William Loyd Webb. Jr. M/Gen. USA (Ret)
September 30, 1925 ~ August 17, 2021
General Bill Webb was born September 30th, 1925 in Mineral Wells, TX and passed away at home on August 17th, 2021 in Vienna, VA. He was the son of William Loyd and Francis Adrienne (Mayer) Webb.
After two years at Texas A&M, he entered West Point with the Class of 1947. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Cavalry upon graduation, embarking on a 35-year career of uniformed service to the Nation. He wed the love of his life, Muriel Hinson, on December 27, 1947, beginning 70 years as a devoted Army couple.
His military assignments included two combat tours: Korea, where he was wounded serving as a company commander in the 7th Cavalry, and Vietnam, where he commanded the Combat Support Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He had three tours in Germany: company commander in the 29th Tank Battalion and staff officer in the 2nd Armored Division; US Army Europe operations staff and then commander of 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry on the East-West border in Fulda; and Commanding General of 1st Armored Division and Deputy V Corps Commander. He served at West Point as professor of English literature and later as Commanding Officer of 4th Regiment and Deputy Commandant of Cadets. Other general officer assignments included Deputy CG Army Training Center, Fort Ord; J3/G3 US Forces Korea/Eighth Army and United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission senior member in Korea; and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army.
He earned a BS in Engineering from West Point and a MA in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Following the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, he served on the faculty as a strategist and operational planner. His awards include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merits, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldier’s Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medals, and Army Commendation Medals.
Proud of his Texas roots, Bill extoled the virtues of both cowboys and soldiers. He deeply loved his wife Muriel, the Lord, his children and his family, West Point and his Class of 1947, the Cavalry, the Army, and America. His life was one of commitment to country and patriotic, selfless service. When he and Muriel settled in Virginia, they had established 27 homes and lived 14 years overseas. Guided by his devotion to the West Point motto “Duty, Honor, Country,” Bill was a man of tremendous character and integrity, always choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. May it be said, “Well done! Be thou at peace.”
He was predeceased by his wife Muriel and his sister Maxine Patterson. He is survived by his children Colonel (R) George Webb (Rita) of Topeka, KS; Colonel (R) William Webb, III (Kay) of West End, NC; Lucinda Webb of Vienna, VA; and Alicia Webb of Carolina Beach, NC. He was cherished as “Opa” by eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in Virginia. Interment with full military honors will follow in October at the West Point Cemetery on the grounds of the US Military Academy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Still Serving Veterans at www.ssv.org/give or Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org .
The interment with full military honors will take place in October at the West Point Cemetery on the grounds of the US Military Academy. A memorial service will take place in Virginia after the burial service has taken place. For location and times please contact the family.
After two years at Texas A&M, he entered West Point with the Class of 1947. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Cavalry upon graduation, embarking on a 35-year career of uniformed service to the Nation. He wed the love of his life, Muriel Hinson, on December 27, 1947, beginning 70 years as a devoted Army couple.
His military assignments included two combat tours: Korea, where he was wounded serving as a company commander in the 7th Cavalry, and Vietnam, where he commanded the Combat Support Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He had three tours in Germany: company commander in the 29th Tank Battalion and staff officer in the 2nd Armored Division; US Army Europe operations staff and then commander of 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry on the East-West border in Fulda; and Commanding General of 1st Armored Division and Deputy V Corps Commander. He served at West Point as professor of English literature and later as Commanding Officer of 4th Regiment and Deputy Commandant of Cadets. Other general officer assignments included Deputy CG Army Training Center, Fort Ord; J3/G3 US Forces Korea/Eighth Army and United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission senior member in Korea; and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army.
He earned a BS in Engineering from West Point and a MA in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Following the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, he served on the faculty as a strategist and operational planner. His awards include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merits, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldier’s Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medals, and Army Commendation Medals.
Proud of his Texas roots, Bill extoled the virtues of both cowboys and soldiers. He deeply loved his wife Muriel, the Lord, his children and his family, West Point and his Class of 1947, the Cavalry, the Army, and America. His life was one of commitment to country and patriotic, selfless service. When he and Muriel settled in Virginia, they had established 27 homes and lived 14 years overseas. Guided by his devotion to the West Point motto “Duty, Honor, Country,” Bill was a man of tremendous character and integrity, always choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. May it be said, “Well done! Be thou at peace.”
He was predeceased by his wife Muriel and his sister Maxine Patterson. He is survived by his children Colonel (R) George Webb (Rita) of Topeka, KS; Colonel (R) William Webb, III (Kay) of West End, NC; Lucinda Webb of Vienna, VA; and Alicia Webb of Carolina Beach, NC. He was cherished as “Opa” by eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in Virginia. Interment with full military honors will follow in October at the West Point Cemetery on the grounds of the US Military Academy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Still Serving Veterans at www.ssv.org/give or Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org .
The interment with full military honors will take place in October at the West Point Cemetery on the grounds of the US Military Academy. A memorial service will take place in Virginia after the burial service has taken place. For location and times please contact the family.
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I had the honor of serving under General Webb as 1st Armored Division Signal Officer and Commander of the 141st Signal Battalion during 1975-77. I experienced his highly-dedicated and demanding leadership style his first morning as Division Commander, being called to his new quarters along with the Division G-3 Operations Officer to explain why his quarters had no telephone directory and the post switchboard operator didn’t recognize him as the new Commander when he attempted a call. It’s an event that I shall never forget. I found General Webb to be a dynamic and highly-motivated leader who expected his officers to be equally professional as he was. General Webb sometimes stopped on his way to his quarters on my (then) Barton Barracks kaserne, to watch my daughter’s Little League team, coached by his driver. Recognizing her leadership abilities, he strongly recommended we get her into West Point. We later did and she retired after more than 25 years in the active Army and Pennsylvania National Guard. My wife and I have sincerely enjoyed exchanging Christmas Cards with General Webb and Muriel these past many subsequent years. We shall miss them both very much.
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Being from a military family, I enjoyed hearing Muriel and Major General Webb’s stories of their many homes whenever my family and I would visit them. They were always so kind and caring and I miss them so much. Cindy and Alicia have been good friends to us. The legacy of Bill and Muriel’s faith, dedication, and love lives on in this dear family.