William Ross Bond (December 4, 1918 – April 1, 1970) was a United States Army brigadier general who was killed by an enemy sniper in 1970 while commanding the 199th Infantry Brigade in South Vietnam. General Bond also served in World War II with the Army Rangers and was a prisoner of war.[1]
William R. Bond | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Ross Bond |
| Born | December 4, 1918 |
| Died | April 1, 1970 (aged 51) Bình Thủy District, South Vietnam |
| Place of burial | Stockbridge Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1970 |
| Rank | Brigadier General  |
| Unit | 199th Infantry Brigade (Light) |
| Commands | 199th Infantry Brigade |
| Battles / wars | World War II Vietnam War † |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Air Medal (9) Prisoner of War Medal Order of the Crown of Thailand (Knight Commander) |
Early life and education
editWilliam Ross "Billy" Bond[2] was raised in Maryland and Virginia. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree in political science and history. He was also a graduate of the Army War College and other senior service schools.[3]
US Army career
editBond enlisted in the Army in 1940. He participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily and later led his company in the Salerno landings in September 1943. On January 22, 1944, Bond's unit landed at Anzio. In a night attack at Cisterna, Bond was awarded the Silver Star, but was captured by the Germans and was held in a prisoner of war camp in Poland.
Bond began his first tour in South Vietnam in 1959 as a part of the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group.
In 1966, he became Chief of Staff. In 1969 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Personal life
editBond married Theodora Sedgwick in 1960,[3] a distant descendant of Union General John Sedgwick who was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in 1864.
Death
editOn April 1, 1970, during Operation Toan Thang IV, Bond was killed by a sniper's bullet shortly after landing in his command helicopter to oversee an operation in Bình Thủy District, 37 miles (60 km) north-northwest of Hàm Tân District.[4][5]
His funeral was held at Arlington National Cemetery, after which he was buried in the Sedgwick Pie at the Stockbridge Cemetery in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.[6]
See also
editU.S. Army general officers killed in action in the Vietnam War:
References
edit- ^ "William Ross Bond, Brigadier General, United States Army". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^ Grant, Stephen H. (2014). Collecting Shakespeare: The Story of Henry and Emily Folger. JHU Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-421-41187-3.
- ^ a b "Gen. Bond Served In 'Darby's Rangers". Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. May 31, 1970. p. 45. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. General Killed In War". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. April 2, 1970. p. 12. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ^ "Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary April 1970" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. August 17, 1970. p. 12. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Stein, Jean; Plimpton, George, eds. (1982). Edie: American Girl (1 ed.). Grove Press. p. 9. ISBN 0-802-13410-6.