William J. McCaffrey
{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= William J. McCaffrey
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1914|10|09}}
|death_date= {{death-date and age|February 13, 2006|October 9, 1914}}
|birth_place= Omaha, Nebraska
|death_place= Arlington County, Virginia
|placeofburial=Arlington National Cemetery
|placeofburial_label=
|image=William J. McCaffrey (US Army Lieutenant General).jpg
|caption=McCaffrey as a major general, circa 1969
|allegiance=United States of America
|branch={{army|United States}}
|serviceyears= 1934–1935, 1939–1973
|rank= 25px Lieutenant General
|commands=Deputy Commander United States Army Vietnam
United States Army War College
31st Infantry Regiment
|unit=
|battles= World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
|awards= Silver Star Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Air Medal
|laterwork=
|relations= General Barry McCaffrey (son)
}}
William Joseph McCaffrey (October 9, 1914 – February 13, 2006) was a United States Army Lieutenant General and the father of retired General Barry McCaffrey.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/19/AR2006021901149.html|title=William McCaffrey, 91; Fought in Three Wars|newspaper=Washington Post|date=20 February 2006|accessdate=4 February 2018}}
Early life and education
McCaffrey enlisted in the Army on 24 April 1934.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rIhHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA368 |title=U.S. Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired List |date=1 January 1966 |volume=I |page=368 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |access-date=1 October 2022}} He started at West Point in 1935, graduating as a Second Lieutenant in 1939.
Military service
=World War II=
McCaffrey graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1943. He then served as chief of staff of the 92nd Infantry Division in Europe.
=Korean War=
McCaffrey served as deputy chief of staff X Corps.{{cite book|last=Appleman|first=Roy|title=East of Chosin: Entrapment and Breakout in Korea, 1950|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|year=1990|isbn=9780890964651|page=11}}
He assumed command of the 31st Infantry Regiment when its commander was killed in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and led them in the retreat to Hungnam.
McCaffrey graduated from the United States Army War College in 1953. He later served as Commandant of the Army War College from 15 September 1967 to 6 July 1969.
He serves as assistant commandant of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy from 1953 to 1956 and then as commandant of cadets at The Citadel from 1959 to 1961.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cNeqibq2y1EC&pg=PA479 |title=Official Register of the Officers and Cadets |chapter=Class of 1939—Register of Graduates |date=1971 |page=479 |publisher=United States Military Academy |access-date=2 October 2022}}
=Vietnam War=
He served as Deputy Commander United States Army Vietnam from 1970 to 1972.
Later life
He retired from the Army in 1973.
McCaffrey died of heart disease on 13 February 2006. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 21 February 2006.{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/index.html#/search-all/results/1/CglNY0NhZmZyZXkSB1dpbGxpYW0aBkpvc2VwaA--/ |title=McCaffrey, William Joseph |website=ANCExplorer |publisher=U.S. Army |access-date=1 October 2022}}
References
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Category:Military personnel from Omaha, Nebraska
Category:United States Army soldiers
Category:United States Military Academy alumni
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War
Category:United States Army War College alumni
Category:United States Army generals
Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Recipients of the Air Medal