U.S. Army Ret. COL William Thomas Palmer

Colonel William “Bill” Thomas Palmer was born in Rome, NY and grew up in New Jersey.  He graduated from Norwich University in Northfield, VT in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Psychology.  Upon graduation he was commissioned as an officer for the United States Army Infantry.

Upon commissioning Bill attended The Officer Basic, Airborne, and Ranger Schools at Ft. Benning, GA.  His initial assignment was with the 101st Airborne Division as a Rifle and Weapons Platoon Leader.  This was followed by an assignment with 10th Infantry Division in the Panama Canal Zone in 1959.  In 1962, he volunteered for his first of three tours to Vietnam; during this first tour as an Infantry and Ranger Tactics Advisor, moving around the country to several locations.

Upon returning to the U.S., Bill served with the 1/38th of the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Benning, GA as S3 and Company Commander.  After completing the Infantry Advanced Course he was assigned as a Ranger Instructor at the Mountain Ranger Camp in Dahlonega, GA as Chief of Patrolling and Tactical Officer.

Bill’s second tour to Vietnam was in 1966; assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Leader, 17th Cavalry Squadron Commander, and Brigade S4.  Upon his return from Vietnam, he completed Command General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and was assigned for two years to the British School of Infantry in Warminster, England.  Following his duties in England, Bill returned to Vietnam in 1970 and served as a Division Operations Officer, Brigade and Battalion S3, and Battalion Commander with the 101st Airborne Division.  After returning, he spent three years at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC as Professor of Military Science.  While there, he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Higher Education Administration in 1974.


Next, Bill completed The Special Forces Qualification Course at Ft. Bragg, NC and assumed command of 2/505th Airborne Battalion at Ft Bragg, NC.  He was also the Chief of Plans G3 18th Airborne Corps.  He then attended the Naval War College in Newport, RI and returned to Ft. Bragg as Commander of 7th Special Forces Group in 1980.

Subsequently, Bill was selected by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the original Director of Operations, J3, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) where he served in this capacity for four years.  His last military assignment was as President of the United States Army Airborne and Special Operations Test Board.

He retired from active military duty to the Fayetteville-area in 1987.   After retirement, Bill entered into employment in the private sector as a Consultant, Program and Project Manager with several major defense contractors.

Bill was exceptionally active in the Fayetteville community, serving on numerous boards, often simultaneously.  He was on the Cumberland County Mental Health Board for six years.  He was a member and President of The McFayden Lake Association where he saved the lake from being permanently drained.  As chairman of the board of the Windows of Opportunity, an area sheltered workshop, he led the organization through financial issues, out of bankruptcy and into a viable entity providing employment opportunities for disabled individuals. For a number of years he served as President of the JFK Special Warfare Museum Association and implemented a scholarship program for family members of Special Operations Soldiers.

Bill was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (1-OLC), Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star (7-OLC-4 with V), Purple Heart, Air Medal (7-OLC), Defense and Army Meritorious Medals, Joint Service and Army Commendation Medal (with V), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Combat Infantry Mans Badge, Master Parachutist Badge (with combat star), Pathfinder Badge, Special Forces and Ranger Tabs.

Bill has been honored by being selected as a Distinguished Member of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Distinguished Member of the Ranger Training Brigade, and Member of the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Bill loved his church, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, where served in the carpentry ministry, working with Operation Inasmuch, and his favorite, delivering bread to agencies in Fayetteville who serve the homeless and disadvantaged.  He was known as “Mr. Bread Man.”

In his free time, Bill loved to hunt and fish, and he passed those joys along to his son and granddaughter.  He was an excellent marksman and enjoyed shooting sporting clays, skeet and trap.  He also loved his many Labrador retrievers.

Bill is survived by his wife 55 years, Diane, his daughter Tracey, son Bill and wife Renee, and granddaughter Sarah.