Leonard C . Ward Brigadier General Leonard C . Ward ( November 17 , 1917 – March 20 , 2001 ) was a United States Army officer who served as Chief of the Army Division ( now Director of the Army National Guard ) at the National Guard Bureau . Early life . Leonard Cecil Ward was born in Virginia , Minnesota on November 17 , 1917 , and was raised in Minnesota , Oklahoma and Michigan . He graduated from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology ( now Michigan Technological University ) in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering , received his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Engineers from the Reserve Officer Training Corps , and joined the Michigan Army National Guard . Ward later earned a Master of Science degree in Information Systems Technology from George Washington University . World War II . Ward settled first in Ishpeming and later East Lansing , and entered active duty with the 32nd Infantry Division in 1940 . He served in the European Theater during World War II , first as a platoon leader and company commander in the 107th Engineer Battalion , and later on the staff of the 1121st Engineer Combat Group , both units that were part of the V Corps . Post World War II . He continued his military service after the war , and graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1948 . He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1951 , and from 1952 to 1957 he was Commander of the 107th Engineer Battalion . In 1957 Ward was appointed Engineer Staff Officer for the 46th Infantry Division , and in 1959 he was named Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations ( G3 ) . In 1962 Ward was promoted to Colonel and assigned as the National Guard representative on the Army Staff at the Pentagon . He served until 1967 he was assigned as Assistant Division Commander of the 46th Infantry Division and promoted to Brigadier General . He also served as the final Commander of the 46th Division before it was deactivated in 1968 . National Guard Bureau . In 1968 Ward was assigned to the National Guard Bureau as Chief of the Army Division , succeeding Charles L . Southward . In 1970 this position was upgraded to a Major General ’ s assignment with the title Director of the Army National Guard . The Director of the Army National Guard was authorized a Brigadier General as a Deputy , and Ward was appointed Deputy Director of the Army National Guard , serving until his 1972 retirement . He was succeeded by Joseph R . Jelinek . Post military career . After retiring from the military , Ward was employed by Computer Sciences Corporation , providing Information Management consulting services to the military , government and corporate clients . Awards and decorations . Ward ’ s awards included : Legion of Merit ; Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster ; American Defense Service Medal ; European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and five Battle Stars ; World War II Victory Medal ; Armed Forces Reserve Medal ; Michigan Distinguished Service Medal ; and Michigan Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters . Death and burial . In retirement Ward resided in McLean , Virginia . He died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on March 20 , 2001 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery , Section 48 , Grave 1974 .