Charles Lutcher Southward (May 16, 1912 – April 28, 2000) was a United States Army major general who served as director of the Army National Guard and commander of the District of Columbia National Guard.
Early life Charles Lutcher Southward was born in Richmond, Virginia, on May 16, 1912.U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, entry for Charles L. Southward, accessed May 21, 2013 He graduated from John Marshall High School,John Marshall High School, Yearbook, 1928 joined the Virginia National Guard in 1930, and attained the rank of first sergeant before receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in 1935.Virginia Division of Military Affairs, Annual Report, 1936, page 19Richmond Public Schools, Annual Report, 1929, page 47
Between 1935 and 1940 Southward advanced to captain, and he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1939.Army and Navy Journal, Inc., Army and Navy Journal, Volume 78, Issues 1-26, 1939, page 411
World War II During World War II Southward served on the staff of Army Forces Pacific, South West Pacific Command as a member of the Logistics (G4) section. During the war he was promoted twice, leaving active duty as a lieutenant colonel.National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Volume 21, 1967, page 45
Post World War II After the war Southward pursued a full-time career with the federal government, serving as a Veterans’ Counselor and Business Specialist with the United States Department of Commerce in Richmond.United States. Department of Commerce, Domestic Commerce magazine, Volume 34, 1946, page 29National Production Authority, Historical Reports on Defense Production, Issues 61-63, 1953, page 33
He continued his military service, and in the 1950s was commander of the 176th Regimental Combat Team with the rank of colonel.Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, The Commonwealth magazine, Volume 22, 1955, page 42State of Virginia, Annual Reports of Officers, Boards and Institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Volume 1, 1953, page 67
Southward graduated from the United States Army War College in 1954.William M. Donnelly, Under Army Orders: the Army National Guard During the Korean War, 2001, page 204U.S. Army War College Foundation, Foundation and Alumni News, Fall, 2012, page 28
National Guard Bureau In 1954 Southward was assigned to full-time duty at the National Guard Bureau, serving as head of the Policy and Liaison Office. In the early 1960s he served on the staff of the Continental Army Command.National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Volumes 28-29, 1974, page 10Associated Press, Petersburg Progress, Col. Southward Goes to Natl. Guard Bureau, June 4, 1954
From 1964 to 1967 Southward was Chief of the Army Division, (now Director of the Army National Guard), receiving promotion to brigadier general.National Guard Association of the United States, Official Proceedings, Volumes 87-92, 1965, page 197
Southward was appointed Commander of the District of Columbia National Guard in 1967 and promoted to major general. He served until retiring in 1974.District of Columbia National Guard, Home page, DC National Guard Youth Leaders’ Camp , 2008District of Columbia National Guard, Annual report, 1980, page 81U.S. Senate, Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate, Volume 110, 1968, page 75
Awards and decorations Southward's awards included: Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; Legion of Merit; Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with service star; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal with service star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass; Philippine Defense Medal; Philippine Liberation Medal; Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation; Virginia National Guard Legion of Merit; Alabama Commendation Medal; and Mississippi Magnolia Medal.Tiffany Hill, Hampton Roads Daily Press, Obituary, Charles L. Southward, April 30, 2000
Death and burial Southward died in Williamsburg, Virginia, on April 28, 2000.Social Security Death Index, entry for Charles L. Southward, accessed May 21, 2013 He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 65, Site 3264.Arlington National Cemetery
Legacy The District of Columbia National Guard presents the annual Southward Leadership Award. The Southward Trophy is awarded to the outstanding Army and Air National Guard leaders in the organization.District of Columbia National Guard, DC Guardian magazine, Winter, 2011, page 8
References