Williston B. Palmer

Williston Birkhimer Palmer (November 11, 1899 – November 10, 1973) was a United States Army four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1955 to 1957; Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command from 1957 to 1959; and was the first Director of Military Assistance, 1959 to 1962. His brother, Charles D. Palmer, was also a four-star general, the first pair of brothers in United States Army history to achieve this, and his grandfather, William E. Birkhimer, was a brigadier general and Medal of Honor recipient.

Williston B. Palmer
General Williston B. Palmer
Born(1899-11-11)November 11, 1899
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedNovember 10, 1973(1973-11-10) (aged 73)
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1919–1962
RankGeneral
Commands heldX Corps
2nd Armored Division
82nd Airborne Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (4)[1]
Silver Star[2]
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
RelationsCharles D. Palmer (brother)
William E. Birkhimer (grandfather)

Military career
As a West Point cadet

Palmer was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 11, 1899, the oldest son of Colonel Charles Day Palmer. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1919 after an accelerated 3-year course.[3]

During World War II, as a brigadier general, Palmer commanded VII Corps artillery, from the Normandy invasion to the Elbe. In January 1943 then Brigadier General Palmer was a passenger on a B-17 which landed in neutral Ireland. He was transferred across the border to Northern Ireland the next day.[4]

Following the war Palmer served as Director of Logistics, European Command, commanded the 82nd Airborne Division in 1950, followed by command of the 2nd Armored Division in 1951 and X Corps in Korea later that same year. He was promoted to lieutenant general on June 10, 1952.

While commanding the 2nd Armored Division based at Stuttgart-Vaihingen in Germany during 1952, Palmer was instrumental in establishing the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra with a young conductor from within his ranks: Corporal Samuel Adler. In accordance with Adler's suggestion, Palmer staffed the orchestra with professionally educated musicians from within the Army itself. During the course of the next decade, Palmer's "soldier-musician ambassadors" distinguished themselves throughout Europe by supporting America's cultural diplomacy initiatives during the height of the Cold War.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

External audio
audio icon You may listen to radio broadcasts of performances by Palmer's Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra from 1956–2006 here on 7aso.org

During his tenure as Director of Military Assistance, a scandal erupted over black market activities in Turkey involving military personnel. Palmer defended soldiers who refused to testify to the Senate by pointing out that the Uniform Code of Military Justice protected soldiers from self-incrimination.

Palmer caused controversy when, in October 1960, while visiting Saigon, he said the United States was suspending military aid to Laos because of the "confused situation" in there, saying "we have not been sure who is responsible for anything." After two days of confusion, the U.S. embassy in Vientiane said the announcement had been incorrect and made without instructions from Washington, D.C.

During his time as Vice Chief of Staff, in order to save money, Palmer issued an order ending the horse drawn caissons in Arlington National Cemetery. However, his order was countermanded. He retired from the army in 1962.

Palmer died on November 10, 1973, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He never married, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[11]

References
  1. Hall of Valor awards
  2. Palmer Silver Star
  3. Cullum, George Washington (1920). Robinson, Wirt (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. From Its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890. Vol. VI-B: 1910–1920. Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. p. 2065. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  4. Paul Browne (2010). "Eagles Over Ireland". Paul Browne. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  5. 7th Army Symphony Chronology – General Palmer authorizes Samuel Adler to found the orchestra in 1952 on 7aso.org
  6. A Dictionary for the Modern Composer, Emily Freeman Brown, Scarecrow Press, Oxford, 2015, p. 311 ISBN 9780810884014 Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra founded by Samuel Adler in 1952 – via Google Books
  7. Army – "Musical Ambassadors, Soldiers Too" James I. Kenner. Editor Lt. General Walter L. Weible . Association of the United States Army Vol 9. No. 1 August 1958 pp. 60–62 – Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra on https://books.google.com
  8. "7th Army Symphony Draws Praise" Samuel Adler and Army Commendtion Ribbon with Metal Pendant" on 7aso.org
  9. Uncle Sam's Orchestra: Memories of the Seventh Army Orchestra John Canaria, University of Rochester Press 1998 ISBN 9781580460 194 Seventh Army Symphony on https://books.google.com
  10. New Music New Allies Amy C. Beal, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2006, p. 49, ISBN 978-0-520-24755-0 "Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra (1952–1962) performing works by Roy Harris, Morton Gould and Leroy Anderson" – via Google Books
  11. "Services Today for Gen. Palmer". Orlando Sentinel. Washington. AP. November 13, 1973. p. 37. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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