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LTG Robert
L. Wetzel (Ret)
United States Army
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Gen. Wetzel was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia,
on October 6, 1930. He graduated from the US Military Academy at
West Point on June 3, 1952 with a B.S. in Engineering and was commissioned
a 2d Lieutenant of Infantry. He also has a Master of Science degree
in Business Administration from The George Washington University.
Sam Wetzel fought in the Korean War as an Infantry
Platoon leader and company commander in the 45th Infantry Division
and in the Vietnam War as an Infantry battalion commander in the
196th Infantry Brigade. He was Commander of the 1st Brigade, 4th
Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado; in Germany, Gen. Wetzel
was commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division (Forward), of
the 3rd Infantry Division and of the V US Corps. He also was Deputy
Commander-in-Chief, US Army Europe. In 1981, he was named the Commandant
US Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, and appointed Chief
of Infantry, the first so designated since the title was discontinued
in 1940. He served on staffs from Battalion to the Army and Joint
Staff, was Inspector General and Director of Personnel, US European
Command and Executive to the Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe.
Gen. Wetzel retired from the Army on June 30, 1986, with 34 years
active service and moved from Frankfurt, Germany to Columbus, Georgia.
Following retirement, Gen. Wetzel started and operated
his international marketing firm, Wetzel International, Inc., specializing
in Europe and the Middle East. In 1998, he became President and
CEO of European Foods, Inc., importers of food and beverages from
Europe. In Columbus, Sam Wetzel served on the Boy Scout Council,
United Way Board, Economic Development Committee of the Chamber
of Commerce, Advisory Board of the Columbus Civic Center, the Man
to Man Group of the American Cancer Society and as a volunteer at
the Buick Challenge and the Columbus Southern Open Golf Tournaments.
He served on the Board of Directors, Columbus Bank & Trust Company
and the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P). He is
a member of the Columbus Downtown Rotary Club, St. Anne’s
Catholic Church and the Retired Officers Association. Gen. Wetzel
is the Honorary Colonel of the 31st Infantry Regiment. He is the
Regional Commander (GA, TN, N. & S. Carolina) of the Military
Order of World Wars (MOWW) and also the National Chairman of the
MOWW National Security Committee.
Gen. Wetzel’s military awards and decorations include the
Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of
Merit (2), Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal,
6 Air Medals, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with Star and
many other service and campaign ribbons. He was also decorated by
the German Government with the Ehren Cross in Gold and the Bundesverdienst
Cross.
Gen. Wetzel lives in Columbus with his wife Eilene, and they have
seven children and 11 grandchildren. His hobbies are golf, hunting
and fishing.
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