- Charles E. Wilhelm
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Charles E. Wilhelm 
Charles E. Wilhelm, USMCBorn August 26, 1941
Edenton, North CarolinaAllegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Marine Corps Years of service 1964-2000 Rank General Commands held 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
1st Marine Division
Marine Corps Combat Development Command
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic
U.S. Southern CommandBattles/wars Vietnam War Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Bronze StarOther work Research, U.S. Army War College
Fellow, Center for Defense Information
Vice President, Battelle.General Charles E. Wilhelm (born August 26, 1941) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served two combat tours of duty in Vietnam. He later served as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division; as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; and as the Commander, U.S. Southern Command (1997–2000). General Wilhelm retired from the Marine Corps in 2000, after 37 years of service.
Contents
Biography
Charles E. Wilhelm was born in 1941, a native of Edenton, North Carolina. Wilhelm graduated from Florida Southern College in 1964 with a B.S. in journalism. He earned a M.S. degree in management from Salve Regina College. He is a graduate of the Army Infantry Officer’s Advance Course and the Naval War College, which in 1999 awarded him its Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award.
Military career
General Wilhelm held a variety of command positions. He commanded a rifle platoon and company during two tours in Vietnam; served as a company commander in Headquarters Battalion and 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division; was the Senior Advisor to a Vietnamese Army Battalion; Inspector-Instructor, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion; Deputy Provost Marshal, U.S. Naval Forces Philippines; and commanded the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
General Wilhelm’s staff assignments include Assistant Battalion Operations Officer; Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. He served on the staffs of III Marine Amphibious Force; Logistics, Plans, and Policy Branch, Installations and Logistics Department, HQMC, and J-3, Headquarters, U.S. European Command.
In August 1988, while assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, II Marine Expeditionary Force, he was promoted to brigadier general, and was subsequently assigned as the Director of Operations, HQMC. In July 1990, he was selected to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy and Missions, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. General Wilhelm assumed duties as Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, in July 1992. He served as Commander Marine Forces Somalia from December 1992 to March 1993 as part of the U.S. led coalition in Operation RESTORE HOPE. General Wilhelm was confirmed for promotion to lieutenant general and assumed duties as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, July 15, 1994. In August 1995, he was assigned as Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South/Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force/Commanding General, Marine Striking Force Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was confirmed for promotion to general and assumed duties as the Commander, U.S. Southern Command on September 25, 1997; he served in this position until October 2000. General Wilhelm retired from the Marine Corps on November 1, 2000.
Post-retirement
After retiring from the Marine Corps, General Wilhelm was a researcher with the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute.[1] General Wilhelm is Distinguished Military Fellow on the staff of the Center for Defense Information.[2] In 2003, Wilhelm became Vice President at Battelle, responsible for homeland security issues.[3]
Awards & decorations
General Wilhelm’s personal decorations include:
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
Notes
- ^ "Gen (Ret). Charles E. Wilhelm". U.S. Army War College. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/Pubs/people.cfm?q=443. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
- ^ "CDI (Washington, D.C.) Staff". Center for Defense Information. http://www.cdi.org/aboutcdi/staff.html. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
- ^ "Retired Marine Corps General Charles E. Wilhelm joins Battelle". Battelle (press release). March 6, 2003. http://www.battelle.org/news/03/03-06-03Wilhelm.stm. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
- "General Charles E. Wilhelm - Retired". General Officer biographies. United States Marine Corps. https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=357&PERSON_TYPE=General. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- "General Charles E. Wilhelm, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Wilhelm_CE.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- "Distinguished Military Fellow: Gen. (Ret.) Charles E. Wilhelm, USMC". CDI. http://www.cdi.org/aboutcdi/Wilhelm.html. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
Military offices Preceded by
Gen. Wesley K. ClarkUnited States Southern Command
1997—2000Succeeded by
Gen. Peter PaceCategories:- 1941 births
- Living people
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Recipients of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry
- Recipients of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
- American military personnel of the Vietnam War
- United States Marine Corps generals
- People from Chowan County, North Carolina
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