LTG Richard J. Seitz

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SOS connection pickup

 

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ribbons

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Military career Edit

 

While taking a year away from Kansas State to earn money for tuition, Seitz was called to duty in 1940 with the 38th Infantry Regiment in Texas. With the Army rapidly growing as the threat of war loomed, he quickly found himself in command of company, a job normally that went to a captain. While attending an infantry course at Ft. Benning, he saw the original Parachute Test Platoon commanded by Bill Ryder and decided to become a paratrooper. After overcoming the objections of his battalion commander, Seitz took airborne training under the command of the legendary Bill Lee. From 1950 to 1953, Seitz commanded the Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia.[4]

 

Seitz's first assignment after earning his jump wings was a member of the 503d Parachute Infantry Battalion under the command of then-Major Robert Sink. His company commander was then-Captain Jim Gavin.[5] Years later, Seitz credited Gavin with helping to instill in him the importance of a calm demeanor in communicating with soldiers.[6] As a young captain, the commander of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment Colonel Louis A. Walsh, Jr. saw tremendous potential in Seitz and placed him command of the 2nd Battalion in 1943.[7] His selection for command made him one of the youngest infantry battalion commanders during World War II at three days shy of his 25th birthday.[8] The 517th consisted of three battalions, the 1st Battalion, commanded by William J. Boyle, Seitz’s 2nd Battalion and the 3rd Battalion commanded by LTC Melvin Zais plus the 460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion commanded by LTC Raymond L. Cato.[9]

 

During the Battle of Bulge, the 28-year-old Seitz and his battalion of paratroopers would prove instrumental. Seitz headed “Task Force Seitz” built around his battalion and a company of 7th Armored Division tanks, equipped with some half-tracks, a detachment of engineers, and some self-propelled anti-tank guns. In twin attacks on two days, one after dark and the other in late evening, Seitz sent the Germans reeling back to the village of Hunnange, which was the gateway to St. Vith. In both attacks, paratroopers had to cross long stretches of open ground. With all guns blazing and with a massive artillery support fire, they locked up the crossroads village and waited in broad daylight for the huge armored assault that came behind them headed for the next stop, St. Vith.

 

The battered battalion, which lost more than 400 of the original 600 who entered Belgium only four weeks earlier, won acclaim for its grueling feat in the freezing evenings of a Belgian January. Seitz and his men were nominated for a Presidential Unit Citation, but in the confused business of the Bulge, the award was never made. Seitz received the Silver Star for his actions.[10]

 

Seitz remained in the Army following the World War II. From 1947 to 1949 he served in Japan with the 11th Airborne Division. From January, 1949, he served as the G-3 of the 11th Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Ky. In 1950, he graduated from the Command and General Staff College, at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks. He was promoted to colonel in 1954 while serving in Brazil as part of the U.S. Military Assistance Group (Brazil). In the spring of 1957, he received orders to report to Carlisle Barracks, Pa., to attend the Army War College. In June, 1958, upon completion of the War College, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division to command the 2d Airborne Battle Group, 503d Infantry at Fort Bragg, N.C. In June 1959, he became the G-3 for the XVIII Airborne Corps. For a year beginning in June 1960, he was Chief, Field Training Team U.S. Military Assistance Group, Iran. Following six-months at the University of Omaha, beginning in February 1962 he served for a year as Executive Officer, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army.

 

Seitz was promoted to brigadier general in July 1963 and appointed Chief, Combined Armed Division and then Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel. He served in this role until July 1965 when he was named Assistant Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Vietnam (August 1965-December 1965) and then served as Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Vietnam (January 1966-March 1966) and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Vietnam (April 1966-April 1967).

 

In March 1967, Seitz was promoted to major general and a month later assumed command of the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg. Seitz spent about a year and a half as commanding general but it was an eventful time in the history of the Airborne and the United States. In July 1967, a brigade from the Division was called to help quell rioting in Detroit. In February 1968, following the Tet Offensive, with less than 36 hours notice the Division deployed its 3rd Brigade to Vietnam.[11] In late 1968, two brigades from the Division were called out to put down rioting in Washington, DC, after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King with General Seitz personally commanding the effort.[12] One source credits Seitz for making the Division's distinctive maroon beret an accepted portion of its uniform[13] but this is contradicted by other sources[14]

 

In October 1968, Seitz became Chairman, U.S. Delegation of Joint Brazil-US Military Commission. He held this position until July 1970 when he became Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. In May 1973, he was promoted to lieutenant general. His final assignment returned him to the Airborne as the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Ft. Bragg. He retired from active duty in 1975.

 

Awards and honors Edit

 

The Association of the United States Army awarded Seitz the Creighton Abrams Award in 2003. The award was conferred to recognize “Seitz for his efforts to create a greater public awareness of the Army and to garner support for today's soldiers from citizens in all walks of life.”[15] In 2006 Pi Kappa Alpha awarded him its prestigious “Order of the West Range” award.[16] During a celebration of the anniversary of Operation Dragon in September 2011, the French government conferred on him the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France's highest decoration.[17] In 2012, a new elementary school, Seitz Elementary School, was named in the General's honor. The school's mascot is the Dragon in honor of the battalion Seitz commanded during World War II.[18]

[wildcat123]

Very, very impressive uniform. I had the privelage of meeting General Seitz at an event at the Eisenhower Library about 10 years ago.

[dskjl]

Very, very impressive uniform. I had the privelage of meeting General Seitz at an event at the Eisenhower Library about 10 years ago.

 

What was the occasion?

[wildcat123]

Anniversary of d-day. They hosted a veterans panel as part of the rememberence.

[dskjl]

Interesting, I wonder if they still have the event and how the turnout may have changed over the years?

 

Thanks,

[dskjl]

Seitz Interview

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Seitz Wedding story, very cool side of a General you seldom see.

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Sen. Moran Tribute to LTG Seitz

[seanmc1114]

I assume the star on his jump wings and arrowhead device on his EAME Campaign ribbon were for Operation Dragoon.

 

What I find interesting and a little confusing is that the uniform has the 82nd Airborne SSI as his combat patch. From what I can tell, the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment served at various times in WWII with the First Airborne Task Force, 17th Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps and 13th Airborne Division. Did it ever serve with the 82nd Airborne Division?

[dogfacedsoldier]

For more information about the 517th and Seitz read Battling Buzzards by Gerald Astor. There is a lot of information in it. At the end of the war many in the 517th had a chance to go back to the US with the 13th and get ready for Japan or go with the 82nd and occupation duty in Berlin. Many decided on the 82nd due to bad experiences with the 13th, as they had had their war. Seitz went with them. As the 517th had no official patch hence the 82nd combat patch.

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pics

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pics

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pics

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His Bride

 

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Red Cross

[seanmc1114]

Here he is as a Lt. Col. in July 1945 wearing the 13th Airborne Division SSI as well as the ribbon for the French Croix de Guerre.

[dskjl]

Here he is as a Lt. Col. in July 1945 wearing the 13th Airborne Division SSI.

What a great pic, thank you

[551PIB]

Do you have his ASN ??? don't have it in my database ...

 

551PIB

[dskjl]

Do you have his ASN ??? don't have it in my database ...

 

551PIB

No i dont.