LTC William D. Kelley successfully commanded the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry from 1 April to
November 1968.  He served as the Commanding Officer for the "Regulars" in combat in Vietnam
longer than any other officer.

    Raised in Wallingford, VT, LTC Kelley received a Regular Army Commission in 1952 as a
Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Vermont.  Upon completion of the Infantry
Officer Basic course, Airborne and Ranger training, he served as a platoon leader with Company
E, 504th Abn.

    In 1954 he was sent to Korea where he was a Pioneer and Ammo Platoon Leader for the 2nd
Bn, 7th Infantry Regiment and then  Asst S-3 for the Regiment.  He also served as the Commanding
Officer for M Co. and the Hv. Mort. Co., 34th Infantry Regiment.  In 1955 he served in Japan he
was the Pioneer and Ammo Ldr, 8th Cav Regt and Commanding Officer, HQ Co, 3rd Bn, 8th Cav
Regiment.

    Upon his return to CONUS, LTC Kelley was an ROTC Infantry Instructor at Providence College, RI.
He also served as an instructor in the 1st Ranger Company, Eglin AFB, FL, Basic Infantry Instructor
in the Ranger Department at Ft. Benning, and Operations Officer for the Ranger Department.

    From 1964 to 1966 he served in Germany as the S-3, 1st Abn/Mech Bde, 8th Inf Division.  Upon
his return to CONUS, he was the Chief, Training and Analysis Office and Chief, Operations Division,
G-3, USAARMC, Fort Knox, KY.

    When he arrived in Vietnam in 1967, he served as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Americal
Division before assuming his duties as the Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion 6th Infantry.

LTC Kelley standing in front of the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry TOC sign at LZ Charger (BT 131 458),
part of the LZ Baldy (BT 133 453) complex, on 1 April 1968, the day he assumed command of the
unit. The unit had helped to defend Da Nang as part of TF Miracle during the 1968 TET Offensive
by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese.  Hence, the nickname "The Da Nang Gang."

General Harold K. Johnson, Chief of Staff, US Army, (to LTC Kelley's right) arrives at LZ Chippewa
for a briefing on 19 April 1968.  The Americal Division CG, MG Koster and aide follow behind up
the trail.   This photo appeared on the cover of the July 1968 issue of Armed Forces Journal.  This
was the second visit that GEN Johnson had made to the 1st Bn 6th Inf within six months (the first
was on 22 Dec 67)--a very unusual event.  Photo provided by LTC Kelley.

LTC Kelley preparing to depart for a command and control helicopter.  Note the white phosphorous
and yellow smoke grenade (green case, yellow top) at his waist used to mark the LZ.

    After leaving Vietnam, LTC Kelley served as the Executive Officer, Procurement of Equipment
& Material Division, DCSLOG.  His next assignment was as the Military Advisor for the Assistant
Secretary of the Army, Installation and Logistics.  Other assignments during his career included duties
as Chief, War Gaming Division, Combat Developments Command, and Chief, Surface Systems
Divisions, Army Material Command.  Colonel Kelley retired from the Army in November, 1974.
He has three sons who are also career Army officers.
 

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