Julius W. Gates
Julius W. Gates | |
|---|---|
 Sergeant Major of the Army Julius W. Gates | |
| Nickname(s) | Bill |
| Born | June 14, 1941 North Carolina |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1958–1991 |
| Rank | Sergeant Major of the Army |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (4) Purple Heart |
Julius William Gates (born June 14, 1941) is a retired United States Army soldier who served as the eighth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in at the Pentagon in July 1987 and served until his term ended four years later in June 1991.
Early life
[edit]Gates was born in North Carolina on June 14, 1941 and raised on a farm northwest of Carrboro, North Carolina.[1]
Military career
[edit]Gates entered the United States Army at the height of the Cold War on August 12, 1958, and attended initial training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. First assignment was to the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade in the divided city in 1959. Later as a member of the 101st Airborne Division, he and his unit were called on by President John F. Kennedy to enforce racial integration at southern universities. Earning his qualification as a paratrooper and an Army Ranger, he went on to serve as the First Sergeant of Company A of the then newly activated 1st Ranger Battalion. He served three tours in Germany and a tour of duty in the Republic of Korea.[2]
Gates' stateside assignments include duty with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, the 1st Ranger Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the Virginia Military Institute of Lexington, Virginia and Fort Bliss, Texas. Gates served in numerous noncommissioned officer leadership positions, including as first Commandant of the 24th Infantry Division NCO Academy at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Before being appointed as the Sergeant Major of the Army he served as command sergeant major of the 2d Armored Division (Forward), the 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized), the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, and of United States Forces, Korea.
Awards and decorations
[edit] Combat Infantryman Badge
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 Ranger tab
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 Master Parachutist Badge
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 Expert Marksman Badge with one weapon clasp
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Army Distinguished Service Medal |
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Defense Superior Service Medal |
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Legion of Merit |
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Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and three oak leaf clusters |
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Purple Heart |
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Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
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Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
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Air Medal |
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Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
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Army Achievement Medal |
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Presidential Unit Citation |
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Good Conduct Medal with 5 silver loops |
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Army of Occupation Medal |
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National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star |
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Vietnam Service Medal with service star |
 
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NCO Professional Development with award numeral 5 |
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Army Service Ribbon |
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Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 5 |
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Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
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Vietnam Campaign Medal |
- 10 Service stripes.
2005 recipient of the Doughboy Award from the National Infantry Association.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Transcript, Oral history interview with Sergeant Major of the ARMY Julius W. Gates (USA- ret) by Erwin H. Koehler https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/trecms/pdf/AD1117603.pdf
- ^ Sergeants Major of the Army https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-D114-PURL-gpo42001/pdf/GOVPUB-D114-PURL-gpo42001.pdf
- ^ The Wexford Group Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine Sergeants Major Gates currently works for the Army Research Institute at the Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group (JRTC OPS GRP) and is often out in the field showing outside agency's the training conducted at the JRTC so they can help improve the training for the U.S. Army.
This article incorporates public domain material from Elder, Daniel K (2003). "The Sergeants Major of the Army". Center of Military History. Washington, D.C.: United States Army.