William Francis Ward

West Point, 1950

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Michelle Ward-Brent on June 27, 2018:

Citizen-soldier, Major General William Francis Ward, Jr., A.U.S. (Ret.), died peacefully on June 21, 2018, in a hospice in Florida at age 89. He served for four decades in the United States Army, retiring as the first Commander of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, and for three decades in the private sector. Born in Everett, Massachusetts in 1928 to William Francis Ward, Sr., the son of a jurist and politician, and Helen Schriber Ward, he was raised in Canton, Massachusetts. In August 1991, the smoke from a thirteen-gun salute drifted over the Fort Myer, Virginia parade ground as the Third United States Infantry (The Old Guard) passed in review. The Army Band (Pershing�s Own) played traditional Cavalry songs to mark his retirement as the last member of the West Point Class of 1950 to serve on active duty. President George H. W. Bush had appointed Major General (MG) Ward Chief, Army Reserve as the country's top citizen-soldier in December 1986. MG Ward was a highly decorated combat veteran who led the U.S. Army Reserve during the Gulf Wars as the Commanding General of the Provisional Army Reserve Command and Deputy Commanding General of Forces Command for Reserve Affairs. He led 84,000 Army Reservists supporting Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He also served with the 356th Civil Affairs Command and the 77th Army Reserve Command, Fort Totten, New York, including as the Commanding General, before returning to active duty in 1986. General Ward graduated from West Point in 1950 as part of Cadet Company "H1" where he played baseball and hockey and developed a life-long affection for the Hudson Valley. Nine days after graduation he married Elaine Louise Wilson Ward of Cornwall-on Hudson, New York. Like other 1950 graduates, he did not report to his officer basic course immediately and went directly to the 56th Amphibious Tank and Tractor Battalion as a platoon leader at Camp Casey, Washington. His battalion, part of the 2nd Engineer Brigade, landed at Inch�on, Korea with the US Marines later that year. Assigned to a tank company at Pyongyang, Korea, he saw the inside of a tank for the first time twenty minutes before his first engagement. Lieutenant Ward became a reconnaissance platoon leader, and on June 21, 1951, he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He served as an aerial observer for the remainder of his tour, flying 167 combat missions. Upon return from Korea, he earned a Master of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and subsequently a Bachelor of Law from LaSalle University. Southern Vermont College conferred a Doctor of Law and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. At West Point, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Military Engineering. General Ward also completed the Armor Officer Advanced Course 1150th US Army Reserve School and the Command and General Staff Officer Course. He was an instructor at the 1150th US Army Reserve School and completed the Economics of National Security Course, Industrial College of Armed Forces, Civil Affairs School, Special Warfare School and the Army War College. His military decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp; National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Korean Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Ten Year Device; the Military Order of Estrella de Carabobo (Venezuela); United Nations Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation; Army Service Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge; Aircraft Crewman Badge; and Army Staff Identification Badge. The Association of the United States Army awarded him the Major General James E. Rudder Medal in 2001. He also received the World War II Victory Medal for his service in the Civil Air Patrol (1944-1946). He also presided over the New York Chapter of the American Defense Preparedness Association and the New York Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. In 1989, he received the annual award of the Civil Affairs Association for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Civil Affairs. In 2000, the Senior Army Reserve Commanders Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame. After Harvard, he and Elaine left New England in 1956 for New York where he began a thriving private sector career in Manhattan while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves for the next 30 years. They settled in Montebello (Suffern) where Army football games, tailgating, Sunday brunches, and concerts were a family highlight. Active in local politics, community, and theater, MG Ward volunteered his time with many non-profit and volunteer organizations, including as President of the Ramapo Central School District Board of Education; Suffern High School Board of Education; Suffern Good Samaritan Hospital Facilities and Planning Board; Chairman of the United Way, Rockland County; county Chairman, Citizens for Kennedy and Johnson; Democratic candidate for House of Representatives; Chairman, Young Citizens for Johnson and Humphrey; and with Robert F. Kennedy�s New York campaign team. He was a member of the Society of Harvard Engineers and Scientists; the Financial Executives Institute; Newcomen Society; Reserve Officers Association; American Friends of Vietnam; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Disabled American Veterans; Pilgrim Society; Army and Navy Club; Squadron "A" Club; University Club (New York); Harvard Club (New York and Washington Chapters); and National Press Club (Washington, DC). His thirty-year civilian career bridged finance, publishing and investment banking as an Economic Analyst with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Inc.; Secretary of the New York State Bridge Authority; Division Controller and Corporate Director of Ansco-Ozalid�s Division of General Aniline and Film (GAF) Corporation and GAF Marketing Services. He was Assistant to the President and Vice President for Finance and Administration at publisher Grosset & Dunlap; Dun & Bradstreet Controller and Vice President, leading the merger with Rueben H. Donnelley Corporation; Board Chairman and President of Dun-Donnelley Publishing Corporation. MG Ward was also Executive Vice President and Vice President of the American Cancer Society of New York; Treasurer of Gestam and Chairman and President of the Realicam, real estate investment-banking firms. His academic appointments included teaching business at Vassar College; Clinical Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science and Public Health at New York University's (NYU) School of Dentistry; lecturer at NYU�s Real Estate Institute; and adjunct faculty of NYU�s School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance. MG Ward also supported venture capital entities, banks and community organizations as a member of numerous Boards of Advisors, including: Quotron Electronics, Inc.; Empire National Bank (Bank of New York); Eastern Savings Bank; Apple Bank for Savings; Funk and Wagnalls Publishing Corporation; Aerospace Education Foundation, Inc.; Greater New York Bank for Savings; Corinthian Broadcasting; United States Army War College Foundation; Trustee, New York Military Academy and Trustee Emeritus; Executive Committee; and Chairman Audit Committee; Trustee, Historical Society of Rockland County; West Point Fund; Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation; and Trustee, Chairman, and Vice-Chairman of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine Board of Trustees. His beloved wife of 43 years, Elaine Louise Wilson Ward, whom he met as a "yearling" (freshman) at West Point, predeceased him in 1993. Four of their five children survive him: Michelle Ward-Brent (Steve Brent) of Chevy Chase, Maryland; Gary Ward of Nashville, Tennessee; Gregory Ward of Tampa, Florida; Suzanne Nugent (John Nugent) of Highland Mills, New York; and seven cherished grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His eldest son Jeffrey Ward (Robin Ward) of San Antonio, Texas predeceased him in May 2018, as did his sister Mary McCaffrey and brothers Hugh and John Ward in 2017, 2015 and 1968, respectively. Many cousins, nieces, and nephews, mainly in New England, survive him. His second wife of 23 years, Marie-Louise Buchheit Ward of Melbourne, Florida and Chester, New York, also survives him, as do her children Marc Buchheit of Goshen, New York and Danielle Buchheit of Greenville, New York. Burial with full military honors at the United States Military Academy West Point is scheduled for August 8, 2018 and will begin with a 1:30 p.m. Mass at the West Point Catholic Church, Most Holy Trinity Chapel. Interment at the West Point Cemetery and a reception at the Officer�s Club will follow. Please allow one hour for security passage at the gate and to travel to Chapel. Donations in memory of MG Ward can be made to the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 339 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727-9297 (https://setonshrine.org/) in honor of Elaine Wilson Ward.

admin