AP: William Westmoreland dead

Associated Press | July 18, 2005

[JellyJam]

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded American troops in Vietnam — the nation’s longest, most divisive conflict and the only war America lost — died Monday night. He was 91.

Westmoreland died of natural causes at Bishop Gadsden retirement home, where he had lived with his wife for several years, said his son, James Ripley Westmoreland.

The silver-haired, jut-jawed officer, who rose through the ranks quickly in Europe during World War II and later became superintendent of West Point, contended the United States did not lose the conflict in Southeast Asia.

[SandRat]

Just pulled from FOXNEWS:

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Retired Gen. William Westmoreland (search), who commanded American troops in Vietnam (search), has died, his son says.

[umgud]

He was my general. RIP.

[Flux Capacitor]

----The silver-haired, jut-jawed officer, who rose through the ranks quickly in Europe during World War II and later became superintendent of West Point, contended the United States did not lose the conflict in Southeast Asia.----

And he was absolutely damned right. RIP, sir.

-Dan

[Iwo Jima]

The military did not lose the conflict in SE Asia. The government did.

[cynicom]

The military did not lose the war. Washington did.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

3

[COEXERJ145]

[JellyJam]

more from AP:

“It’s more accurate to say our country did not fulfill its commitment to South Vietnam,” he said. “By virtue of Vietnam, the U.S. held the line for 10 years and stopped the dominoes from falling.”

He would later say he did not know how history would deal with him.

“Few people have a field command as long as I did,” he said. “They put me over there and they forgot about me. But I was there seven days a week, working 14 to 16 hours a day.

“I have no apologies, no regrets. I gave my very best efforts,” he added. “I’ve been hung in effigy. I’ve been spat upon. You just have to let those things bounce off.”

Later, after many of the wounds caused by the divisive conflict began to heal, Westmoreland led thousands of his comrades in the November, 1982, veterans march in Washington to dedicate the Vietnam War Memorial.

He called it “one of the most emotional and proudest experiences of my life.”

[Theresawithanh]

Rest in Peace, General. Prayers for the family.

[Ingtar]

We lost one other war I can think of, though it was undeclared. We lost in Somalia. I suppose we also lost in Bosnia.

[cmsgop]

An American Hero, RIP

[Dane]

Didn't dan rather do a hit piece on him in the 80's and rather was proven wrong.

[SevenofNine]

Is same General that got busted by Catcher mitt Mike Wallace of CBS news he sue for libel and Mikey blame him for depression is that same dude

[CFC__VRWC]

Well, the media might take a few seconds away from their Joe Wilson multiple orgasms to gloat over this.

RIP, General Westmoreland. When you can rank perverted scum like the media among your enemies, you've done well.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

The Washington back seat drivers / The hippie dippies / The feminist / Liberals of the 60's / Democrats / Anti - American's / the MSM lost the war in Vietnam.

[billnaz]

He did his best, despite restrictions placed on him and his troops by the politicians. This old soldier mourns the loss of a great officer.

[FlingWingFlyer]

(Salute) RIP General. You did your best. The government and the Liberal "media" betrayed you and the troops. GBU.

[cynicom]

The signs first appeared during the Korean war when we could not bomb across the Yalu, the politicians were running the war. It has been downhill since then.