George William Casey Major General, United States Army |
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Full Name: GEORGE WILLIAM CASEY
Born on March 22, 1922, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1945. He served at the end of World War II, in the Korean Conflict and in the Vietnam War. He was killed-in-action in the Republic of Vietnam on July 7, 1970 while commanding the 1st Cavalry (Airmobile). His command helicopter crashed while in a hostile combat zone. He had previously served in the Korean War. He was subsequently buried in Section 5 of
Arlington National Cemetery.
Name: MGN George William Casey (posthumously promoted) Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/07/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot. Age at death: 48.3 Date of Birth: 03/09/1922 Home City: Allston, Massachusetts Service: GO branch of the regular component of the U.S. Army Unit: HHC/1 CAV DIV Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division Service: GO branch of the U.S. Army Short Summary: Hit a mountain near Bao Luc partial IFR flying from Tay Ninh to Cam Ranh to visit troops in hospital Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 69-15138 Country: South Vietnam MOS: 0002 = - General Officer Primary cause: A/C Accident WX Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea Compliment cause: vehicular accident Vehicle involved: helicopter Position in vehicle: passenger Vehicle ownership: government Started Tour: 07/30/1969 "Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot The initial status of this person was: no previous report Location: Tuyen Duc Province II Corps Reason: aircraft lost or crashed Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing married male U.S. citizen Race: Caucasian Religion: Roman Catholic The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident. Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer The 1st Cavalry Division suffered a tragic loss early in July when the 1st Cavalry Division Command Helicopter, piloted by Major General George William Casey, enroute to visit wounded Skytroopers, crashed in a remote area in South Vietnam.
Six members of his personal staff perished
with him:
General Casey took command of the 1st Cavalry Division, considered the Army's best, in May, while the division was engaged in the operation against the communist sanctuaries in Cambodia. He served as the Task Force Commander in that operation. The Division, the Association, the Army, and
the Nation, lost a dedicated and gallant leader. As one of the youngest
Major Generals in the United States Army, General Casey was an outstanding
soldier with a bright future. In the names of the men, the Association
extends deepest sympathy.
U. S. REPORTS FINDING 7 BODIES IN GENERAL’S COPTER IN VIETNAM SAIGON, South Vietnam, July 11, 1970 – The United States Command said today that seven bodies had been recovered from the wreckage of a helicopter that had carried Major General George William Casey, the commander of the First Cavalry Division (Airmobile). A military spokesman declined to positively identify the bodies, believed to be those of General Casey as well as six aides and crewmen. General Casey was widely regarded as one of the most promising officers in the Army before his death at the age of 48. His combination of traditional Army methods with the latest in air mobility tactics was widely respected by other commanders who had asked to serve under him, and by his superiors. He was a familiar figure to troops in the First Cavalry Division in South Vietnam. He had served as Chief of Staff of the division there in 1967 and has for nine months assistant division commander before he gained his second stat and a promotion to commander two months ago. General Casey, who earned a master’s degree in international relations at Georgetown University in 1958 and a master’s degree in business administration at George Washington University in 1963 was selected by the Army in 1965 to spend a year of study at the Center for International Affairs of Harvard University, where had had studied earlier before going to West Point. General Casey’s initial service in the Army was as a platoon leader of a paratroop regiment stationed in Japan. He moved through his division and became aide-de-camp of then Major General Lyman L. Lemnitzer. In 1951, he became a rifle company commander in Korea and participated in engagements at Heartbreak Ridge. After Korean service, he returned to the United States for a number of tours of duty before going to Europe in 1963 as commander of the Eighth Infantry Division. General Casey is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Elaine Morton Casey of North Scituate, Massachusetts, three daughters and
two sons.
CASEY, GEORGE
Webmaster:
Michael Robert Patterson
Updated: 9 November 2000 Updated: 22 February 2003 Updated: 23 May 2004 Updated: 3 July 2005 Updated: 3 February 2007 Updated: 20 November 2007 Updated: 19 August 2008 |
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