William Nolde#Lecture Series

{{Infobox military officer

|name=Colonel William Benedict Nolde

|birth_date= {{birth date|1929|8|8}}

|death_date= {{death date and age|1973|1|27|1929|8|8}}

|birth_place= Menominee, Michigan, US

|death_place= An Lộc, Vietnam

|placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery

|placeofburial_label= Place of burial

|image= Williamnolde.jpg

|caption= William Nolde

|nickname=

|allegiance= United States

|branch= United States Army

|serviceyears=

|rank= Colonel

|commands=

|unit=

|battles=Korean War
Vietnam War{{KIA}}

|awards={{unbulleted list| Legion of Merit | Bronze Star | Air Medal | Purple Heart | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Vietnam Service Medal}}

|laterwork=

}}

Colonel William Benedict Nolde (August 8, 1929 – January 27, 1973) was an officer in the United States Army. Born in Menominee, Michigan, Nolde was a professor of military science at Central Michigan University before joining the army. He is known for being the last official American combat casualty of the Vietnam War: the 45,914th confirmed death and 57,597th in the total list of Americans killed during the conflict.{{cite news|last1=McGhee|first1=Peter|title=American Experience – Vietnam a Television History|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/vietnam/|access-date=19 September 2014|issue=Chapter 11, The End of The Tunnel, 1973-1975|publisher=PBS|date=1983}}{{cite web|last1=McGhee|first1=Peter|title=Vietnam, A Television History|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfg8mfpubw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/vNfg8mfpubw |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=Youtube|publisher=PBS|accessdate=19 September 2014}}{{cbignore}} Nolde was killed by artillery fire eleven hours before the cessation of all hostilities in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords.

Military career

Nolde was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. In 1970 he was the Battalion Commander, 5th BN, 30th Field Artillery, a Sergeant Missile Battalion deployed in northern Italy. After the war he stayed in the Army where he underwent officer training and served a first tour in South Vietnam in 1965. After returning from a posting in Italy in June 1972 he was asked by Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland to return to South Vietnam as a military adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Lt Col. Nolde became the senior military adviser in Bình Long Province. On 27 January 1973, eleven hours before the ceasefire under the Paris Peace Accords was to come into effect, Nolde was killed by North Vietnamese artillery fire near An Lộc.{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/apr/29/news/mn-24659/4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220014418/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/apr/29/news/mn-24659/4|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2015|title=Last Man Down|work=Los Angeles Times|date=29 April 2000|accessdate=27 November 2016}}{{cite book|last=Miller|first=Sergio|title=No Wider War: A history of the Vietnam War Volume 2 1965-1975|publisher=Bloomsbury|year=2021|isbn=9781472838520}}{{rp|397-8}}

While other Americans lost their lives after the truce was enacted, these were not recorded as combat casualties. During his time in the armed forces, he accumulated four medals, including the Bronze Star Medal and Legion of Merit. In 1997, Nolde was one of the first members inducted into the Central Michigan University Reserve Officer's Training Corps Hall of Fame.CMU ROTC, [http://www.cmich.edu/chsbs/x21978.xml Hall of Fame website]. Retrieved on February 18, 2010 In 2006, Colonel Nolde was inducted into the Fort Sill Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.Fort Sill OCS, [http://www.ftsillocsphotoproject.com/OCS-Reunion-2006/HOF-06-10.pdf Reunion 2006]. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Lecture Series

The William B. Nolde Lecture Series has the purpose to promote an understanding of the role of the United States Armed Forces in the life and history of the United States and to recognize the tie between military science and the broader disciplines within the university. The lectures serve as a stimulus to intellectual activity for future leaders both in the military and across the Central Michigan University campus and community. This program is sponsored by the university's Military Science Department. The following are the lectures presented:

class="wikitable"
colspan="4"\|William B. Nolde Lectures
Date ! Lecturer ! Organization ! Topic
Fall 1998 \| Dr. Jerold Brown \| Historian, Combat Studies Institute, Ft. Leavenworth \| The Citizen-Soldier and the American Military Tradition
Spring 1999 \| Hon. Dave Camp \| US Representative, Michigan 4th Congressional District \| The Role of Congress in Raising and Supporting the US Armed Forces
Fall 1999 \| Dr. Gregory M.A. Gronbacher \| Director, Center for Economic Personalism, Action Institute \| The Just War Tradition: Will it Survive the 21st Century Ebige, Natalie, [http://www.cm-life.com/1999/10/13/noldelectureseriestoinitiatedialogueonwar/ Central Michigan Life], October 13, 1999. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Spring 2000 \| Col. Edwin F. Veiga \| Director of Media Relations, Office of Chief of Army Public Affairs \| Media and the Military: Meeting the Challenge
Fall 2000 \| Maj. Gen. E. Gordon Stump \| Adjutant General, State of Michigan \| The Role of the Michigan National Guard
Spring 2001 \| Col. James M. McDonald \| Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, US Army \| US Army Transition
Fall 2001 \| Dr. Hans A. Andrews \| President, Olney Central College \| Leadership Education
Spring 2002 \| Col. Genaro J. Dellarocco \| Project Manager, Force Projections Combat Services Support, TACOM \| Force Projection: The Spear of our Nation's Military Power Projection
Fall 2002 \| Pres. Michael Rao, \| Central Michigan University (with Dani Hiar, Jamie Brown, Jennifer Ireland, Michelle Howard, Nathan Westfall, and Nicole Wright) \| CMU Student Leader Development: Preparing Leaders for our University, Community, Nation, and World
Spring 2003 \| Brig. Gen. John G. Kulhavi and Terence F. Moore \| Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch and President/CEO, Mid-Michigan Health \| Leadership in the Military and the Business World Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2003/03/31/noldespeakerskulhaviandmooretodetailmilitarybusinessleadership/ Central Michigan Life], March 31, 2003. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Fall 2003 \| Brig. Gen. Roger L. Allen \| Deputy STARC Commander, Michigan Army National Guard \| Building Leaders for Tomorrow Ramus, Patricia, [http://www.cm-life.com/2003/10/15/allendiscussesleadershipatnoldelecture/ Central Michigan Life], October 15, 2003. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Fall 2004 \| Capt. Shawn Abbe \| Commander, 1437th Multi-Role Bridge Company \| Leadership in Times of Conflict Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2004/11/10/veterangoodstuffgoingoniniraq/ Central Michigan Life], November 10, 2004. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Spring 2005 \| Brig. Gen. Anne F. McDonald \| Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center \| Gold Nuggets I Wish I had Known
Fall 2005 \| Col. R. John Cully \| Vice President, Trading Places International \| Eastern Region Government and Armed Forces Cooperative CMU College of Humanities and Social and Behavior Sciences, [http://www.cmich.edu/chsbs/documents/CHSBS/newsletter/winter_2006.pdf Under Discussion], Vol. 9, No. 1, Winter 2006. Retrieved on February 18, 2010Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2005/11/16/vietnamvetcolcullyspeakstorotccrowd/ Central Michigan Life], November 16, 2005. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Spring 2006 \| Lt. Col. Gary Brito \| Commander, 1st Battalion, 15th Regiment (Mechanized), 3rd Infantry Division \| Students should not be afraid to take risks Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2006/03/15/militarysciencestudentslearnaboutleadership/ Central Michigan Life], March 15, 2006. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Fall 2006 \| Col. James P. Coates \| Commander. 9th Brigade, Western Region, US Army Cadet Command \| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer
Fall 2007 \| Lt. Col. Brian Mays \| Assistant Principal, Colin Powell Middle School \| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer
Spring 2008 \| Col. Thomas Rini \| Investigator, Office of the Inspector General, DoD \| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer
Fall 2008 \| Lt. Col. David A. Burdette \| Vice President, Central Michigan University \| Student, Citizen, and Soldier in the 21st Century
Spring 2009 \| Col. Scott S. Haraburda \| Director, Manufacturing & Engineering, Crane Army Ammunition Activity \| Success by Surviving Changes Greene, Ben, [http://www.cm-life.com/2009/02/20/retiredcoloneltospeaktodayonsurvivingchanges/ Central Michigan Life], February 20, 2009. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Fall 2009 \| Lt. Col. Brian Eifler \| Commander, Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment \| Reflections of a CMU Ranger CMU College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, [http://www.cmich.edu/chsbs/x22386.xml Fall 2009 Events archive]. Retrieved on February 18, 2010
Spring 2010 \| Col. Elaine A. Edwards \| Director of Marketing, US Army Cadet Command \| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer
Fall 2010 \|Michael Knapp \|US Army National Guard Intelligence Center, Charlottesville, VA \|Briefing on Islamic Extremism
Spring 2011 \|COL Rick Nussio \|Center for Strategic & International Studies, U.S. Army Service College \|Plates and People: Educating Leaders for an Uncertain Future
Fall 2011 \|BG(R) Mark Montjar \|VSE Corporation \|Leadership: Teamwork and Collaboration
Spring 2012 \|MAJ(R) InSung Oaks Lee \|Homeland Security \|Army Core Value - Personal Courage
Fall 2012 \|Captain Tim Hardy \|Sunoco, Inc. \|Leadership and Character
Spring 2013 \|BG(R) John Leatherman \|Michigan Army National Guard \|You Will Receive More Than A Commission
Fall 2013 \|CPT(R) William Talcott \| \|Effective Leadership
Spring 2014 \|COL(R) John Hinck \| \|Being Smart is Your Best Weapon
Spring 2015 \|Terence Moore \|MidMichigan Health \|The Value of ROTC in the Civilian World

class="wikitable"

colspan="4"|William B. Nolde Lectures

Date

! Lecturer

! Organization

! Topic

Fall 1998

| Dr. Jerold Brown

| Historian, Combat Studies Institute, Ft. Leavenworth

| The Citizen-Soldier and the American Military Tradition

Spring 1999

| Hon. Dave Camp

| US Representative, Michigan 4th Congressional District

| The Role of Congress in Raising and Supporting the US Armed Forces

Fall 1999

| Dr. Gregory M.A. Gronbacher

| Director, Center for Economic Personalism, Action Institute

| The Just War Tradition: Will it Survive the 21st Century Ebige, Natalie, [http://www.cm-life.com/1999/10/13/noldelectureseriestoinitiatedialogueonwar/ Central Michigan Life], October 13, 1999. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Spring 2000

| Col. Edwin F. Veiga

| Director of Media Relations, Office of Chief of Army Public Affairs

| Media and the Military: Meeting the Challenge

Fall 2000

| Maj. Gen. E. Gordon Stump

| Adjutant General, State of Michigan

| The Role of the Michigan National Guard

Spring 2001

| Col. James M. McDonald

| Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, US Army

| US Army Transition

Fall 2001

| Dr. Hans A. Andrews

| President, Olney Central College

| Leadership Education

Spring 2002

| Col. Genaro J. Dellarocco

| Project Manager, Force Projections Combat Services Support, TACOM

| Force Projection: The Spear of our Nation's Military Power Projection

Fall 2002

| Pres. Michael Rao,

| Central Michigan University (with Dani Hiar, Jamie Brown, Jennifer Ireland, Michelle Howard, Nathan Westfall, and Nicole Wright)

| CMU Student Leader Development: Preparing Leaders for our University, Community, Nation, and World

Spring 2003

| Brig. Gen. John G. Kulhavi and Terence F. Moore

| Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch and President/CEO, Mid-Michigan Health

| Leadership in the Military and the Business World Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2003/03/31/noldespeakerskulhaviandmooretodetailmilitarybusinessleadership/ Central Michigan Life], March 31, 2003. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Fall 2003

| Brig. Gen. Roger L. Allen

| Deputy STARC Commander, Michigan Army National Guard

| Building Leaders for Tomorrow Ramus, Patricia, [http://www.cm-life.com/2003/10/15/allendiscussesleadershipatnoldelecture/ Central Michigan Life], October 15, 2003. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Fall 2004

| Capt. Shawn Abbe

| Commander, 1437th Multi-Role Bridge Company

| Leadership in Times of Conflict Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2004/11/10/veterangoodstuffgoingoniniraq/ Central Michigan Life], November 10, 2004. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Spring 2005

| Brig. Gen. Anne F. McDonald

| Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center

| Gold Nuggets I Wish I had Known

Fall 2005

| Col. R. John Cully

| Vice President, Trading Places International

| Eastern Region Government and Armed Forces Cooperative CMU College of Humanities and Social and Behavior Sciences, [http://www.cmich.edu/chsbs/documents/CHSBS/newsletter/winter_2006.pdf Under Discussion], Vol. 9, No. 1, Winter 2006. Retrieved on February 18, 2010Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2005/11/16/vietnamvetcolcullyspeakstorotccrowd/ Central Michigan Life], November 16, 2005. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Spring 2006

| Lt. Col. Gary Brito

| Commander, 1st Battalion, 15th Regiment (Mechanized), 3rd Infantry Division

| Students should not be afraid to take risks Defaultuser, [http://www.cm-life.com/2006/03/15/militarysciencestudentslearnaboutleadership/ Central Michigan Life], March 15, 2006. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Fall 2006

| Col. James P. Coates

| Commander. 9th Brigade, Western Region, US Army Cadet Command

| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer

Fall 2007

| Lt. Col. Brian Mays

| Assistant Principal, Colin Powell Middle School

| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer

Spring 2008

| Col. Thomas Rini

| Investigator, Office of the Inspector General, DoD

| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer

Fall 2008

| Lt. Col. David A. Burdette

| Vice President, Central Michigan University

| Student, Citizen, and Soldier in the 21st Century

Spring 2009

| Col. Scott S. Haraburda

| Director, Manufacturing & Engineering, Crane Army Ammunition Activity

| Success by Surviving Changes Greene, Ben, [http://www.cm-life.com/2009/02/20/retiredcoloneltospeaktodayonsurvivingchanges/ Central Michigan Life], February 20, 2009. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Fall 2009

| Lt. Col. Brian Eifler

| Commander, Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

| Reflections of a CMU Ranger CMU College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, [http://www.cmich.edu/chsbs/x22386.xml Fall 2009 Events archive]. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Spring

2010

| Col. Elaine A. Edwards

| Director of Marketing, US Army Cadet Command

| OPEN DISCUSSIONS with Question and Answer

Fall

2010

|Michael Knapp

|US Army National Guard Intelligence Center, Charlottesville, VA

|Briefing on Islamic Extremism

Spring

2011

|COL Rick Nussio

|Center for Strategic & International Studies, U.S. Army Service College

|Plates and People: Educating Leaders for an Uncertain Future

Fall 2011

|BG(R) Mark Montjar

|VSE Corporation

|Leadership: Teamwork and Collaboration

Spring 2012

|MAJ(R) InSung Oaks Lee

|Homeland Security

|Army Core Value - Personal Courage

Fall 2012

|Captain Tim Hardy

|Sunoco, Inc.

|Leadership and Character

Spring 2013

|BG(R) John Leatherman

|Michigan Army National Guard

|You Will Receive More Than A Commission

Fall 2013

|CPT(R) William Talcott

|Effective Leadership

Spring 2014

|COL(R) John Hinck

|Being Smart is Your Best Weapon

Spring 2015

|Terence Moore

|MidMichigan Health

|The Value of ROTC in the Civilian World

Nolde Scholarship

At Central Michigan University, the William B. Nolde Scholarship was established in memory of Colonel William B. Nolde by students, family and friends.CMU College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, [http://www.cmich.edu/chsbs/documents/CHSBS/Scholarships/CHSBS_scholarship_publication.pdf Scholarship Reference Guide]. Retrieved on February 18, 2010

Burial

Nolde was buried on February 5, 1973 in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery (his widow Joyce was buried beside him in 2005).[https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVub2xkZRIHd2lsbGlhbRoBYg--/ Burial Detail: Nolde, William B (Section 3, Grave 1775-B)] – ANC Explorer As the last official combat casualty, his funeral was broadcast on television and was attended by "considerably more brass than the funeral of a field-grade officer would normally command" including General Alexander Haig and President Richard Nixon.PBS Vietnam Series, Part 11, [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/series/pt_11.html transcript] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323221144/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/series/pt_11.html |date=2017-03-23 }} retrieved on February 18, 2010{{rp|398}}

Awards and decorations

References

External links

[http://www.williambnolde.com Official Website of William Benedict Nolde] at [http://www.williamnolde.com Colonel William B. Nolde]
[http://www.warriorsroadtrip.com Official Legacy of Colonel William B. Nolde] at The [http://www.WarriorsRoadtripNetwork.com Warriors Roadtrip Network].
[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wbnolde.htm William Benedict Nolde] at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website

Category:1929 births

Category:1973 deaths

Category:People from Menominee, Michigan

Category:Military personnel from Michigan

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:United States Army colonels

Category:Recipients of the Air Medal

Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War

Category:United States Army personnel killed in the Vietnam War