Walter T . Kerwin , Jr . Walter Thomas Kerwin , Jr . ( June 14 , 1917 – July 11 , 2008 ) was a United States Army four star general who served as Commanding General , U . S . Continental Army Command ( CG CONARC ) , 1973 ; Commanding General , United States Army Forces Command ( CG FORSCOM ) from 1973 to 1974 ; and Vice Chief of Staff , U . S . Army ( VCSA ) from 1974 to 1978 . He was the first commander of United States Army Forces Command and a member of the Association of the United States Army ’ s Advisory Board of Directors since 1984 . Military career . Kerwin graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1939 and was commissioned in the field artillery and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division . During World War II he fought in North Africa , Sicily , Italy and France . In December 1944 , while in France , he was wounded in Mutzig and evacuated to the United States , returning to Europe in 1945 and assigned to the Theater Operations Division of the War Department ' s General Staff . As a brigadier general he took command of the 3rd Armored Division Artillery in Hanau , Germany in August 1961 . During the 1960s he held various flag officer billets to include Chief of Staff , Military Assistance Command , Vietnam ( MACV ) , Commander , II Field Force , Vietnam , Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army for Personnel , and Commanding General of the Continental Army Command , later renamed Forces Command . Kerwin is heralded as the champion of the “ One Army ” or “ Total Army ” concept . This concept , which became a reality under his leadership , recognized the indispensable role of the Army National Guard and U . S . Army Reserve as equal partners with the active Army in executing defense policy and in preparing for war . Recognized by his commanders and peers as an innovative artilleryman , he developed a system of massing fires that contributed immeasurably to the success of the Allied landings at Anzio Beachhead . After World War II , he attended the Army War College and the National War College , and served in various assignments , including Plans and Operations Officer at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory ; Commander of the 56th Artillery Group , XVIII Airborne Corps ; and Deputy Director in the Army ' s Office of the Chief of Research and Development . On October 29 , 1974 he became Vice Chief of Staff , U . S . Army during the army ' s transition to an all volunteer force and post - Vietnam War restructuring . Awards and decorations . Kerwin awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Army Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , the Bronze Star , Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters , the Army Commendation Medal , the Navy Commendation Medal with " V " device , and the Purple Heart . Kerwin ' s service awards include the American Defense Service Medal , European Campaign Medal , World War II Victory Medal , National Defense Service Medal with star , Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal . Post military . After retiring from the army , Kerwin continued to work for the Department of Defense in different capacities . He also served for 17 years as a consultant for Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin . Having been a member of the Board of Directors of the Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association since 1969 , he became its Chairman in 1982 , serving in that capacity until 1997 . He has also been involved with the Association of the United States Army , the Field Artillery Association , and the Army Emergency Relief Association . He received the 2003 Distinguished Graduate Award from the Association of Graduates , the West Point alumni organization . Death . On July 11 , 2008 in Alexandria , Virginia of respiratory failure . He was preceded in death by his first wife , Barbara in 1980 . See also . Kerwin was survived by his son Ltc Bruce Kerwin ( ret ) his daughter Margaret Kerwin , three Grand Daughters ; Kristina , Deborah , & Allison . His Great Grandchildren ; Gavin Schober , Jack , Delaney and Grace Poirier , and Amer Darwish .