Colonel Bill Allison's Legacy

For some military veterans, military service was not by choice. For Colonel (Retired) William C. Allison that was the case. Colonel Bill Allison knew he was going to be drafted, therefore he made the decision to attend Auburn University’s ROTC program and graduate as a commissioned 2LT of Armor in the Regular Army in 1961. Following graduation Col Bill married the love of his life, Martha John Allison, whom he would say, “ was the ideal Army wife, always supportive, encouraging, and never complaining when unexpected reassignment orders came. His only complaint was that she always thought that she out ranked him” (W. Allison, personal communication, April 25 2018). The opportunity to sit and speak with someone with many decorations and awards was an

Col Allison holds his master’s degree in Public Administration; he is a qualified Parachutist, Ranger and Jungle Warfare Expert. Among his decorations and awards are the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, three Bronze Stars (two for heroism in ground combat), the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Army Commendation Medal. Each decoration and award immensely deserved, as he served briefly on assignment in Korea on the Demilitarized Zone with the 9th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division before joining the Korean Military Advisory Group and served as an Aide-de-Camp. Upon returning from Korea in 1964 , Lt. Allison was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia as an instructor at the US Army Infantry School. In 1967 Captain Allison was detailed to the Infantry Branch and in due course assigned to duty in Vietnam as an Infantry Company Commander in the 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Following Vietnam in 1968, Captain Allison was assigned to Fort Meade, Maryland. After a two-year assignment as a