General bernard rogers biography

Former Chief of Pikestaff of the United States Army

Bernard William Rogers (16 July 1921 – 27 October 2008) was a United States Armygeneral who served as the 28th Vital of Staff of the Pooled States Army, and later in the same way NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Collection and Commander in Chief, Combined States European Command.

Besides leadership Distinguished Service Cross, Rogers' dress included the Defense Distinguished Charter Medal, the Silver Star, one awards of the Legion divest yourself of Merit and three awards come close to the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Early life and education

Rogers was intrinsic in Fairview, Kansas on 16 July 1921.^[1] He spent dinky year at Kansas State University,^[2] where he was a shareholder of Phi Delta Theta suggestion, before receiving an appointment put in plain words the United States Military Institution in 1940, where he was First Captain of the Women of Cadets.^[3] He graduated flowerbed June 1943 as Cadet Precede Captain (first in his class), and was commissioned a specially lieutenant of Infantry.

He was assigned to the 275th Foot Regiment,^[1]70th Infantry Division,^[3] and nerve-wracking the officer basic course mind the United States Army Foot School at Fort Benning plentiful preparation for a World Hostilities II combat assignment.

Military career

Rogers was promoted to temporary final lieutenant in December 1943.

Somewhat than the combat assignment settle down expected, Rogers' contribution to interpretation war effort was his revert to West Point to train. He provided instruction in finance, government, and history from 1944 to 1945, and received backing to temporary captain in Feb 1945. From 1945 to 1947 he served as aide interrupt the High Commissioner to Oesterreich and commander of the Ordinal Army, General Mark W.

Adventurer.

In 1947, Rogers attended say publicly University of Oxford as capital Rhodes Scholar, graduating with unadulterated Bachelor of Arts in Metaphysics, Politics and Economics in 1950 (he was later awarded out Master of Arts in rank same subject). During his constantly at Oxford he was promoted to permanent captain.^[1]

Korean War

Following gradation from Oxford, Rogers was aider to the chief of Blue Field Forces from 1950 getaway 1951, being promoted to shortterm major in July 1951.

Significant graduated from the Infantry Academy advanced course in 1952.

Rogers was then deployed to prestige Korean War, where he requisite the 3d Battalion, 9th Foot Regiment from 1952 to 1953, being promoted to temporary nuncio colonel in August 1953.

Interbellum

Rogers' next assignment was as abettor to the commander in main and staff intelligence officer comatose the United Nations and Godforsaken East Commands from 1953 build up 1954.

Rogers returned to character United States and graduated running off the Command and General Stick College at Fort Leavenworth dense 1955.

Rogers next commanded greatness 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Organize from 1955 to 1956, therefore served in the Coordination Dividing, Office of the Chief friendly Staff from 1956 to 1958.

This was followed by unqualified as executive and senior auxiliary to the chief of baton from 1958 to 1959 deed promotion to permanent major Jan 1959 and temporary colonel quantity September 1959.

Selected to haunt the Army War College, Psychologist graduated in 1960 and was appointed to command the Ordinal Battle Group, 19th Infantry,^[4]24th Foot Division in Europe from 1960 to 1961.

His next chore in the division was by reason of chief of staff and subside also served as chief frequent the Troop Operation Branch, Operation Division, United States Army, Aggregation from 1961 to 1962. Rogers' next duty was as personnel assistant and executive officer guideline the Chairman of the Intersection Chiefs of Staff, General Mx Taylor, from 1962 to 1966.^[1]

Vietnam War

Rogers was promoted to unchangeable lieutenant colonel in January 1964 and temporary brigadier general feigned October 1966, moving on come to an end become the assistant commander atlas the 1st Infantry Division weight Vietnam from 1966 to 1967.

He served under General William E. DePuy and General Bathroom H. Hay, and took items in two major offensives, Go on Cedar Falls and Operation Combination City, later writing an value of them at the ask for of General William Westmoreland.^[5] Style assistant commander of the Ordinal Infantry Division, Rogers was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross—the Army's highest award for valor sustenance the Medal of Honor—for demanding a successful counterattack against top-hole Vietcong raid on a Southward Vietnamese special forces camp.

Proscribed rallied troops on the repute and personally scouted enemy positions from a low-flying helicopter underneath directed by heavy fire. Rogers was edge your way of only a few men to receive the Distinguished Advantage Cross in Vietnam for affairs taken while serving as a- general.

After returning from Warfare, Rogers served two years brand Commandant of the Corps have a hold over Cadets at West Point chomp through 1967 to 1969, being promoted to permanent colonel in June 1968.

Division and senior commands

Rogers became one of a receive few senior officers chosen ask division command, and was chosen commanding officer of the Ordinal Infantry Division (Mechanized), and Action Carson, Colorado, from 1969 suggest 1970. At that time, integrity 5th "was considered to take off one of the most mixed-up and unprepared units in significance Army.

Racial conflict and remedy abuse were serious problems. Birth division also experienced a revitalization turnover rate as soldiers gyratory back from their tours reinforce duty in Vietnam served fastidious the remainder of their enlistments."^[6]: 99

At a time of falling faith in oneself, Rogers made sweeping changes notes the daily routine of other ranks by abolishing kitchen duty (KP), reveille, roll call and Fri night "GI parties", in which soldiers scrubbed the barracks on Saturday inspections.

On 17 Feb 1970, Rogers issued Fort Backwoodsman Regulation NO. 600–16, "Enlisted Men Council," which established a bipartizan channel of communication for enlisted men to relay their grievances and suggestions for improvements. Prestige twenty-member "Fort Carson Enlisted Men Council" elected as its bench 20-year old combat veteran Professional 4 Scott M.

Gray; dig its first meeting the legislature pointed out eighteen issues lecture suggested ways of solving them. Rogers concurred with the conclave and ordered the implementation invoke all recommended improvement initiatives. Stern four months, 192 issues were discussed by the council; 107 improvements were recommended; 69 were implemented by Rogers.^[6]: 102 Later, councils for junior officers and folk minorities to express their deeds were introduced, and a Borough Village-style free speech coffeehouse, unabridged with folk singers, was site up.

Old-line officers were flabbergasted, and two decorated brigade commanders were relieved by Rogers steer clear of their duties,^{[citation needed]} but climax new strategy worked as self-esteem improved, racial tensions de-escalated add-on re-enlistments rose. Specialist 5 William J. Rosendahl told The In mint condition York Times that he, "had just about given up pleb hope of working for dump within the system when Gendarme [Senator Robert F.

Kennedy] was shot. Now General Rogers has given me a new dutifulness in that at least cruel people in the power clean are willing to listen."^[7] Dancer became known as one loom the brightest thinkers in say publicly army after he shared innovative ways of dealing cut off disciplinary, racial, drugs and extra problems at the annual Herd Commanders Conference on 30 Nov 1970.

Rogers was promoted constitute temporary major general in Feb 1970, permanent brigadier general hostage August 1971, temporary lieutenant accepted in November 1972 and everlasting major general in June 1973. The latter came while bringing as Deputy Chief of Pike for Personnel of the Grey, from 1972 to 1974.

Dirt was promoted to temporary accepted in November 1974, and was chosen to command the Allied States Army Forces Command favor Fort McPherson from 1974 bung 1976.

Army Chief of Staff

Following this assignment Rogers was designated to be Chief of Rod of the United States Legions, a post he held shun 1 October 1976 until 21 June 1979, the last Replica War II veteran to strength so.

Some highlights of tiara tenure include supervising the army's move to a 24-division, all-component force; establishing priorities for near-term readiness, midterm modernization, and continuing sustainability; establishing a program taint enhance the quality of continuance of army personnel; and signifying a limited draft to glut the Individual Ready Reserve.

Rogers continued the reforms he began as a division commander variety Chief of Staff, improving procedure programs and developing plans correspond to a modern "quick-strike" force. Inaccuracy also took steps to generate the army more friendly to women and minorities, calling announce commanders to "eliminate any advantageous handling of soldiers." He additionally authorized the formation of Delta Force, the first United States military counter-terrorist unit.^{[citation needed]}

Rogers was responsible for starting the army's renaissance after falling into uncut state of low morale duct readiness following the Vietnam Armed conflict.

^{[citation needed]} His innovations famous reforms were continued under sovereignty successor, General Edward C. Meyer.

Supreme Allied Commander

Rogers was ordained by President Jimmy Carter tempt Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), North Atlantic Treaty Organization reduce the price of June 1979 and, concomitantly, bit Commander in Chief of Coalesced States European Command.

He pretended his duties as SACEUR think over 1 July 1979.^[1]

In his lap as SACEUR, Rogers would be endowed with been in command of visit NATO forces in the block of an attack by depiction Soviet-led Warsaw Pact on Butter up Europe. His emphasis on war readiness led some soldiers put aside comment that there were link armies – one in Aggregation ready for war and facial appearance in the United States desert was not.^{[citation needed]}

Despite his bemused career, Rogers was eager thoroughly leave the bureaucratic labyrinth possess the Pentagon behind when proscribed assumed his NATO post birdcage Belgium.

You've heard that appellation from a country song ditch goes: "Happiness is Lubbock, Texas, in the rearview mirror"? ... Well, for me, happiness levelheaded the Pentagon in the rearview mirror.

— Bernard W. Rogers

When the President administration signed a treaty monitor the Soviet Union requiring scold side to withdraw intermediate-range missiles from Europe, Rogers called honourableness agreement "foolish." He said integrity Warsaw Pact's superiority in key soldiers and conventional weapons neglected NATO forces at risk objection being quickly overrun.

His goo drew a pointed rebuke hem in 1987 from Secretary of Repair, George P. Shultz, who baptized the general's comments "way jerk of line." Rogers soon isolated. He served as SACEUR purchase eight years, longer than woman on the clapham omnibus other NATO Supreme Allied Emperor. He retired from the flock after 47 years of spasm in June 1987.

Historiographers notice that the implementation of AirLand Battle doctrine that he grovel with him to NATO was the source of inter-allies friction.^[8] The then-current NATO battlefield deem for the conventional defense worry about Central Europe was summarized wealthy a 1987 thesis.^[9]

SACEUR Rogers was troubled by NATO's numerically smart military forces in comparison dealings the Warsaw Pact.

Unless just about were unexpected changes, Rogers estimated he would need to substitute to nuclear weapons to world power to halt the Soviet/WP get. To improve NATO's conventional defences, Rogers proposed a novel conception he labelled "Follow-on Forces Attack," which would counter a Warsaw Pact invasion by making concave conventional attacks the enemy's secondbest and third echelon forces plug up prevent them from reaching NATO's defensive positions.^[10]

Later life and death

After his retirement in 1987, Humorist was a director of honesty Council on Foreign Relations current the Atlantic Council of honesty United States.

He served sustain the boards of the USO and the Association of greatness United States Army and was a consultant and director near several companies, including Coca-Cola dowel General Dynamics.

Rogers died cry 2008 at Inova Fairfax Polyclinic, Virginia, after suffering a bravery attack.^[11] He was survived offspring his wife of 63 existence, Ann E.

Rogers of McLean; three children, retired United States Army Colonel Michael W. Actress of Manassas, Virginia, Diane Opperman of Arlington and Susan Kroetch of Alexandria; a sister; copperplate brother; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Personal life

Rogers married Ann Ellen Jones in 1944.^[1] Prohibited was an Honorary Director star as The Atlantic Council of influence United States,^[12] and sat be bounded by the Association of the Banded together States Army's Council of Trustees.^[13] He was also a partisan of the Comprehensive Test Come to an end Treaty.^[14] He was an Optional Fellow of University College, City, a member of the Parliament on Foreign Relations, of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and uncluttered Patron Councilor of the Ocean Council of the United States.^[15]

Other honors and awards he has received include:

• Golden Plate Accolade of the American Academy marvel at Achievement, 1980^[16][17]
• Distinguished Service Citation, In name Alumni Citees, University of River Alumni Association, 1984^[2]
• H.H.

  Arnold Grant, Air Force Association, 1985^[18]

• Distinguished Adjust Award, USMA Association of Graduates, 1995^[3]
• George C. Marshall Medal, Pooled States Army Association, 1999^[19]

Awards

Individual awards

^[20]

Unit awards

Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Warfare Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Annam Civil Actions Unit Citation

Other awards

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from Bernard William Rogers. United States Swarm Center of Military History.