He graduated from the United States. Army Officer Candidate School in May 1953 as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. He earned a bachelor"s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master of Science degree in Foreign Affairs from George Washington University.
Lindsay"s military career began when he enlisted in the Army in 1952. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Army Language School (German and Russian) the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National War College. Lindsay commanded units at all levels, from platoon through MACOM, in both peacetime and war.
His first assignments were with the 82nd Airborne Division, 7th Special Forces Group and Military Intelligence.
Within the 82nd Airborne Division he held eight assignments, from platoon to division level During the Vietnam War, he was an advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Brigade, commanded the 2nd Battalion 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division and was the G3 (Assistant Chief-of-Staff, Operations and Plans) for the 9th Infantry Division.
As a general, Lindsay commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, the United States Army Infantry School, the XVIII Airborne Corps, the United States Readiness Command, and was the first Commander in Chief, United States Special Operations Command. General Lindsay retired July 1, 1990.
In retirement, Lindsay serves as president of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation, and is a Senior Observer with the Army’s Battle Command Training Program.
He sits on the Board of Advisors of the National Infantry Foundation. He was inducted into both the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame and Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.
