Background
Palmer, Williston Birkhimer was born on November 11, 1899 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Charles Day and Edith Howard (Birkhimer) Palmer.
Palmer, Williston Birkhimer was born on November 11, 1899 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Charles Day and Edith Howard (Birkhimer) Palmer.
Bachelor of Science, United States Military Academy, 1919. Unmarried. Commissioned Second lieutenant, United States Army, 1918, and advanced through the grades to general, 1955. Commanding VII Corps Artillery, 1944-1945.
Commanded 82d Airborne Division, 1950, commanding 2d Armored Division, 1951.
Commanding X Corps (of Korea), 1952. Vice chief of staff United States Army, 1955.
Deputy commander in chief Europe, 1957. Director military assistance Department Defense, Washington, from 1960.
Later vice chief Staff United States Army.
During World World War II, as a brigadier general, he commanded VII Corps artillery, from the Normandy invasion to the Elbe. In January 1943 Then Brigadier General Palmer was a passenger on a B-17 which landed in neutral Ireland. He was transferred across the border to Northern Ireland the next day.
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Following the war he served as Director of Logistics, European Command, commanded the 82nd Airborne Division in 1950, followed by command of the 2nd Armored Division in 1951 and X Corps in of Korea later that same year.
During his tenure as Director of Military Assistance, a scandal erupted over black market activities in Turkey involving military personnel. He caused controversy when in October 1960, while visiting Saigon, he said the United States was suspending military aid to Laos because of the "confused situation" in there, saying "we have not been sure who is responsible for anything." After two days of confusion, the United States. embassy in Vientiane said the announcement had been incorrect and made without instructions from Washington, District of Columbia However, his order was countermanded.
He retired from the army in 1962. Palmer died on died November 10, 1973, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, District of Columbia
Palmer defended soldiers who refused to testify to the Senate by pointing out that the Uniform Code of Military Justice protected soldiers from self-incrimination.
Clubs: Army and Navy, Chevy Chase (Washington).