Founding freedom riders. Katherine westmoreland, wife of u. S. Army general William Westmoreland who commanded u. S. Forces in vietnam talked about her life as a military daughter, sister and spouse. She recounted her time living in vietnam and serving as a red cross nurses aide during the war and recalled hosting president s and first ladys as well as her friendship with bob and dolores hope. This interview is just over an hour. Good evening, maam. Today is the 1st of october, 2016, and were in the west point center for oral history, and im here with Katherine Stephens van deusen westmoreland, but you go by kitsy. Right. Thats right. Maam, could you please spell your last name for the transcriber. Westmoreland. Thank you, maam. Tell me about your childhood. I know you grew up as the daughter of an army officer. Tell me what it was like growing up as an army brat. Well, when i grew up in the army, i would say i grew up as a millionaires child without any money. So i had the most wonder
Stephens van deusen westmoreland, but you go by kitsy. Right. Thats right. Maam, could you please spell your last name for the transcriber. Westmoreland. Thank you, maam. Tell me about your childhood. I know you grew up as the daughter of an army officer. Tell me what it was like growing up as an army brat. Well, when i grew up in the army, i would say i grew up as a millionaires child without any money. So i had the most wonderful childhood. I had two brothers and we all were well, my father had been in the cavalry and he was one a wonderful horseman. So both my brother my older brother and i rode from the time i guess i was 3 years old, and my older brother was the same way. What posts were you on when you grew up . Well, i was born at princeton. New jersey. The followers at princeton for six years. And when he married my mother, my mother was a very beautiful lady. And i think most of the princeton students were in love with her because she was so lovely. And then my older brother w
War and recalled hosting president s and first ladys as well as her friendship with bob and dolores hope. This interview is just over an hour. Good evening, maam. Today is the 1st of october, 2016, and were in the west point center for oral history, and im here with Katherine Stephens van deusen westmoreland, but you go by kitsy. Right. Thats right. Maam, could you please spell your last name for the transcriber. Westmoreland. Thank you, maam. Tell me about your childhood. I know you grew up as the daughter of an army officer. Tell me what it was like growing up as an army brat. Well, when i grew up in the army, i would say i grew up as a millionaires child without any money. So i had the most wonderful childhood. I had two brothers and we all were well, my father had been in the cavalry and he was one a wonderful horseman. So both my brother my older brother and i rode from the time i guess i was 3 years old, and my older brother was the same way. What posts were you on when you grew
You are looking at the u. S. Military academy at west point. This is the oldest continuous operated Military Point in United States. Welcome to war stories. Some of the greatest leaders to command on the battlefield walked these grounds as cadets. Generals grant and lee, eisenhower, patton and this man, general Douglas Macarthur. Few solders yb more admired or controversial. He was a military prodigy and a highly decorated soldier of three veteran american worse. He inspired great devotion of his men and troubled relations with several president s. And like a figure of a greek tragedy he fell from power. Come with us on this special journey into the life of this altogether too human fivestar hero. It would be crowds lined up sometimes three to four blocks long. Youd just get a glimpse of this man. I do recall some comments, who does this guy think he is . They say i thought he was a little bit shy underneath. General macarthur has a superiority complex and i think its because he is sup
Of 19 46nce in july and they needed a military advisor to create the philippine military. Douglas macarthur at this point brings an impressive resume to that task. Decoratedmost highly american officer in the first world war. He had been superintendent at west point. He had been one of the outstanding graduate from there. Was known in the philippines perry had served there many times i had a lot of friends including in the current philippine government. Had been chief of staff from 1930 until 1935 and after that, except for the post accepted the post of military advisor. He moved out there taking his ailing mother with him and they booked passage on the liner hoover. Macarthur, being a Major General in the army, having reverted to that rank, was seated at the captains table. That is what this program here is from. From october 1935 on their way across the pacific. While there, he meets a vivacious tennessee woman. Jean faircloth. On the first leg of an asian tour with friends. On her w