Julius W. Gates

Julius W. Gates
SMA Julius W. Gates
Nickname(s)	Bill
Born	June 14, 1941 North Carolina
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1958-1991
Rank	Sergeant Major of the Army
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Legion of Merit Bronze Star Purple Heart Presidential Unit Citation Combat Infantry Badge Master Parachutist Badge Ranger Tab

Julius William Gates was the eighth Sergeant Major of the Army. In July 1987, he was sworn in and he served until his term ended four years later in June 1991. He was born in North Carolina on June 14, 1941.

Military career

Sergeant Major of the Army Gates entered the United States Army on August 12, 1958 and attended initial training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He served three tours in Germany, two combat tours in Vietnam, and a tour in the Republic of Korea.

His stateside assignments include duty with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, the 1st Ranger Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the Virginia Military Institute of Lexington, Virginia and Fort Bliss, Texas. Sergeant Major Gates has served in numerous non commissioned officer leadership positions, including as first Commandant of the 24th Infantry Division NCO Academy at Fort Stewart, GA. Before being appointed as the SMA he served as Command Sergeant Major of the 2d Armored Division (Forward), the Command Sergeant Major of the 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized), Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, and the Command Sergeant Major of U.S. Forces Korea.

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge

Ranger tab

Master Parachutist Badge

Expert Marksman Badge with one weapon clasp

	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and three oak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal
	Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Army Achievement Medal
	Presidential Unit Citation
	Good Conduct Medal with 5 silver loops
	Army of Occupation Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
	Vietnam Service Medal with service star
	NCO Professional Development with award numeral 5
	Army Service Ribbon
	Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 5
	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
	Vietnam Campaign Medal

• 10 Service stripes.

2005 recipient of the Doughboy Award from the National Infantry Association.^[1]

References

1. The Wexford Group Sergeants Major Gates currently works for the Army Research Institute at the Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group (JRTC OPS GRP) and is often out in the field showing outside agency’s the training conducted at the JRTC so they can help improve the training for the U.S. Army.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "".
The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.