William A. Roosma (April 18, 1935 – April 29, 2011) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Vietnam War and Operation Just Cause, he attained the rank of major general and his command assignments included Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade, the Military Science Department at Culver Military Academy, 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment,

193rd Infantry Brigade The 193rd Infantry Brigade is a United States Army infantry brigade, which was originally constituted in the Army's organized reserves on 24 June 1922 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 97th Div ...

, the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman, Panama, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee that coordinated U.S. military participation in the Second inauguration of Ronald Reagan, and acting commander of XVIII Airborne Corps. A 1958 graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point), Roosma's additional civilian education included a master's degree in public relations and a master's degree in public administration, both from Auburn University at Montgomery. His military education included graduation from the Armed Forces Staff College and Air War College. His awards included the

Army Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...

Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members who perform superior meritorious service in a position of significant ...

, five awards of the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

, two awards of the

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Air Medal, and three awards of the Army Commendation Medal.

Early life

William Arnoux Roosma was born on Governors Island, New York on April 18, 1935, a son of army officer

John Roosma John Sieba Roosma (September 3, 1900 – November 13, 1983) was an amateur basketball player during the 1920s. He played for the United States Military Academy for five years, graduating in 1926. The Passaic, New Jersey native was a prolific score ...

and Marjorie (Henion) Roosma. The Roosma family was residing at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii when Japan's Attack on Pearl Harbor took place in December 1941, and the six-year-old Roosma was a witness to the event. Roosma was raised at military posts in the United States and overseas, attended The Hill School, and was a 1953 graduate of Heidelberg High School. From 1953 to 1954, he attended the Braden School in

Cornwall-on-Hudson Cornwall-on-Hudson is a riverfront village in the town of Cornwall, Orange County, New York, United States. It lies on the west bank of the Hudson River, approximately north of New York City. The population as of the 2010 census was 3,018 ...

, New York, an academy that prepared prospective students for the entrance exams at the United States Military Academy (West Point). Roosma was a resident of

Passaic, New Jersey Passaic ( or ) is a city in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 70,537, ranking as the 16th largest municipality in New Jersey and an increase of 656 from the 69,78 ...

when he was appointed to West Point in 1954. While at the academy, Roosma played soccer and baseball in addition to being a member of the wrestling team. He was also a member of the German language and weightlifting clubs, chapel choir, and debate council. He graduated in 1958, and received his commission as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

of Infantry.

Start of career

After receiving his commission, Roosma completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course at

Fort Benning Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees ...

, Georgia. This was followed by completion of Ranger School at Fort Benning, then Fort Benning's Airborne Course. While attending his initial training, Roosma's classmates included

Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African ...

, with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship. After his Infantry, Ranger, and Airborne training, Roosma was assigned to Company C, 1st Battle Group, 15th Infantry Regiment in

Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castle. C ...

, West Germany. After returning from West Germany, Roosma was assigned as an instructor at the Ranger School. He completed the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1964, after which he was assigned to Fort Ord, California as commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade. From 1966 to 1967, Roosma performed Vietnam War duty with the

196th Light Infantry Brigade The 196th Infantry Brigade ("Chargers"), also known as the Charger Brigade was first formed on 24 June 1921 as part of the United States Army Reserve's 98th Division with the responsibility of training soldiers. World War II During World War II, ...

, first as the brigade's assistant operations officer (Assistant S-3), and later as operations officer (S-3) of the brigade's 3rd Battalion. He was promoted to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

in December 1966.

Continued career

After returning from Vietnam, Roosma was assigned as head of the Military Science Department at Indiana's Culver Military Academy. Roosma then completed the program of instruction at the Armed Forces Staff College. He was next assigned to the staff of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and he was promoted to

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

in 1973. Roosma served in Panama as commander of 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment,

, then commandant of the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman. In 1977, Roosma graduated from the Air War College. He also completed his Master of Arts degree in Public Relations and Master of Science degree in Public Administration, both at Auburn University at Montgomery. He was subsequently assigned as inspector general of III Armored Corps at Fort Hood, Texas, followed by his 1980 selection to command 2nd Infantry Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. In 1982, Roosma was assigned as executive officer in the Office of the

Secretary of the Army The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, insta ...

Later career

In January 1984, Roosma was promoted to brigadier general. In 1984 and 1985, he served as director of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee that coordinated U.S. military activity that took place during the Second inauguration of Ronald Reagan. In 1985 and 1986, Roosma served as assistant division commander of the 7th Infantry Division. After promotion to major general in 1986, Roosma was assigned as deputy commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps. In this assignment, Roosma commanded troops via an Airborne Command and Control Communications Platform during Operation Just Cause. In addition, he acted as commander of the corps in 1990 during the U.S. deployment of troops to the Middle East for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He retired in June 1991.

Retirement and death

In retirement, Roosma was a resident of

Fairfax Station, Virginia Fairfax Station is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 12,030 at the 2010 census. Located in Northern Virginia, its center is located southwest of Washington, D.C. Geography Fairfax Sta ...

. Among his post-military pursuits was consulting work for corporations including McDonnell Douglas and Boeing. He died in Fairfax Station on April 29, 2011. Roosma was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards

Roosma's major awards and decorations included: *

with 4 oak leaf clusters *

with

"V" device A "V" device is a metal capital letter "V" with serifs which, when worn on certain decorations awarded by the United States Armed Forces, distinguishes an award for heroism or valor in combat instead of for meritorious service or achievement. ...

and oak leaf cluster * Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters * Air Medal with oak leaf cluster * Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters In addition, Roosma received the following qualification badges and tabs: * Combat Infantryman Badge * Expert Infantryman Badge * Parachutist Badge *

Ranger tab In the United States Army, tabs are cloth and/or metal arches displaying a word or words signifying a special skill that are worn on U.S. Army uniforms. On the Army Combat Uniform and Army Service Uniform, the tabs are worn above a unit's Should ...

* Army Staff Identification Badge

Family

In 1962, Roosma married Sandra Youmans of Estill, South Carolina. They were the parents of two children, Tracey and Kelsey. Roosma's siblings included an older brother, John S. Roosma (1929–2020), who was a career officer in the United States Air Force and retired as a colonel. In addition, Roosma had a fraternal twin, Garret, who was also a member of the West Point class of 1958. Garret Roosma served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, and retired as a colonel.

References

External links

William A. Roosma
at Arlington National Cemetery {{DEFAULTSORT:Roosma, William A. 1935 births 2011 deaths People from Passaic, New Jersey People from Fairfax Station, Virginia The Hill School alumni United States Military Academy alumni Joint Forces Staff College alumni Air War College alumni Auburn University at Montgomery alumni Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Air Medal United States Army generals Burials at Arlington National Cemetery