeast of Saigon.[4]
His funeral was held at Arlington National Cemetery, after which he was buried in Sedgwick Pie at the Stockbridge Cemetery in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.[5]
See also
U.S Army general officers killed in action in the Vietnam War:
References
- ↑ "William Ross Bond, Brigadier General, United States Army". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ↑ Grant, Stephen H. (2014). Collecting Shakespeare: The Story of Henry and Emily Folger. JHU Press. p. 197. ISBN 1-421-41187-3.
- 1 2 "Gen. Bond Served In 'Darby's Rangers". Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. May 31, 1970. p. 45. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "U.S. General Killed In War". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. April 2, 1970. p. 12. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ Stein, Jean; Plimpton, George, eds. (1982). Edie: American Girl (1 ed.). Grove Press. p. 9. ISBN 0-802-13410-6.