William T. Seawell

From USAFA Folklore

Jump to: navigation, search
William T. Seawell
1918 - 2005
USAFA position(s): Commandant, 1961 - 63
Rank: Brig. Gen.
Nickname(s):
Awards and Recognition:
USAFA Class:
Cadet squadron:
Cadet Activities:
Official bio: http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7100


Brig. Gen. William T. Seawell was the third Commandant of Cadets, serving in that position from 1961 to 1963.

[edit] Background

Born in Pine Bluff, Ark., he graduated 28th in a class of 424 at the U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1941. In 1942 he received his pilot's wings upon graduation from flying school and became a command pilot.

[edit] Military assignments

During World War II, General Seawell served in the European theater of Operations. Flying B-17 Flying Fortresses, he commanded the 401st Bombardment Group. He flew 30 combat missions and was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with palm.

Post-war assignments took him to Headquarters Army Air Forces (1945-46), for which service he was awarded the Commendation Medal; to Harvard University as a student under the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology program, graduating with a bachelor of law degree in 1949; commander of the 11th Bomb Wing (Strategic Air Command) (1953-54); to the Air War College as a student (1955-56); to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force (1956-58); and the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (1958-59). Prior to reporting to the U.S. Air Force Academy as commandant of cadets in June 1961, he was assigned as military assistant to deputy secretary of defense, Washington, D.C. General Seawell retired March 1, 1963.

[edit] Decorations

  • Silver Star
  • Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters
  • Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  • Commendation Ribbon
  • Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
  • American Defense Service Medal
  • French Croix de Guerre with Palm
  • American Campaign Medal
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Department of Defense Badge
Commandant of Cadets
Preceded by:
Henry R. Sullivan Jr. 		William T. Seawell
1961-1963 		Succeeded by:
Robert W. Strong Jr.
Commandants
Stillman · Sullivan · Seawell · Strong · Seith · Olds · Galligan · Vandenberg · Beck · Richards · Beckel · Burshnick · Anderson · Westbrook · Redden · Bethurem · Gamble · Hopper · Lorenz · Welsh · Gilbert · Weida · Desjardins · Cox
Retrieved from "http://www.usafatoday.org/wiki/index.php/William_T._Seawell"