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William Robertson Desobry ("Bill" "Des") was born on 11 September, 1918 in Manila, Philippines, is a United States Army general. Discover William Robertson Desobry's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 78 years old?

Popular As "Bill" "Des"
Occupation N/A
Age 78 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born 11 September 1918
Birthday 11 September
Birthplace Manila, Philippines
Date of death 1996
Died Place San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Nationality Philippines

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 11 September. He is a member of famous with the age 78 years old group.

William Robertson Desobry Height, Weight & Measurements

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William Robertson Desobry Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is William Robertson Desobry worth at the age of 78 years old? William Robertson Desobry’s income source is mostly from being a successful . He is from Philippines. We have estimated William Robertson Desobry's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
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1918

William Robertson Desobry (September 11, 1918 – January 12, 1996) was a senior U.S. Army field commander in Germany during the Cold War, and a Lieutenant General in the United States Army.

General Desobry was a decorated hero from World War II, and played a significant role as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Army and on the Army Staff during the Vietnam War.

In addition to commanding a division and corps, he was the Commanding General of the Armor Center and was the President of the Tank Task Force, which led to the creation of the M1 Abrams.

Born in Manila, the Philippine Islands in 1918, Desobry was the son of Colonel and Mrs. Elmer C. Desobry.

1929

General Desobry's service during World War II included a tour of duty with the 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia and the 10th Armored Division in CONUS, and the European Theater of Operations.

He commanded an armored infantry battalion task force during the defense of Bastogne, and was wounded and hospitalized by the Germans at Ibbenburen, Germany.

1936

He attended high schools in Chicago, Illinois, and Honolulu, Hawaii–graduating from Punahou Academy in 1936.

1941

Desobry received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1941 from Georgetown University, where he was a distinguished graduate of their Reserve Officer Training Corps program and earned a Regular Army commission.

John McManus described Desobry, "Rail-thin at six-feet-four and one-hundred-sixty pounds, he was the son of a career soldier. He qualified as something of a family rebel because he had elected to go to Georgetown University instead of West Point. He had graduated in 1941 with an ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) commission. Although he had only been in the Army four years, he had deployed overseas as commander of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion because of his natural leadership skills. His subsequent performance in combat only enhanced his fine reputation. Now he found himself in charge of 325 soldiers and fifteen tanks in a mixed task force generally known as 'Team Desobry.'"

1945

He was liberated in the spring of 1945 after imprisonment at Falingbostel, Germany, a branch of the Belsen prison camp, and at Brunswick, Germany.

1946

In July 1946, he returned to Europe where he served as an Assistant G1 in Headquarters, Third Army and US Forces in Austria.

1950

Upon his return to the United States in 1950, he attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and subsequently served four years on the faculty.

1955

He returned to Germany in 1955 and served as Commanding Officer, Combat Command C, 2d Armored Division, and later Chief of Staff, 2d Armored Division and G3, V Corps.

1958

Upon his return to the United States in 1958, he attended the National War College, graduating in 1959.

He was then assigned to the Office Chief of Legislative Liaison, where he served for three years in the Plans and Projects Division.

1960

IV Corps was the southernmost of the four major military and administrative units of South Vietnam in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Its headquarters were located at Cần Thơ in the Mekong Delta.

Also known as Military Region 4 (MR 4), IV Corps was the fourth allied tactical combat zone.

Because of the nature of its terrain, and more important, its geographical isolation from major North Vietnamese strongholds, the Delta area had generally been infiltrated by enemy guerrilla or small force rather than large force bands.

1962

In 1962 he was assigned to the faculty of the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where he served as a Course Director, Chairman of a Faculty Group, and the Chairman of the Department of Strategy.

1965

From August 1965 to June 1966, Colonel Desobry was assigned to Headquarters Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MAC-V) with duty as Deputy Senior Advisor to the ARVN IV Corps in the delta region of Vietnam under Colonel George Barton.

1966

On June 3, 1966, Brigadier General Desobry assumed duties as the Senior Advisor to the ARVN IV Corps.

Desobry and his advisory teams were involved in four campaigns during his two and a half years tour: Defense; and Counter-Offensive Phases 1–3.

1967

Thus, except for the Mobile 3 Riverine Force and small Special Forces units, no U.S. troops had normally operated in the area until Operation Deckhouse V in 1967 when the U.S. 9th Infantry Division initiated two years of intensive antiguerrilla activities.

Otherwise, MR 4 had been and continued to be primarily a Vietnamese area of operations.

1968

Brigadier General Desobry turned over his duties to Major general George S. Eckhardt, and left Vietnam on January 14, 1968, only three weeks before the Tet Offensive.

Following over two years as Senior Advisor to the ARVN IV Corps, Brigadier General Desobry became the Director of Army Operations, The Army Staff.

In 1968, Desobry returned to Washington, D. C. where he served as a member of the Department of the Army Board of Inquiry on the Army Logistics System; the Chief of the Coordination Division, Office of the Chief of Staff, and subsequently as Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff, U. S. Army.

1969

Major General Desobry then served as Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas from 1969 to 1971.

1971

In 1971, he became the Commanding General of the Armor Center and Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

While there, he was appointed President of the XM1 Tank Task Force, which led to the M1 Abrams.

1973

On June 1, 1973, Lieutenant General Desobry assumed command of V Corps at Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany from Lieutenant General Willard Pearson.

1975

After 34 years in the Army and service in two wars, Lieutenant General Desobry completed his military career in 1975.

1997

Charles MacDonald, noted Army historian and Battle of the Bulge veteran, described then Major Desobry's heroic actions in his 1997 book, A Time for Trumpets.

It is arguably the definitive account of this dramatic victory and displays the actions of Desobry and his armored-infantrymen, often in close combat and at times in hand-to-hand combat.

The road between Noville and Bourcy, which Team Desobry held briefly during the defense of Bastogne, was renamed Rue de Général Desobry in his honor.

Upon his return to the United States, Lieutenant Colonel Desobry served for short periods at Fort Rucker and Fort McClellan, Alabama and in G2, Department of the Army.

2011

He was responsible for the training and readiness of V Corps, headquartered at Abrams Barracks, which included the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) "Pathfinder," the 3rd Armored Division "Spearhead," and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment "Blackhorse."

Major General Joseph C. McDonough commanded the "Pathfinder" Division, which was headquartered at Rose Barracks, Bad Kreuznach.

Major General Jonathan R. "Jack" Burton commanded the "Spearhead" Division headquartered at Frankfurt.