Young Bill Caldwell basked in their camaraderie, emulated their character, and looked forward to the day when he could wear an officer's uniform.

As he departed Fort Riley, his efficiency report highlighted that he is "...a positive and incisive thinker and meticulous planner... natural leader... possesses a well-developed sense of humor, tact and diplomacy."

Caldwell loved West Point and imparted his tactical knowledge, dedication to the Army, and his leadership philosophy to the Corps of Cadets.

After brigade command, he remained in Vietnam and served as a senior military advisor at the Civil Operations Development Center, III Corps.

[6] Caldwell, who oversaw the effort to train an all-volunteer force said, "Our mission is to develop a highly motivated, disciplined soldier who knows the basic skills of his craft.

At Pyongtek south of Suwon Air Base, Caldwell's regiment set up defensive positions with "Task Force Smith."

Awarded his first Silver Star that day, the citation read "without regard for his own safety, he personally led an assault on the enemy's lines, and the men, inspired by his gallant example, overran the position...

He fearlessly advanced into the face of withering fire, killed four of the enemy, reached his fallen men, and directed their evacuation to friendly positions."

Lieutenant Caldwell and Captain Micky Marks scouted for help and commandeered a train to Yosu, which enabled the evacuation of their men who had no food or water for five days.

Bill had come to Korea as a platoon leader, but assumed company command and received a battlefield promotion to captain on August 30, 1950.

With reinforcements, Caldwell's unit broke out of the Pusan Perimeter in early September and steadily proceeded northward to North Korea's capital by Thanksgiving.

Part of the citation read, "With the enemy about to overrun his positions and the entire perimeter in danger, Captain Caldwell, completely disregarding personal safety, once again rallied his men and personally led a daring counterattack, employing rifles and grenades, which broke the back of the enemy's attack and forced him to withdraw leaving an estimated 100 dead."

Five months after the birth of his last child, the newly appointed Colonel Caldwell reported for duty in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 initially as commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

Through superb planning and tireless supervision... With complete disregard for his personal safety... His presence in the areas of heaviest conflict greatly inspired his men and they soon routed the large insurgent force."

From September 1967 to January 1968, Caldwell served as a senior military advisor at the Civil Operations Development Center, III Corps.

Caldwell spent one semester at Texas A&M University before attending Millard's Preparatory School in Washington, D.C.. From there, he was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

After serving as the operations officer for the 1st Division in Germany, he attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.