William Joseph Cummings – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

CUMMINGS, WILLIAM JOSEPH, COL. USA (RET.)

On Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at his home in Alexandria, Virginia.

Colonel Cummings was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 1, 1924. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1948 and received a Masters degree from Ohio State University in 1963. He was a ROTC distinguished military graduate and served 34 years in the United States Army including services during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The Colonel was a master parachutist and his decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, two awards Silver Star and Bronze Star with “V” device and three Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with “V” device and 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart and decorations from the Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of the Philippines.

He was a graduate of the Capitol Command and General Staff College and National War College.

Colonel Cummings was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, Tennessee Society of the Sons of the Revolution, and Robert E. Camp of the Sons of the Confederacy, General Samuel Cooper Chapter of the Miliary Order of the Stars and Bars, Military order of the Carabao, St. Andrew’s Society of Washington, D.C., and the Augustus Garner Chapter of the American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Claire Plumme Cummings and his son Thomas Davis Cummings, of Memphis, Tennessee. Survivors include his son, William Joseph III of Phoenix, Arizona; his brother, Thomas Austin of Atlanta, Georgia; three grandsons, Dayton, Justin, and Mason Cummings of Memphis, Tennessee.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2003 at 9 a.m. at the Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer. Rev. Thomas B. Mcusker III officiating. Interment will full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery will follow. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 8009 Fort Hunt Rd., Alexandria, Virginia 22308 or to a charity of one’s choice.

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