From WWII to Vietnam, Ret.Command Sgt. Major William G. Bainbridge, passes away at 83

Funeral today for ex-sgt. maj. of the Army

Staff report
Posted : Friday Dec 5, 2008 9:20:52 EST

William G. Bainbridge, the fifth sergeant major of the Army, died Nov. 29 in Palm Bay, Fla.

Bainbridge, 83, was a veteran of two wars, beginning his career in 1943 as a draftee, and retiring in 1979 after four years as the Army’s senior enlisted soldier and primary noncommissioned officer adviser to the chief of staff.

A native of Galesburg, Ill., Bainbridge’s first unit of assignment was with the 423d Infantry Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division, the last Army division organized for service in World War II.

After deploying into the Ardennes region of Belgium in late 1944, Bainbridge’s regiment was overrun by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge.

Bainbridge was captured and would spend the remaining months of the war in a German POW camp before being liberated by the 6th Armored Division.

Upon returning to the United States, Bainbridge left active duty and joined the Army Reserve. He subsequently returned to active service during the mobilization for the Korean Conflict.

After a series of assignments and promotions in the United States and Germany, Bainbridge became a battalion sergeant major with the 1st Infantry Division, and deployed with the division to Vietnam, where he would become sergeant major of II Field Force.

Upon returning from Vietnam, Bainbridge had a series of high-level sergeant major assignments before becoming one of the Army’s first command sergeants major in 1968.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/army_bainbridge_120508w/