Louis C . Wagner , Jr . General Louis Carson Wagner , Jr . ( born January 24 , 1932 ) is a retired United States Army four - star general who served as Commanding General , United States Army Materiel Command ( CG AMC ) from 1987 to 1989 . Military career . Wagner was born on January 24 , 1932 in Jackson , Missouri . Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1954 , he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant , armor , and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree . He also holds a Master of Science degree in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois . His military education includes completion of the United States Army Armor School , U . S . Army Command and General Staff College and Naval War College . He also completed the Airborne and Ranger School s at the United States Army Infantry School . He held a wide variety of important command and staff positions including his last assignment as Commander of the U . S . Army Materiel Command from April 13 , 1987 to September 26 , 1989 . Other key assignments included Commanding General of the U . S . Army Armor Center , Commandant , U . S . Army Armor School , Fort Knox , Kentucky and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans ( Force Development ) , HQDA , Washington , D . C . From July 31 , 1984 until assuming command of AMC , General Wagner served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Research , Development and Acquisition , Department of the Army , Washington , D . C . General Wagner served in a variety of progressive assignments preparatory to becoming the Commander of AMC . These included his initial assignment as Platoon Leader , Company Executive Officer , Company Commander and Assistant S - 4 , 11th Airborne Division ( later redesignated the 24th Infantry Division ) , Fort Campbell , Kentucky and U . S . Army Europe , followed by assignment as a Troop Commander in the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment , Fort Knox , Kentucky . He instructed at the U . S . Military Academy , West Point , New York , for three years , then was assigned to the Military Assistance Command , Vietnam . General Wagner served as a Test Officer and Chief , Armor Test Division at the U . S . Army Arctic Test Center , Fort Greely , Alaska , for two years , followed by assignment as Commander of a light airborne armor battalion at Fort Riley , Kansas , and Fort Bragg , North Carolina . After attending the Naval War College , he returned to Vietnam as an infantry and armor advisor . He next became a staff officer in the Weapons Systems Analysis Directorate in the Office , Assistant Vice Chief of Staff , U . S . Army , followed by assignment as the Executive , Materiel Programs Directorate . He was then assigned as Deputy Director of Materiel Programs in the Office of the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff , U . S . Army , followed by assignment as the Executive , Materiel Programs Directorate . He then was assigned as Deputy Director of Materiel Programs in the Office of the Chief of Staff , U . S . Army and , subsequently , Special Assistant for the Army Materiel Acquisition Review Committee in the same office . In November 1974 , General Wagner became the Commander of the 1st Brigade , 3rd Armored Division in Germany . After promotion to general officer , he was assigned as the Deputy Director , Combat Support Systems , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff ( Research , Development and Acquisition ) , U . S . Army , Washington , D . C . During his Army career , General Wagner received the following awards and decorations : Distinguished Service Cross , two awards of the Distinguished Service Medal , Silver Star , two awards of the Legion of Merit , Bronze Star , Purple Heart , Meritorious Service Medal , two awards of the Air Medal , three awards of the Army Commendation Medal , Combat Infantryman Badge , Senior Parachutist Badge , Ranger Tab , and various foreign decorations . General Wagner retired from the Army in September 1989 .