William F. Garrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William F. Garrison
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| Nickname(s) | "Bill" |
| Born | 27 June 1944 Mineral Wells, Texas |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1966–1996 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands held | John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center (1995–96) Joint Special Operations Command (1992–94) Delta Force (1985–89) 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment (1981–83) |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (4) Purple Heart |
William F. "Bill" Garrison (born 27 June 1944) is a retired American major general in the United States Army. He is best known for leading U.S. forces during Operation Gothic Serpent in 1993. This military operation took place during the Somali Civil War and aimed to capture a Somali warlord named Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
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Early Life and Education
William F. Garrison was born in Mineral Wells, Texas, on June 27, 1944. He studied at the University of Texas–Pan American, where he earned a degree in Business Administration. Garrison joined the United States Army in 1966.
Military Career Highlights
During the Vietnam War, Garrison was involved in the Phoenix Program. This program focused on finding and dealing with Viet Cong leaders in villages.
From 1981 to 1983, Garrison was in charge of the 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division. This unit was based at Fort Bragg. In 1982, he led a large group of 808 soldiers, called TF 1/505. They went on a six-month mission to the Sinai Peninsula. Their job was to act as a buffer, or a neutral zone, between Israel and Egypt. He was there when Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt.
Garrison spent most of his career working in special operations units. These are highly trained military groups that handle difficult and secret missions. He commanded the operations squadron for the Intelligence Support Activity. He also led the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, often called Delta Force, from 1985 to 1989. His last command was at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center.
Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia
General Garrison was the commander of Task Force Ranger during Operation Gothic Serpent. This military operation happened in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993. It was part of the larger Somali Civil War. The main goal of the operation was to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid. He was a Somali military officer wanted by the United Nations forces.
The operation took place from August to October 1993. It was overseen by the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) of the United States. The most well-known part of this mission was the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.
After the events of Operation Gothic Serpent, General Garrison took full responsibility for the challenges faced during the mission. This effectively marked the end of his military career.
Mark Bowden, who wrote the book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, described Garrison as a very dedicated military leader. Bowden said that Garrison worked tirelessly for his country and would do anything for his soldiers. Many of Garrison's subordinates, the soldiers who worked under him, have also spoken highly of him. For example, Staff Sergeant Dan Schilling, who was part of Operation Gothic Serpent, shared his thoughts:
I should pause here for a moment to say a few words about General Garrison. Many know his record and command history. I'm not the person to expound on his exploits; in fact I don't know the man very well. But I will say he is the finest general officer I have ever worked for and probably ever will. He understood his men and how we thought, what we wanted and needed, and understood the situation anywhere he was, immediately and completely. He is the finest leader an operator could ask for. It wasn't a shame that his career was derailed after our deployment; it was a criminal act committed by political cowards.
By September 1996, William Garrison had retired from the Army. He held the rank of major general. After retiring, he moved to a ranch near Hico, Texas.
Military Awards and Honors
General Garrison received several important military awards during his career. These awards recognize his bravery and service. Some of his notable awards include:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Bronze Star Medal (with four awards)
- Purple Heart
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See also
In Spanish: William F. Garrison para niños
