James L . Baldwin Major General James Leon Baldwin ( February 28 , 1921 – November 8 , 1979 ) was a career United States Army officer who was commander of the 23rd ( Americal ) Infantry Division during the Battle of FSB Mary Ann in 1971 . Early life and start of career . James Leon Baldwin was born in Omaha , Nebraska on February 28 , 1921 . He attended schools in Wichita and Ness City , Kansas and graduated from high school in Ness City in 1938 . Baldwin attended Kansas State Teachers College from 1938 to 1939 , and enlisted in the National Guard in 1939 . When National Guard units started to be federalized in anticipation of World War II , he served with the 35th Division in Arkansas and California until attending Officer Candidate School in 1942 . World War II . After receiving his commission Baldwin served in Europe with the 99th Infantry Division during World War II , taking part in the Battle of the Bulge , Rhineland , and Central Europe campaigns . While serving as Intelligence Staff Officer , S - 2 for the 395th Infantry Regiment , Baldwin investigated the massacre by German soldiers of 11 African - American members of the 333rd Artillery Battalion , who had been killed after they surrendered . Post - World War II . Baldwin remained in the Army after the war , serving in West Germany with the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division , including an assignment as regimental Plans , Operations and Training Officer , S - 3 . Korean War . During the Korean War Baldwin , by now a Lieutenant Colonel , served as Personnel Staff Officer , G - 1 for the 24th Infantry Division . Post - Korean War . In 1954 Baldwin received a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Washington University . He graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1955 , and undertook graduate studies at Columbia University from 1957 to 1958 . From 1958 to 1961 Baldwin served in the International Plans and Policy Division of the Army ’ s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations , G - 3 . In 1962 he graduated from the National War College . Baldwin was assigned as Executive Officer in the Office of the Secretary of the Army from 1962 to 1964 . From 1964 to 1966 he served as Commander of 3rd Brigade 4th Armored Division . In 1966 Baldwin , now a Brigadier General , served as the 4th Armored Division ’ s Assistant Division Commander for Support . Later in 1966 he took command of the Berlin Brigade , where he served until late 1967 . From 1967 to 1968 Baldwin was Director of Plans and Programs for the Army ’ s Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development and from 1968 to 1970 he was Director of Force Planning Analysis for the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army . Vietnam War . In July , 1970 Baldwin was assigned as Deputy Commander of the XXIV Corps in Vietnam . In November , 1970 he was assigned as Commander of the 23rd ( Americal ) Infantry Division . He commanded the division until July , 1971 , when he was reassigned . Baldwin was removed from command and received a letter of admonishment as the result of the attack on Fire Support Base Mary Ann . The Commander of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade , Colonel William Hathaway , was removed from the promotion list for Brigadier General and received a letter of reprimand . The commander of 1st Battalion 46th Infantry , Lieutenant Colonel William P . Doyle , also received a letter of reprimand . All three commanders received these reprimands for not having ensured that standard operating procedures were followed with regard to perimeter security at FSB Mary Ann , thus facilitating the attack . Baldwin , Hathaway and Doyle protested their reprimands , but they were upheld by General William Westmoreland , then the Army Chief of Staff . ( In fact , Westmoreland and the Commander in Vietnam , Creighton Abrams , wanted Baldwin reduced in rank to Brigadier General , and for him to receive a letter of reprimand . They were overruled by Secretary of the Army Robert Froehlke , and Baldwin received the less severe letter of admonishment and no reduction in rank . ) Post - Vietnam War . Baldwin served as an assistant to the Army ’ s Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics , G - 4 before retiring in 1972 . Awards and decorations . Baldwin ' s awards included the Combat Infantryman Badge , Legion of Merit , Bronze Star , Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal . Later career . After retiring in 1972 , Baldwin resided in Arlington , Virginia and was a consultant on foreign policy for the United States Department of State . Death and burial . He died in River Falls , Wisconsin on November 8 , 1979 . He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery , Section 60 , Site 645 . Family . Baldwin married Margaret Albright of Wisconsin in 1945 . They had met in Germany during World War II when Margaret was employed by the American Red Cross . They had three sons – Robert , Timothy and John , and a daughter , Margaret . In recent years , Baldwin ’ s surviving children , especially his son Timothy , have conducted research on the FSB Mary Ann attack in an effort to clear their father ’ s name . Cited in " The Generals " . In Thomas Ricks ’ 2012 book " The Generals " he cites Baldwin ’ s removal from division command and letter of admonishment as the last instance of a US Army general being held accountable for combat ineffectiveness , as opposed to being punished for personal failings such as adultery . Ricks contrasts Baldwin ’ s removal and the World War II relief of corps and division commanders who proved ineffective ( many of whom performed well when given second chances ) with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan . In the post - Vietnam Army , Ricks argues that a culture of mediocrity exists because generals may be punished for personal misconduct , but are not held accountable for poor job performance .