Keith L. Ware
Encyclopedia
Major General
Keith Lincoln Ware (November 23, 1915 - September 13, 1968) was an United States Army
officer, who received the Medal of Honor
in World War II
, and was killed in action
while commanding a division
during the Vietnam War
.
in 1915. He was drafted
into the United States Army
in 1941 and sent to Officer Candidate School
in 1942, emerging a platoon leader stationed at Fort Ord, California. After extensive service in the European Theater of Operations
, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel
by December 1944, commanding the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, in the 3rd Infantry Division.
On December 26, Ware's battalion was attacking a heavily fortified German hilltop position. Finding one of the assault companies stalled and digging in under heavy fire, Ware went forward past their position and made a close reconnaissance of the German positions, deliberately drawing their fire in order to determine their location. After two hours, he returned to the company and brought back a small force — eleven men and a tank — in order to renew the attack; leading the advance personally, he disabled four machine-gun
positions before the hill was secured. Five of the eleven men with him were casualties, and Ware himself was wounded. For his action in this engagement, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in April 1945.
Unlike most draftees, Ware remained in the Army after demobilization, becoming a career soldier, and one of the first former draftees to reach general officer rank.
Ware arrived in Vietnam shortly before the outbreak of the Tet Offensive in early 1968, serving as the deputy commander of II Field Force
. Dispatched to Saigon immediately after the start of the Tet attacks, he assumed control of the American forces in the area, forming Task Force Ware; after several days of heavy fighting had stabilized the situation, the task force was dispersed. Following this, Ware was assigned to command the 1st Infantry Division in March 1968.
On 12th and September 13, of that year, with elements of the division closely engaged near Loc Ninh
near the Cambodian border, he made several low passes over the fighting in a helicopter
in order to better command his units. However, heavy anti-aircraft
fire brought the helicopter down on September 13, along with Ware, his three command staff, and the four helicopter crew. There were no survivors; Ware became the fourth American general officer (and the first Army general officer) to die in combat in the Vietnam War
. Ware was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for this action in October 1968.
Ware is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
The President of the United States
in the name of the Congress of the United States takes pride in presenting the
MEDAL OF HONOR
to
KEITH LINCOLN WARE
Lieutenant Colonel
United States Army
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
Named in honor of Major General Ware are:
Keith L. Ware's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial ("The Wall") on panel 44W.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Keith Lincoln Ware (November 23, 1915 - September 13, 1968) was an United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer, who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
while commanding a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Biography
Ware was born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
in 1915. He was drafted
Conscription in the United States
Conscription in the United States has been employed several times, usually during war but also during the nominal peace of the Cold War...
into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1941 and sent to Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
The United States Army's Officer Candidate School , located at Fort Benning, Georgia, provides training to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army...
in 1942, emerging a platoon leader stationed at Fort Ord, California. After extensive service in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
by December 1944, commanding the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, in the 3rd Infantry Division.
On December 26, Ware's battalion was attacking a heavily fortified German hilltop position. Finding one of the assault companies stalled and digging in under heavy fire, Ware went forward past their position and made a close reconnaissance of the German positions, deliberately drawing their fire in order to determine their location. After two hours, he returned to the company and brought back a small force — eleven men and a tank — in order to renew the attack; leading the advance personally, he disabled four machine-gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
positions before the hill was secured. Five of the eleven men with him were casualties, and Ware himself was wounded. For his action in this engagement, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in April 1945.
Unlike most draftees, Ware remained in the Army after demobilization, becoming a career soldier, and one of the first former draftees to reach general officer rank.
Ware arrived in Vietnam shortly before the outbreak of the Tet Offensive in early 1968, serving as the deputy commander of II Field Force
II Field Force, Vietnam
II Field Force, Vietnam was a United States Army Corps-level command during the Vietnam War.Activated on 15 March 1966, it became the largest corps command in Vietnam and one of the largest in Army history. II Field Force was assigned the lineage of the XXII Corps, a World War II corps in the...
. Dispatched to Saigon immediately after the start of the Tet attacks, he assumed control of the American forces in the area, forming Task Force Ware; after several days of heavy fighting had stabilized the situation, the task force was dispersed. Following this, Ware was assigned to command the 1st Infantry Division in March 1968.
On 12th and September 13, of that year, with elements of the division closely engaged near Loc Ninh
Loc Ninh
Lộc Ninh is a town in southern Vietnam. It is a rural district of Binh Phuoc province in the southeastern region of Vietnam. A major battle, the Battle of Loc Ninh, occurred there during the Vietnam War.-Transport:...
near the Cambodian border, he made several low passes over the fighting in a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
in order to better command his units. However, heavy anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
fire brought the helicopter down on September 13, along with Ware, his three command staff, and the four helicopter crew. There were no survivors; Ware became the fourth American general officer (and the first Army general officer) to die in combat in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Ware was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
for this action in October 1968.
Ware is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States
in the name of the Congress of the United States takes pride in presenting the
MEDAL OF HONOR
to
KEITH LINCOLN WARE
Lieutenant Colonel
United States Army
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
- Commanding the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, attacking a strongly held enemy position on a hill near Sigolsheim, France, on 26 December 1944, found that 1 of his assault companies had been stopped and forced to dig in by a concentration of enemy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire. The company had suffered casualties in attempting to take the hill. Realizing that his men must be inspired to new courage, Lt. Col. Ware went forward 150 yards beyond the most forward elements of his command, and for 2 hours reconnoitered the enemy positions, deliberately drawing fire upon himself which caused the enemy to disclose his dispositions. Returning to his company, he armed himself with an automatic rifle and boldly advanced upon the enemy, followed by 2 officers, 9 enlisted men, and a tank. Approaching an enemy machinegun, Lt. Col. Ware shot 2 German riflemen and fired tracers into the emplacement, indicating its position to his tank, which promptly knocked the gun out of action. Lt. Col. Ware turned his attention to a second machinegun, killing 2 of its supporting riflemen and forcing the others to surrender. The tank destroyed the gun. Having expended the ammunition for the automatic rifle, Lt. Col. Ware took up an M-1 rifle, killed a German rifleman, and fired upon a third machinegun 50 yards away. His tank silenced the gun. Upon his approach to a fourth machinegun, its supporting riflemen surrendered and his tank disposed of the gun. During this action Lt. Col. Ware's small assault group was fully engaged in attacking enemy positions that were not receiving his direct and personal attention. Five of his party of 11 were casualties and Lt. Col. Ware was wounded but refused medical attention until this important hill position was cleared of the enemy and securely occupied by his command.
Posthumous honors and recognitions
- the U.S. Army's annual Awards for Journalism
- Ware Elementary School in Fort Riley, Kansas
- Ware Hall, 1-15 IN battalion command post at Fort Benning, Georgia
- Ware Hall, the Kelley Hill Education Center (building 9004) at Fort Benning, Georgia.
- Ware Hall, a lodging facility at Fort Hood, TexasFort Hood, TexasFort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
- a parade field in Fort Riley, Kansas
- a shooting range at Fort Benning, Georgia
Keith L. Ware's name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial ("The Wall") on panel 44W.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II