Keith L. Ware

Major General Keith L. Ware's military career began 9 July 1941 when he undertook his basic training at Camp Roberts, California, following his induction into the Army under the Selective Service Act. He attended the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry on 18 July 1942. He has remained continuously on active duty since that date. His first assignment as a commissioned officer was with the 3d Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California, as an Infantry Platoon Leader. | On 22 October 1942, he sailed from Hampton Roads, Virginia, as part of the North African Invasion Force and participated in the D-Day landings in French Morocco. While in Africa, he participated in the Algeria-French Morocco and Tunisian Campaigns with the 3d Infantry Division.  His next D-Day invasion was on the Southern coast of Sicily; following the Sicilian campaign he participated in the Naples-Foggia battles of Southern Italy. In January 1944, he landed at the Anzio Beachhead as part of the H-Hour amphibious forces, and, following the breakout from the beachhead, he was a member of the forces liberating Rome. Again a part of the D-Day invasion forces, he landed with his division on the San Tropez beaches of Southern France on 15 August 1944. | While in Europe, he took part in the battle campaigns of Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. During this period, he served in combat successively as Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Battalion S-3, Executive Officer, Battalion Commander, and Regimental Executive Officer. | After serving six months in the occupational forces in Germany, he returned to the United States to attend the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.  Following completion of his studies at Fort Leavenworth, he was assigned to Washington, D.C. in April 1946.  Initially  with the Military District of Washington, he later served with the Plans and Operations Division, War Department General Staff, and as an Assistant Secretary of the General Staff. During this time he also attended the European Staff Officer's Course at Columbia University. He next attended George Washington University in preparation for assignment to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he served as an instructor in Military Psychology and Leadership and as Executive Officer of the Corps of Cadets. | After attending the Armed Forces Staff College, he assumed command of the 34th Infantry Regiment in Korea and later was assigned as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 Plans, of Allied Forces Far East/Eighth Army. He returned to the United States to attend the National War College and was subsequently assigned to the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison in Washington, D.C. He was next assigned as Chief of the Emergency Plans and Requirements Branch of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, with station in Paris, France. He assumed duty as Assistant Division Commander, 2d Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, on 4 March 1963. | Major General Ware's awards and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal (Valor), Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, French Fourragere, Europe Africa Middle East Medal with arrowhead, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), Distinguished Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal.