William F. Kernan

William F. Kernan
General William F. Kernan Commander in Chief, Joint Forces Command
Nickname(s)	Buck
Born	January 29, 1946 Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1968–2002
Rank	General
Commands held	Joint Forces Command XVIII Airborne Corps 101st Airborne Division 75th Ranger Regiment
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Just Cause

General William F. "Buck" Kernan (born January 29, 1946)^[1] was born in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was commissioned in November 1968 from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Master of Arts degree in personnel administration from Central Michigan University. His military education includes the Infantry Advanced Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

General Kernan's initial assignment was as Liaison Officer with the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Assigned to Vietnam in August 1969, he served with the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Battalion Reconnaissance Platoon Leader (Tiger Force), and Assistant S3. The Army's Criminal Investigation Command investigated his Tiger Force unit for alleged war crimes committed between May and November 1967, including the torture of prisoners and routine murder of civilians. No formal charges were ever filed. Following this assignment he returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and served as Company Commander, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry.

Upon completion of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in March 1974, General Kernan was assigned to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command as an area commander in Austin, Texas. Joining the 2nd Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington, in April 1976, he commanded two companies and was the assistant S3 before departing in July 1978 to attend the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In July 1979, he was assigned to the Military Personnel Center in Washington, D.C., initially to the DA Secretariat, and then to the Officer Personnel Management Directorate as an Infantry Branch Assignment Officer. In August 1981, he was selected to be the U.S. Exchange Officer representing the 82d Airborne Division to the British Parachute Regiment where he commanded Company C, 3 PARA, for two years.Upon his return from England in July 1983, General Kernan joined the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division,where he served as the executive officer and battalion commander. After completing the Army War College in July 1987, he assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. In December 1988, he assumed the duties as Deputy Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia, and held that position until June 20, 1989, when he assumed command of the 75th Ranger Regiment. On December 20, 1989, he led the 75th Ranger Regiment in its combat parachute assault into Panama during Operation Just Cause. In September 1991, he was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California, where he served as the Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver). In July 1993, he was assigned as the Director of Plans, Policy, and Strategic Assessments, J5, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. General Kernan commanded the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from February 1996 until February 1998 and assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg on March 12, 1998.

Awards and decorations

Kernan has been decorated for service, to include:

Badge	Combat Infantryman Badge
Badge	Master Combat Parachutist Badge w/ Bronze Star
Badge	Air Assault Badge
Badge	Ranger Tab
1st Row Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster		Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster
2nd Row Awards	Legion of Merit w/ 3 oak leaf clusters	Bronze Star w/ valor device & 2 oak leaf clusters	Purple Heart
3rd Row Awards	Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3 oak leaf clusters	Air Medal w/ Numeral "2"	Army Commendation Medal w/ 4 oak leaf clusters
4th Row Awards	Army Achievement Medal	Army Good Conduct Medal	National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars
5th Row Awards	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ Arrowhead & 1 service star	Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 service star	NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/ award numeral 2
6th Row Awards	Army Service Ribbon	Army Overseas Service Ribbon	Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ "60" Device
Unit Awards	Joint Meritorious Unit Award	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation	Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation

References

1. http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=1560

External links

• Kernan's memories of Operation Just Cause, photograph
• Chairman of the Board of the Airborne Scholarship Association