Willis S. Rosing

Bill Rosing was born in Davenport, Iowa on September 1, 1932. His parents were Willis S.
Rosing, formerly Davenport High School High School Teacher and Coach and Doris Elizabeth
Rosing, both deceased.

Bill attended Tyler and Garfield Grade Schools, Sudlow Intermediate School, and Davenport
High School. He graduated from DHS in 1950.

In 1952, during the Korean War, he was drafted into the US Army. He chose the Regular
Army as a career, rose from Private to Colonel and served continuously from 1952 to 1986.
While in the Army, he graduated from the Municipal University of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska,
in 1963, with a degree in Business Management and Economics.

He married Harriet Patricia Voermann on July 2, 1962. They had one daughter, Wilma Jean
Tilton (John), who survives him. Additionally, he had two sons, Willis S Rosing, Jr. (Ann)
and Michael Warren Rosing (Mercedes) from a previous marriage. They all survive him.
Grandchildren Julie, Curtis, Kristin, Caleb, Gabriella, Elisabeth, and Annelise survive him as well as two great-grandchildren Terrance & Annette.

Highlights of his Army career are:

Graduated from the U. S. Army Non-Commissioned Officers Academy 1953.

Graduated from The Engineer Officers Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, VA, 1954, and served
as a Corps of Engineers Officer 1954-1958. He then received a Regular Army Commission in
the Chemical Corps and served in this branch until his retirement in 1986.

He served as the U. S. Army Assistant Post (city) Engineer in Stuttgart Germany from 1954-
1958.

While serving as Commanding Officer, 317th Chemical Processing Company in 1958, he
successfully conducted the test of the Army’s newly developed Chemical Processing Plant.
During this period, he graduated from the Army’s Parachutist (Airborne) School.

He then served as Commanding Officer, 69th Chemical Smoke Generator Company in 1959.
During this period, his unit successfully conducted the test of the Army’s newly developed
Lightweight Protective Mask.

He was then assigned as a member of the Faculty, US Army Chemical Corps School, from
1960 to 1963. He served as Instructor, Radiological Defense, conducted aerial radiological
survey research at the Nuclear Test Site, Mercury, Nevada and taught Radiological Defense
Courses to the Chinese Armed Forces in Taiwan.

He served as Training Officer, 1 st Air Assault Brigade, (Airborne), 11 th Air Assault Division
1963-1965.

He graduated from US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, in
1966.

He then served as the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Contingency Plans Officer
for the US Military Assistance Command Thailand, 1966-1968.

Bill volunteered to serve in Vietnam and was assigned as Chemical Officer 25th Infantry
Division, Oct 68 – Mar 69, and Executive Officer 53rd General Support Group Mar 69 – Oct
69.

Following this, was:

Deputy Commander, Pine Bluff Arsenal, AR Nov 69 – Oct 71

Deputy Director, Plant Operations, Ammunition Procurement and Supply Agency, Nov 71 –
April 72

Commanding Officer, Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, IL May 72 – Aug 74

Secretary of the General Staff, US Army Armament Command, Sept 74 – 75
Director, Ammunition Plant Operations, US Army Armament Command, 75 – 77

Chief of Staff, 3d Support Command, US Army Europe, 77 – 78

Director Industrial Operations, V Corps, US Army Europe, 78 – 80

Presiding Officer, US Army Discharge Review Board, Office of the Secretary of the Army. 80
– 86

His overseas service included: seven years in Germany, two years in Thailand, one year in
Vietnam, and one-half year in Taiwan.

He retired from the Army in 1986.

After Military Retirement he entered the commercial property management field in
Washington, D. C.

In 2001, he was inducted into the Engineer Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.

Bill was an enthusiastic stamp collector. He was the Treasurer of the Washington, DC Chapter
of the American First Day Cover Society and authored the Society’s slide programs for both
General Patton and Medal of Honor philatelic material. An enthusiastic walker, he was active
in the Frankfurt, Germany walking club and was the recipient of many high awards from this
organization. He was a member of the Newton Trinity Heights United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Good Samaritan fund of Presbyterian Manor or Good Samaritan fund of Asbury.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday July 19^th, 2014 at Trinity United Methodist Church at 10:00 AM.  The Committal of Ashes will be on July 24^th, 2014 at 10:00 AM in Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, IL.

MILITARY DECORATIONS

FROM THE UNITED STATES

1. Legion of Merit: Four Awards
2. Meritorious Service Medal: Two Awards
3. Army Commendation Medal: Two Awards
4. Air Medal
5. Army Good Conduct Medal
6. National Defense Service Medal: Two Awards
7. World War II Occupation Medal
8. Vietnam Service Medal: Five Bronze Battle Stars
9. Humanitarian Service Medal
10. Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
11. Army Service Ribbon
12. Overseas Service Ribbon: Two Awards
13. Meritorious Unit Commendation
14. Parachutist Badge

FOREIGN DECORATIONS

1. Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal First Class
2. Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
3. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm

FOREIGN AWARDS:

CHINA (TAIWAN):

Chinese Army (Taiwan) Chemical Corps School:

1.         Outstanding Teacher of Nuclear Physics Award from Chinese (Taiwan) Armed

Forces 1960 Class I

2.         Outstanding Teacher of Nuclear Physics Award from Chinese (Taiwan) Armed

Forces 1960 Class II

3.         Outstanding Teacher of Nuclear Physics Award from The Commandant of the

Chinese (Taiwan) Armed Forces Chemical Corps School

GERMANY:

German International Walking Club CDVV IIVV):

1. Golden Foot Award
2. Recognition of Outstanding Services-Two Bronze A wards
3. Recognition of Outstanding Services-Two Silver Awards
4. Recognition of Outstanding Services-Two Gold Awards