Funeral today for ex-sgt. maj. of the Army - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

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

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.

Subsequently Bainbridge would become the first command sergeant major of the newly formed Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.

After a three-year tour at the academy, Bainbridge was selected as sergeant major of the Army in 1975, and served in that capacity during the chief of staff tenures of Gen. Frederick C. Weyand and Bernard W. Rogers.

Bainbridge is survived by his wife of 63 years, Hazel Smith; daughters Kathryn L. Koop and Mary B. Moore, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held today in Palm Bay, followed at a later date by internment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.