Background
Birdsong, William Herbert was born on March 16, 1918 in Mayersville, Mississippi, United States. Son of William H. and Julia Morgan (Pearl) Birdsong.
Birdsong, William Herbert was born on March 16, 1918 in Mayersville, Mississippi, United States. Son of William H. and Julia Morgan (Pearl) Birdsong.
Bachelor of Science, Mississippi State College, 1939; graduate, Army Infantry School, 1940; graduate, Command and General Staff College, 1950; graduate, Armed Forces Staff College, 1954; graduate, National War College, 1958.
Commissioned Second lieutenant, United States Army, 1939; advanced through grades to brigadier general, United States Army, 1963; command and staff positions, (5th and 1st Infantry Divisions), Europe and United States, 1939-1954; assigned army staff, Pentagon, 1954-1957; assigned army staff, United Nations, Korea, 1958-1959; assigned army staff, Infantry School, 1960-1962; assistant division commander, (3d Infantry Division), Germany, 1963-1965; chief of staff, (Landsoutheast North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters), Turkey, 1965-1967; joint staff Pentagon, 1967-1970; commanding general, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, 1970-1972; retired, 1972; president, chief Executive officer, Brick's Men's Store Inc., Oak Grove, Kentucky, 1973-1978. Board directors Nations Bank, Clarksville, Tennessee, 1979-1993.
President United Service Organizations Oper. Council, Clarksville, 1974. Member Clarksville Chamber of Commerce (chairman military affaris committee 1973, 74, president 1976), Sojourners Club, Rotary (Paul Harris fellow), Masons (32 degree), Shriners, Sigma Chi.
Married Onylene Joyce Lepper, April 5, 1941 (deceased April 1970). Children: William Herbert III (deceased October 1988), Joyce O. Birdsong Murphy, Mary H. Birdsong Short. Married Jewel Ott Brick, July 18, 1971.