Robert Lewis "Sam" Wetzel

In colonial and early American times, a family of brothers named "Wetzel" ranged the American frontier, which was primarily located in today's West Virginia. The frontier at that time was a savage place of great terror and danger to the defenseless settlers. More than anyone else, the Wetzel brothers stood in the gap between the Indians and the settlers, protecting the early Americans. Over the years, the Wetzels became America's greatest frontiersmen and Indian fighters. The eldest and leader of the brothers was Martin, friend of Daniel Boone. Boone achieved more nods from historians than the Wetzels because he was not quite as ruthless and vicious a fighter as Martin and his younger brothers. The more famous of the Wetzels was the middle brother, Lewis Wetzel, famous as the man whose gun was always loaded. For reasons unknown, Martin preferred to kill his enemies with his bare hands and a tomahawk. At this he was extraordinarily effective, but his method of warfare caused less publicity than that of his younger brother, Lewis.

The year 1948 found Martin Wetzel's direct descendant, Robert Lewis "Sam" Wetzel, of Clarksburg, West Virginia graduating high school. The young Wetzel was on his way to Purdue University and a career as an engineer. Robert Lewis Wetzel's personality bore an uncanny resemblance to Martin's. It had always been said that Martin was a genial companion, a true friend, and a good citizen. No three phrases better described his direct descendant. And, as fate would have it, it would soon be learned whether or not young "Sam" Wetzel had likewise inherited Martin's warfighting abilities. A recently approved local candidate for the West Point Military Academy dropped out, and a search went out for a replacement. Although it was the last thing on his mind or in his sights, Wetzel ended up being picked as that replacement. He graduated from West Point in 1952 as an infantry officer.

He was immediately deployed to the Korean War, where he saw action as a young company commander. Under fire for the first time, his first and instinctive concern was for the lives of his soldiers. From that time through his retirement in 1986, Wetzel almost invariably served as a "field" commander, meaning an officer who leads men on the ground as opposed to working behind the scenes at a desk. He proved to be a true descendant of Martin Wetzel, with an immediate instinct for leading armies and inspiring soldiers.

Wetzel's leadership secret - "you get those soldiers to where they'd throw themselves in front of a tank for you" - was once laid out at a leadership discussion where he was not present. One participant at the meeting apparently did not believe that this concluded matters and responded, "Well, did Wetzel mention how exactly he managed to do that?"

Wetzel was deployed to Vietnam in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel leading a battalion. Wetzel was involved in various life-threatening war situations. At one point, after an enemy bullet struck him, he declined a purple heart for which he could have easily and successfully applied. He judged the wound too insignificant to mention, despite the fact that it left him with a permanent scar. Wetzel went on to lead his battalion in a successful textbook military battle to secure an important mountainous area.

Returning from the front, Wetzel quickly married an American Vietnam widow with 5 young children. He was promoted to full Colonel and soon assumed command of a brigade in Ft. Carson, Colorado. In 1975, he was promoted to General and sent to West Germany. He then began a rapid ascent as a "field general," again, one who wears combat boots and leads soldiers on the ground. He was given command of the coveted First Infantry Division (forward) in Goeppingen, Germany. When this command concluded, the commander of all European and American forces in Europe, General Alexander M. Haig, then personally pinned Wetzel's second star on him.

From 1978-79, Wetzel served as General Haig's chief-of-staff. Wetzel accepted this assignment reluctantly, for it meant shedding his fatigues and working behind a desk - fifteen feet from Haig's desk, seven days per week. But the timing of the assignment was remarkable. Since the 1950's, NATO and American strategy had been to save money by maintaining conventional forces (tanks, planes and soldiers) in Europe that could not possibly withstand an invasion by Warsaw Pact forces. The front-line troops served as a trip-wire for a nuclear response. But just before Wetzel's arrival at Haig's office, the Soviets had deployed their now infamous SS-20 thermonuclear missiles in Europe. This upset the entire balance of NATO deterrence and Western security. During this year together, Haig, Wetzel and the rest of the staff crafted what became the West's strategic response - deployment in Europe of the Pershing II missiles, which could hit Moscow in the event of war, with precious few minutes for the Soviets to react. During the next 4 years, the domestic political battles began in NATO countries as to whether the Pershing II missiles would actually be deployed.

After serving as Haig's Chief of Staff, Wetzel led the Third Infantry Division in Wurzburg, Germany. Wetzel led his armies to victory in the annual war games staged in West Germany, where he revealed a marked preference for the surprise night attack. In 1981, Wetzel was diagnosed with life ending melanoma cancer. Although he insisted he would "beat this thing," the army and 4 doctors did not agree. He was given less than a year to live, and offered a full medical disability in exchange for retirement. Wetzel refused. He later said he just wanted to get back to the troops. The army reluctantly permitted him to stay on, but only after he signed a full waiver. Judging Wetzel to be at death's door, the army stripped him of his command and sent him back to America to end his days. However, he recovered in compelling and dramatic fashion. He was soon placed in command of the famous infantry training center in Ft. Benning, Georgia. In 1983, in the full bloom of an unbelievable comeback, Wetzel was awarded his third star, and he returned to the troops in Germany.

Wetzel's position was Deputy Commander in Chief of U.S. Forces in Europe. The NATO allies had finally approved the Pershing II plan. In an amazing twist of fate, immediately upon his arrival, it became Wetzel's job to receive and deploy the Pershing II missiles, and this in the midst of anti-war demonstrations all over Europe. Today, Cold War historians (relying on the candid confessions of defeated Russian leaders) credit the deployment of the Pershing II missiles as one of three key factors that broke the Soviets' back and ended the Cold War (the other two factors being the Reagan defense build-up and SDI specifically).

In the famous movie, "Patton," at the end of the movie, World War II has ended. Reporters ask Patton what he thinks of the new future of warfare, which will center on nuclear weapons and a nuclear deterrent. Patton responds "I'm glad I won't be around to see it," stating that he prefers the more honorable calling of armies and soldiers squaring off in battle. At a philosophical level, Patton had a point. Deploying a front line army in Europe with no chance to succeed against the invading Warsaw Pact armies seems a cruel betrayal of that army. And the strategy is even more problematic because its sole premise was cost. Relying on a nuclear deterrent was cheaper.

In the Cold War, the "trip-wire" army, the one deployed at the front line, was the American V Corps. The V Corps was deployed in the so called "Fulda Gap," which was the geographic invasion route for Soviet and Warsaw Pact armies. It can safely be said that this area was the American frontier during the 45 year time period of the Cold War. Wetzel was intimately familiar with the Fulda Gap, both privately and publicly. On a private level, with shotgun and rifle, Wetzel ranged this frontier many lonely years, sometimes accompanied by his stepsons, who he trained to hunt with him. On a public level, from 1984-1986, Wetzel commanded the V Corps.