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George Henry Waple III was born 8 February 1921. He enrolled in Vale School, a two room school located in Fairfax County, Virginia and attended the first grade in 1926. He then attended Oakton School where he repeated the first grade and continued on through third grade. Fourth through seventh grades were attended at Fairfax Elementary School, and then onto Fairfax High School for three years, dropping out after the third year to join US Third Horse Cavalry at Fort Myer Virginia, as his papa told him, "you ain't going to amount to nothing
no how."
He served in the Third Horse Cavalry under the command of Colonel Wainwright and Colonel George S. Patton. In June 1942 he left the Cavalry to participate in a Cadre operation to the 331st Infantry, 83 rd Infantry Division as a Radio Chief with rank of Staff Sergeant.
In November of 1942, at the age of twenty one, he was promoted to Master Sergeant, Regimental Communication Chief. Master Sergeant Waple held this position until 1943 when he switched jobs from Regimental Communications Chief to First Sergeant of Regimental Headquarters Company, 331st Infantry.
As First Sergeant, he participated in the Eighty Third Infantry Division normal training cycle and maneuvers in Tennessee 1942-1943 and back to Camp
Breckenridge, Kentucky for overseas preparation. The Division shipped out of New York on George Washington landing in Liverpool late winter 1944. More training and on to South Hampton for shipment across Channel June 1944. His unit going ashore D-Day plus twelve, relieving 101st Airborne near Carenton, France. On through the hedgerows, across Europe to Elbe River to meet Russians in May 1945. He served in all five European campaigns.
He returned to Fort Myer, Virginia November 1945 becoming First Sergeant of the Ceremonial Detachment that performed a ceremonies in Arlington Cemetery, parades and Honor Guards in the Washington, DC area.
He worked at the White House 1946-47 as Head Usher for affairs of state under President Truman. He was also President Truman's Wreath Bearer at Tomb of Unknown Soldier.
He along with several of top NCO's helped rewrite the Infantry Drill Regulation Manual on the subject of Close Order Drill, Manual of Arms, Parade and Ceremonial Procedures.
In August 1948, Master Sergeant Waple became Chauffeur and security for then Chief of Staff of the Army Omar N. Bradley, later to become Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff.
On January 12, 1952, Master Sergeant Waple received his direct commission with General Bradley pinning his Second Lieutenants bars on in the General's Pentagon Office.
He then attended the basic Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia and assigned to the Fifth Infantry Training Division at Indiantown Gap, PA.
He attended a leadership class and was retained at the school because of experiences in soldierly qualities. After several months he was assigned as an assistant to the Commanding General Fifth Infantry Division because of his broad military training knowledge and accompanied the General daily to inspect all training throughout the Division area.
In spring of 1952 Lieutenant received a promotion to First Lieutenant because of his high standard qualities receiving comments from his Battalion Commander as being the most outstanding Lieutenant he had ever seen.
He received orders to Korea in Summer 1952 and assigned to Third Battalion, 31st infantry Regiment of
the Seventh Infantry Division.
At wars end, he was selected by the commanding General of the Division to become his Aide de Camp.
In February 1954 Waple accompanied Major General Lionel McGarr to the Canal Zone
where the General took Command of US Army Caribbean.
Promoted to Captain, he attended Advanced Infantry School, Fort Benning in September 1956 and subsequently assigned to the G-4 Section, Military District of Washington.
After two years of the assignment, Captain Waple was reassigned as Aide to General McGarr at Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth Kansas in August 1958.
After two years he was assigned to the US Army Disciplinary Barracks denying a request from
General McGarr to accompany him in his new assignment in Vietnam.
He retired from the military in June 1962 after twenty four years of service.
His decoration include Combat Infantry Badge with Star, Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Commendation Medal with Four Clusters, Good Conduct Medal with twelve years of unlisted service and other service medals that went with his periods of service.
Captain "Sold tee' Retired now resides near Ft. Monmouth, NJ where he enjoys golf at that course. |
