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Contact Info
Last Address Shawnee
Date of Passing Mar 12, 2012
Location of Interment Fort Bliss National Cemetery (VA) - Fort Bliss, Texas
William O. Wooldridge, the first sergeant major of the Army, was sworn in on July 11, 1966, and served until his term ended in August of 1968. He was born in Shawnee, Okla., on August 12, 1922.
He entered the Army on Nov. 11, 1940, at Fort Worth, Texas. His early assignments were with the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and detached service with British forces in Iceland in 1941 and 1942. In 1942 he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Europe and participated in the North Africa and Sicily Campaigns and the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. In October 1944 he was wounded during the battle for the fortress city of Aachen and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He received his second Silver Star in the Battle of the Bulge Campaign in December 1944. Upon his return to the United States in May 1945, SMA Wooldridge was assigned to numerous posts. He then served a brief tour with Post Headquarters at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and in 1947 was assigned to Japan, where he served with Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army. Wooldridge was again assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in July 1949, as first sergeant for Company K, 26th Infantry Regiment, then stationed in Germany.
Returning to the United States in May, 1954, he was assigned as first sergeant of Company G, 3rd Infantry, Fort McNair. He returned to the "Big Red One" as first sergeant of Company D, 26th Infantry, at Fort Riley, Kan., in December 1955. He was appointed sergeant major of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry, on Dec. 20, 1956. In 1957 he became sergeant major of the 2nd Battle Group, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley . In December 1958 he was assigned with the 2nd Battle Group, 28th Infantry, to the 24th Infantry Division in Germany. He became the 24th Infantry Division sergeant major in March, 1963. Wooldridge returned once again to the 1st Infantry Division as sergeant major of the 1st Brigade, Fort Riley, in January 1965. He was appointed division sergeant major in June 1965 and was deployed to Vietnam with the division in August 1965.
Upon completion of his term as sergeant major of the Army in 1968, he returned once again to Vietnam as sergeant major of the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam. Upon his return stateside he was assigned to the White Sands Missile Range in the fall of 1969, and after 30 years and ten months of service retired at Fort MacArthur, Calif., on Feb.1, 1972.
Wooldridge's awards and decorations include the Silver Star (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Air Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), American Defense Service Medal, European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany and Japan), Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge with Star. He is also authorized to wear unit decorations from the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and the Republic of Vietnam.
Army News Service
WASHINGTON -- The first sergeant major of the Army, William O. Wooldridge, died Monday in El Paso, Texas, at age 89.
When Wooldridge beat out 4,700 candidates in 1966 for a new position created by the chief of staff of the Army, he had been serving for a year as 1st Infantry Division sergeant major in the Republic of Vietnam.
"SMA Wooldridge was a one-of-a-kind noncommissioned officer, selected to be the first sergeant major of the Army because of his initiative, intelligence, experience and drive to excel," said current Sgt. Maj. or the Army Raymond F. Chandler III. "His lasting impression lives on in the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, the centralized NCO promotion system, and our professional NCO Corps."
"He was an innovator, a true inspiration to Soldiers, and the epitome of a professional warrior. Our hearts and prayers go out to Patty and the rest of the Wooldridge family during this difficult time," said Chandler, the 14th SMA.
Wooldridge served as sergeant major of the Army from July 11, 1966, after leaving Vietnam and arriving at the Pentagon in his jungle fatigues, through September 1968 and is credited with improving the status of the noncommissioned Officers Corps.
He did this by:
• Starting the first Major Command Sergeants Major Conference in 1966 which resulted in a multitude of proposals to enhance and improve the training, morale and readiness of noncommissioned officers across the Army
• Recommending the Sergeants Major Academy
• Recommending the command sergeant major program
• Recommending the standardized NCO promotion process
After serving as sergeant major of the Army, Wooldridge returned to Vietnam as sergeant major of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam, becoming the only SMA to return to field duty after serving in the top enlisted position.
Born Aug. 12, 1922, near Shawnee, Okla., Wooldridge's family moved about five years later to his father's home state of Texas where he later enlisted in the Army after persuading his dad to let him go.
"I had this one thing on my mind," said Wooldridge in a Feb. 2001 interview with Sgt. Maj. Don Elder from the Center of Military History, "I wanted to wear a Soldier uniform. I wanted to be a Soldier, and I wanted to get the hell out of Brown County, Texas.
The interview was conducted at Wooldridge's quarters in Santa Teresa, N.M., near El Paso.
He enlisted at Fort Worth, Texas on Nov. 11, 1940 and served until 1972, amassing a much-decorated career over three wars and 14 campaigns.
He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry at the battle for Aachen, Germany in October 1944 and also received a Purple Heart for injuries. He was awarded a second Silver Star for gallantry during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, while serving as a platoon sergeant.
As sergeant major of the Army, Wooldridge traveled wherever Soldiers were stationed to listen to their concerns while strengthening and preserving the rich history of the NCO Corps, "the backbone of the Army."
Wooldridge retired in 1972 after more than 30 years of service. He lived in Santa Teresa, N.M. He died Monday night at Beaumont Army Medical Center on Fort Bliss, Texas, and is survived by his wife Patty. Funeral services are still pending.
Other Comments:
Wooldridge was chosen for this important new position from thousands of nominees. He served as Sergeant Major of the Army until September 1968. He is credited with improving the status of the non-commissioned officers by convening the first Major Command Sergeants Major Conference and recommending the Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course, the Sergeants Major Academy, the Command Sergeant Major program, and a standardized NCO promotion process. Wooldridge and General Johnson worked together as an effective professional team. He came to revere Johnson, calling him "the finest officer I ever served with in my life".
After serving as Sergeant Major of the Army, Wooldridge returned to Vietnam as sergeant major of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MAC-V). He is the only SMA to return to field duty after serving in the top enlisted position.
Now retired, Wooldridge volunteers his time at the United States Army’s Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas, in classroom visits and discussions with non-commissioned officers. He provides an historical prospective on many military issues.
From 1966 until 1979, the Sergeant Major of the Army wore the standard Command Sergeant Major rank insignia.
The insignia worn by SMA Wooldridge was hand-soldered by Colonel Jasper J. Wilson from a canibalised aide's insignia and enlisted collar brass. The insignia was approved on 4 July 1966.
The rank and position were based on those of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, established in its current incarnation on 23 May1957. The Chief of Staff, Army, created the position in 1966, after asking leaders of the major commands for a personal recommendation. He asked that it not be considered a near retirement type assignment. He listed seven duties and functions he expected the sergeant major to perform, including service as a personal advisor and assistant to the Chief of Staff on matters pertaining to enlisted soldiers.
The Sergeant Major of the Army and the other five SEAs hold pay grade E-9, as all sergeants major and command sergeants major; however, in accordance with 37 U.S.C. § 1009, Schedule 10, an SEA's base pay is US$6,875.10 per month (US$82,501.20 per annum), regardless of the incumbent's service longevity. For comparison, any other E-9, even with the maximum forty years of service, would receive US$6,605.40 per month.
In addition to his base pay and normal tax-free allowances, the SMA and the other SEAs are each entitled to a special tax-free allowance of US$2,000.00 per annum, in accordance with 37 U.S.C. § 414(c).
Insignia
Sergeant Major of the Army branch of service collar insignia
Sergeant Major of the Army cap device
Like his counterparts in the other branches, the Sergeant Major of the Army wears a unique rank insignia, including a unique collar insignia ("brass").
The SMA's rank insignia, like those of all Army sergeants major, consists of three chevrons above three "rockers". Whereas other sergeants major have one star in the center, the SMA has two. Similarly, the rank insignia of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force each have one star more than other sergeants major, master chiefs, or chief master sergeants of their respective service. Since 1994, the two stars have flanked a rendering of the United States Coat of Arms, as do the stars of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (the stars of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps similarly flank the Marine Corps' emblem).
The insignia worn by SMA Wooldridge was hand-soldered by Colonel Jasper J. Wilson from a canibalised aide's insignia and enlisted collar brass. The insignia was approved on 4 July 1966.
Originally, the SMA would wear the device on each collar, but he now wears the standard "U.S." disk on his right collar as do all enlisted soldiers. This insignia is also worn in place of a unit insignia on the SMA's beret, garrison cap, and pull-over sweater. The collar insignia of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman ("SEAC") of the JCS, approved 2 February 2006, is based directly upon that of the SMA, and features the shield of an aide de camp to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (without the surmounting eagle), on a gold-colored disk.
The SMA's cap device, worn on the front of the blue service cap (and, formerly, the white service cap; and, until 2011 the green service cap) is a gold-colored rendering of the United States' coat of arms, surrounded by a wreath. The cap device for all other U.S. Army enlisted soldiers is a gold-colored rendering of the United States' coat of arms on a gold-colored disk (males) or surrounded by a gold colored ring (females). The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force has the same cap device as the SMA, but in silver-colored metal.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (1966-67)
From Month/Year
July / 1966
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Description This campaign was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. United States operations after 1 July 1966 were a continuation of the earlier counteroffensive campaign. Recognizing the interdependence of political, economic, sociological, and military factors, the Joint Chiefs of Staff declared that American military objectives should be to cause North Vietnam to cease its control and support of the insurgency in South Vietnam and Laos, to assist South Vietnam in defeating Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam, and to assist South Vietnam in pacification extending governmental control over its territory.
North Vietnam continued to build its own forces inside South Vietnam. At first this was done by continued infiltration by sea and along the Ho Chi Minh trail and then, in early 1966, through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). U.S. air elements received permission to conduct reconnaissance bombing raids, and tactical air strikes into North Vietnam just north of the DMZ, but ground forces were denied authority to conduct reconnaissance patrols in the northern portion of the DMZ and inside North Vietnam. Confined to South Vietnamese territory U.S. ground forces fought a war of attrition against the enemy, relying for a time on body counts as one standard indicator for measuring successful progress for winning the war.
During 1966 there were eighteen major operations, the most successful of these being Operation WHITE WING (MASHER). During this operation, the 1st Cavalry Division, Korean units, and ARVN forces cleared the northern half of Binh Dinh Province on the central coast. In the process they decimated a division, later designated the North Vietnamese 3d Division. The U.S. 3d Marine Division was moved into the area of the two northern provinces and in concert with South Vietnamese Army and other Marine Corps units, conducted Operation HASTINGS against enemy infiltrators across the DMZ.
The largest sweep of 1966 took place northwest of Saigon in Operation ATTLEBORO, involving 22,000 American and South Vietnamese troops pitted against the VC 9th Division and a NVA regiment. The Allies defeated the enemy and, in what became a frequent occurrence, forced him back to his havens in Cambodia or Laos.
By 31 December 1966, U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam numbered 385,300. Enemy forces also increased substantially, so that for the same period, total enemy strength was in excess of 282,000 in addition to an estimated 80,000 political cadres. By 30 June 1967, total U.S. forces in SVN had risen to 448,800, but enemy strength had increased as well.
On 8 January U.S. and South Vietnamese troops launched separate drives against two major VC strongholds in South Vietnam-in the so-called "Iron Triangle" about 25 miles northwest of Saigon. For years this area had been under development as a VC logistics base and headquarters to control enemy activity in and around Saigon. The Allies captured huge caches of rice and other foodstuffs, destroyed a mammoth system of tunnels, and seized documents of considerable intelligence value.
In February, the same U.S. forces that had cleared the "Iron Triangle", were committed with other units in the largest allied operation of the war to date, JUNCTION CITY. Over 22 U.S. and four ARVN battalions engaged the enemy, killing 2,728. After clearing this area, the Allies constructed three airfields; erected a bridge and fortified two camps in which CIDG garrisons remained as the other allied forces withdrew.
