Lt. Gen. Chevalier William Wilson Quinn was born 1 November 1907 in Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, United States to William Samuel Quinn (1883-1946) and Alice Sterling Wilson (1881-1970) and died 11 September 2001 Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, United States of unspecified causes. He married Sara-Bette Williams (1918-2004) 16 December 1939 in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, United States.
Ancestry
His second great grandfather was William James Swan Clarke (1823-1893) who was a proprietor of 10,000 acres on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. His paternal uncle was Hon. Lorie Clarke Quinn (1864-1953), who was the Founder and Editor-in-chief of the Crisfield Times Newspaper in Crisfield, Maryland and the 2nd Mayor of Crisfield, Maryland; in 1888 he was the Associate Editor of the "Record and Gazette" in Pocomoke City, Maryland; in 1906, he was Elected Member of the City Council of Crisfield. From 1906-1909 Lorie was Commissioner of Crisfield; in May 1907 he resigned as School Commissioner of Crisfield, Maryland; in 1909 he was elected Member of the Maryland Legislature. A son of Lorie Clarke Quinn was Hon. Egbert L. Quinn (1885-1968) who was Mayor of Crisfield, Maryland; from 1656-1938 he was Member of the City Council; from 1957-1966 he was Member of the House of Delegates; in 1968 he was Chairman of the Maryland Board of the Motion Pictures Cencors; he was also Owner and Editor-in-chief and Publisher of the Crisfield Times Newspaper
Education
Quinn graduated from Crisfield High with the class of 1925 and then from United States Military Academy with the class of 1933, and in 1938 attended United States Army Infantry School. In 1942 he graduated from Command and General Staff College. In August 1947 he graduated from the National War College.
Commands Held
From 1933–1935 at Fort McKinley Quinn was the commanding officer of Company L. 1935–1936 General Quinn was assigned to Company D and then from 1936–1938 assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 31st Infantry. In 1940 he was the Command of Headquarters Company of the 4th Infantry Division, and the Commanding Officers of Company D, 8th Infantry Division. In July 1942 he became the United States Chief of Staff of the G-2 IV Army Corps. In 1949 Quinn was the Commanding Officer of the Far East 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Division. In April 1949 he became Chief of the Training Sub-section, I Corps. In January 1950 he became the Assistant Chief of Staff of the G-3 I Corps from February to March. In January 1951, Quinn was the Commanding Officer of the 17th Infantry, 7th Division in Korea. In 1952 Quinn became the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Pentagon and Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Coordination of the Office of Chief of Staff, and then eventually became the Chief of Staff of the Pentagon. In 1953 Quinn was transferred to Greece and to be the Head of the Army Section, Joint Military Aid Group to Greece. In January 1957 he was the Commanding Officer of the 4th Infantry Division of the Strategic Army Corps at Fort Lewis. In 1957 he was also the commanding general of Fort Lewis in Washington. In July 1958 he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for the G-2 Intelligence of the United States Army. From 1959–1961, Quinn served as the Army's Chief of Information, and in 1959 he became the Chief of Public Information of the Department of the Army. In 1961 Quinn became the Deputy Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency and promoted to Lieutenant General. From Feb 1964–1966, Quinn was the Commanding General of the United States Army Europe and Seventh United States Army, commonly referred to as 7th Army, in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. On March 1, 1966 Quinn retired but became Honorary Colonel of the 17th Infantry, The Buffalos. He was chief of operations of the CIA.
Wars
World War II
- Siegfried Line Campaign
Battle of the Bulge
- Siege of Bastogne
- Operation Nordwind - 1 Jan 1954
Korea
Quinn was in Korea from 1951 to 1952 and in August 1951 Quinn was wounded in Korea. While in Korea he won and was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star with the "V" Device. He was also in the Battle of Inchon. While he was in Korea he was the commanding Officer of the 17th Infantry Regiment which was part of the 7th Infantry Division (the 17th Infantry was, and still is, nicknamed "the Buffalo's"), named after Quinn.
Ranks
Quinn was captain in 1940; he was a temporary Major on 1 Feb 1942; temporary colonel on 25 Sep 1942; became permanent captain on 13 Jun 1943. After becoming a major general he was in command of about 60,000 troops.
Awards and Decorations
Military
Combat Infantryman Badge, Glider Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Easter Campaign Medal with arrowhead and 5 campaign stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal (Korea), Korean Service Medal with arrowhead and 5 campaign stars, Vietnam Service Medal, Knight Order of the French Legion of Honor, class of Officer, Order of St. George, Third Class (Russia), Croix de guerre (France), Gllantry Cross of the Republic of Vietnam, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Sally Sterling Quinn (1941) | 1 July 1941 Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, United States | Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee (1921-2014) | |
| Donna (Quinn) Robbins | Washington, United States | ||
| William Wilson Quinn, Jr. | |||
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
| Ω Birth |
| ₪ Wedding |
| ¶ Death |
