William M. Steele

William Michael Steele is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who commanded major organizations including U.S. Army, Pacific, the Combined Arms Center and the 82d Airborne Division . A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he graduated from The Citadel in 1967 and earned a Master of Arts in management from Webster University in St. Louis. His military education includes the National War College.

William M. Steele
Lieutenant General William M. Steele
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1967-2001
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldUnited States Army Pacific
Combined Arms Center
82nd Airborne Division
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsSilver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star

Commissioned an armor officer and assigned to the 3d Armored Division in Germany, he branch transferred to infantry while serving in South Vietnam. As an infantry officer, he served in airborne, air assault, light and mechanized Infantry units. In South Vietnam, Steele served from 1969 to 1970 as battalion advisor for the 23rd Ranger Battalion and operations advisor for the 2nd Ranger Group conducting operations in the highlands of Kontum and Pleiku Provinces in South Vietnam and in Cambodia. Promoted to brigadier general in 1990, his major command assignments include serving as deputy commanding general of the US Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Georgia, assistant division commander for the 8th Infantry Division in Germany and deputy commandant for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. LTG Steele served as commanding general, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U. S. Army Pacific headquartered at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and the U. S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Other major duty assignments for Steele were commanding officer, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and commanding officer, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Devils in Baggy Pants) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, executive assistant to General Maxwell Thurman when he was commanding general, U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and as director for operations for the U.S. Atlantic Command in Norfolk, Virginia. Steele retired from active duty on 30 September 2001. After retirement, he served as a senior executive in the defense industry and on several boards and as a member of The Citadel board of visitors.

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge
 Master Parachutist Badge
Ranger tab
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3
Bronze star
Bronze star
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with two bronze stars
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army.


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