William Westmoreland quotes

William Westmoreland was a renowned American military leader and General during the Vietnam War. With a career spanning over three decades, he is best known for his role as the commander of US forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968. Westmoreland's strategic tactics and leadership skills played a significant role in shaping the course of the war. He pioneered the concept of "search and destroy" missions, aiming to weaken the enemy's morale and disrupt their supply routes. Despite controversy surrounding his handling of the conflict, Westmoreland's name remains etched in history. Discover more about William Westmoreland and his contributions to American military history.

We moved in to help the Vietnamese defend their country and confront the Viet Cong.

- William Westmoreland

I do not believe that the men who served in uniform in Vietnam have been given the credit they deserve. It was a difficult war against an unorthodox enemy.

- William Westmoreland

I don't take criticism lying down.

- William Westmoreland

We were succeeding. When you looked at specifics, this became a war of attrition. We were winning.

- William Westmoreland

By the end of the summer of 1973 I thought it was virtually impossible for South Vietnam to survive. How in the heck could they?

- William Westmoreland

My wife was my greatest asset. I didn't marry her until after World War II, but she has complemented me in every job I've ever had.

- William Westmoreland

It became very clear that Hanoi was in effect strategically running the Viet Cong operation.

- William Westmoreland

When the soldiers came home from Vietnam, there were no parades, no celebrations. So they built the Vietnam Memorial for themselves.

- William Westmoreland

The military don't start wars. Politicians start wars.

- William Westmoreland

Vietnam was the first war ever fought without any censorship. Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind.

- William Westmoreland

In the end, we lost IndoChina to the communists. But we did not lose Southeast Asia.

- William Westmoreland

I was participating in my own lynching, but the problem was I didn't know what I was being lynched for.

- William Westmoreland

I haven't yet figured out how I was made first captain, because I was not an outstanding student. I was an adequate student.

- William Westmoreland

President Johnson did not want the Vietnam War to broaden. He wanted the North Vietnamese to leave their brothers in the South alone.

- William Westmoreland

We had the best food any battlefield ever had.

- William Westmoreland

As the senior commander in Vietnam, I was aware of the potency of public opinion - and I worried about it.

- William Westmoreland

It's the first war we've ever fought on the television screen and the first war that our country ever fought where the media had full reign.

- William Westmoreland

War is fear cloaked in courage.

- William Westmoreland

Television is an instrument which can paralyze this country.

- William Westmoreland

Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind.

- William Westmoreland

I've made this statement many times: If I would have to do it over again, I would have made known the forthcoming Tet Offensive.

- William Westmoreland

When I took command in Vietnam, I gave great emphasis to food and medical care - and to the mail.

- William Westmoreland

The military lead turbulent lives, but they are people like everybody else.

- William Westmoreland