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Former Army chief of staff dies

Retired Gen. Bernard W. Rogers, one of the most accomplished senior Army leaders of the post-World War II era, died Oct. 27 at Falls Church, Va.

Rogers, 87, began his military career as an enlisted soldier with the Kansas National Guard. He subsequently was commissioned at the U.S. Military Academy in 1943 after serving as the first captain of the Corps of Cadets.

A Rhodes Scholar and graduate of the Command and General Staff College and Army War College, Rogers retired in 1987 after serving two four-year tours as the supreme allied commander, Europe, and command-in-chief, U.S. European Command.

Previous to his service in Europe, Rogers oversaw the creation of a 24-division force as Army chief of staff, and was a prime mover in establishing the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Previous to his tour as chief of staff, Rogers commanded Army Forces Command, and previous to that was Army personnel chief just as the all-volunteer force was being established.

Rogers was a veteran of combat, having served in Korea as a battalion commander with the 9th Infantry, and as an assistant division commander of the 1st Infantry Division during Vietnam, where he earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star for Valor and 36 Air Medals with “V” device.

After his retirement, Rogers served with the Atlantic Council of the United States, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Association of the U.S. Army.