Herbert E. Wolff (May 24, 1925April 17, 2009) was a United States Army Major General.
Early life and education Wolff was born in Cologne, Germany, on May 24, 1925. Wolff's family fled Nazi Germany in 1939 and moved to the United States.
Career World War II Wolff was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater. He volunteered to join the Alamo Scouts and participated in the Raid at Cabanatuan. In 1945 he was given a battlefield commission to the rank of Second lieutenant and was awarded the Silver Star.
Service after World War II and during the Korean War During the Korean War Wolff saw combat and earned a second Silver Star.
1960s and the Vietnam War Wolff graduated from the Army War College.
Wolff's assignments during this period included the following: Commanding Officer, Infantry Training Center, Fort Benning, Georgia (1967-1968) Deputy Commanding General, US Army Training Center, Fort Dix, New Jersey (1968-1969) Assistant Division Commander, 1st Infantry Division, South Vietnam (1969-1970) Commanding General, Capital Military Assistance Command, South Vietnam (1970)
1970s to 1981 Wolff's assignments during this period included the following: Commanding General, US Army Security Agency, Pacific, Hawaii (1970-1972) Central Security Service, Fort Meade, Maryland (1970-1975) Deputy Commander, V Corps, West Germany (1975-1977) Commander, US Army CINCPAC Support Group and US Army Support Command, Hawaii (1977) Commander, US Army Western Command (WESTCOM) (1979)
Wolff retired from active service in 1981.
Awards and decorations Combat Infantryman Badge (second award)Basic Army Aviator BadgeMaster Parachutist BadgeArmy Staff Identification BadgeVietnamese Parachutist BadgeUnidentified foreign parachutist badge? Overseas Service Bars Army Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clustersSilver Star with oak leaf clusterLegion of Merit with three oak leaf clustersDistinguished Flying CrossBronze Star with "V" device and three oak leaf clustersAir Medal with three oak leaf clustersJoint Service Commendation MedalArmy Commendation MedalPurple HeartArmy Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clustersArmy Good Conduct MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with five bronze service starsWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation MedalNational Defense Service Medal with oak leaf clustersKorean Service Medal with four service starsVietnam Service Medal with four service starsPhilippine Liberation Medal with three service starsNational Order of Vietnam, KnightVietnam Gallantry Cross with palms and starsVietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st classPhilippine Republic Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationVietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationVietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit CitationUnited Nations Korea MedalVietnam Campaign Medal
Personal life While still on active service in Hawaii, Wolff was instrumental in the preservation of Battery Randolph at Fort DeRussy and the creation of a museum there, founding the nonprofit Hawaii Army Museum Society in 1976 and serving as its president for more than 30 years.
After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1981, Wolff remained in Honolulu, Hawaii. Wolff died on April 17, 2009, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He was survived by two sons and eight grandchildren.
References
External sources
"Together we served" page