Obituary

Willis "Bill" S. Rosing Jr.

1932 - 2014

Obituary

Willis "Bill" S. Rosing Jr. was born in Davenport, Iowa, on Sept. 1, 1932.

His parents were Willis S. Rosing, formerly Davenport High School high school teacher and coach, and Doris Elizabeth Rosing, both deceased.

Bill attended Tyler and Garfield Grade Schools, Sudlow Intermediate School, and Davenport High School. He graduated from DHS in 1950. In 1952, during the Korean War, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He chose the Regular

Army as a career, rose from private to colonel and served continuously from 1952 to 1986. While in the Army, he graduated from the Municipal University of Omaha, Nebraska, in 1963, with a degree in business management and economics.

He married Harriet Patricia Voermann on July 2, 1962. They had one daughter, Wilma Jean Tilton (John), who survives him. Additionally, he had two sons, Willis S. Rosing Jr. (Ann) and Michael Warren Rosing (Mercedes) from a previous marriage. They all survive him. Grandchildren Julie, Curtis, Kristin, Caleb, Gabriella, Elisabeth and Annelise survive him, as well as two great-grandchildren, Terrance and Annette.

Highlights of his Army career are:

• Graduated from the U.S. Army Non-Commissioned Officers Academy 1953.

• Graduated from The Engineer Officers Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 1954, and served as a Corps of Engineers officer 1954-1958. He then received a Regular Army Commission in the Chemical Corps and served in this branch until his retirement in 1986.

• Served as the U.S. Army Assistant Post (city) Engineer in Stuttgart, Germany, from 1954-1958. While serving as commanding officer, 317th Chemical Processing Company in 1958, he successfully conducted the test of the Army's newly developed Chemical Processing Plant. During this period, he graduated from the Army's Parachutist (Airborne) School.

• Served as commanding officer, 69th Chemical Smoke Generator Company in 1959. During this period, his unit successfully conducted the test of the Army's newly developed Lightweight Protective Mask. He was then assigned as a member of the faculty, U.S. Army Chemical Corps School, from

1960  to 1963. He served as instructor, Radiological Defense, conducted aerial radiological survey research at the Nuclear Test Site, Mercury, Nevada, and taught Radiological Defense Courses to the Chinese Armed Forces in Taiwan.

• Served as training officer, 1st Air Assault Brigade, (Airborne), 11th Air Assault Division 1963-1965.

• Graduated from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, in 1966.

• Served as the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Contingency Plans Officer for the U.S. Military Assistance Command Thailand, 1966-1968.

Bill volunteered to serve in Vietnam and was assigned as chemical officer 25th Infantry Division, Oct 68 - Mar 69, and executive officer 53rd General Support Group Mar 69 - Oct 69.

Following this, was:

• Deputy commander, Pine Bluff Arsenal, AR Nov 69 - Oct 71

• Deputy director, Plant Operations, Ammunition Procurement and Supply Agency, Nov 71 - April 72

• Commanding officer, Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, IL May 72 - Aug 74

• Secretary of the General Staff, U.S. Army Armament Command, Sept 74 - 75

• Director, Ammunition Plant Operations, U.S. Army Armament Command, 75 - 77

• Chief of Staff, 3d Support Command, U.S. Army Europe, 77 - 78

• Director Industrial Operations, V Corps, U.S. Army Europe, 78 - 80

• Presiding officer, U.S. Army Discharge Review Board, Office of the Secretary of the Army, 80 - 86

His overseas service included: seven years in Germany, two years in Thailand, one year in Vietnam, and one-half year in Taiwan. He retired from the Army in 1986.

After military retirement, he entered the commercial property management field in Washington, D.C. In 2001, he was inducted into the Engineer Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.

Bill was an enthusiastic stamp collector. He was the treasurer of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the American First Day Cover Society and authored the society's slide programs for both General Patton and Medal of Honor philatelic material.

An enthusiastic walker, he was active in the Frankfurt, Germany, walking club and was the recipient of many high awards from this organization. He was a member of the Newton Trinity Heights United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Samaritan fund of Presbyterian Manor or Good Samaritan fund of Asbury.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at Trinity United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. The committal of ashes will be on July 24, 2014, at 10 a.m. in Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois.

Military decorations from the United States:

Legion of Merit: Four Awards

Meritorious Service Medal: Two Awards

Army Commendation Medal: Two Awards

Air Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal: Two Awards

World War II Occupation Medal

Vietnam Service Medal: Five Bronze Battle Stars

Humanitarian Service Medal

Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon: Two Awards

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Parachutist Badge

Foreign decorations

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal First Class

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm

Foreign awards

China (Taiwan):

Chinese Army (Taiwan) Chemical Corps School:

1. Outstanding Teacher of Nuclear Physics Award from Chinese (Taiwan) Armed Forces 1960 Class I

2. Outstanding Teacher of Nuclear Physics Award from Chinese (Taiwan) Armed Forces 1960 Class II

3. Outstanding Teacher of Nuclear Physics Award from The Commandant of the Chinese (Taiwan) Armed Forces Chemical Corps School

Germany:

German International Walking Club CDVV IIVV: Golden Foot Award

Recognition of Outstanding Services-Two Bronze Awards

Recognition of Outstanding Services-Two Silver Awards

Recognition of Outstanding Services-Two Gold Awards