LTC WILLIAM J. L. PORTER

Lieutenant Colonel William J. L. Porter began his military career on 23 July 1949, enlisting in the 140th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division at Cape Giradeau, Missouri. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1952 and assigned as Infantry Platoon Leader, Company E, 140th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Captain in 1957 and assigned as Company Commander, Administrative Company, 35th Infantry Division and later commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 69th Infantry Brigade. Promoted to Major in 1964, he was assigned as Assistant S-3 for the 69th Infantry Brigade with the additional duty as Assistant Commandant, Kansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate School. Upon call of the 69th Infantry Brigade to active duty in May 1968, Major Porter became Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry, 69th Infantry Brigade and stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado until his assignment to the Republic of South Vietnam in December 1968.

In Vietnam, Major Porter was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the Military Assistance Command with duty as Advisor to the Vietnamese Armed Forces as an Information Officer. He was released from active duty in Vietnam in December 1969 and assigned as Brigade S-3 (Operations) of the 69th Infantry Brigade (Separate). On 1 August 1972, he assumed the duties as Brigade Executive Officer and on 24 December became Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry, 69th Infantry Brigade (Separate). On 9 January 1977, he was reassigned as Civil Affairs Officer, Headquarters 69th Infantry Brigade. LTC Porter retired form the Kansas Army National Guard on 14 June 1977.

In addition to having a distinguished career as a Traditional National Guardsman, Lieutenant Colonel Porter has served his community through his civilian occupation in several states. He began his career as a sports writer in 1956 for the Topeka Capitol-Journal. He was Editor and Publisher of Shawnee, Oklahoma New-Star from 1977 to 1982 and then Editor and Publisher of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Daily Ardmoriete from 1982 to 1986. He became Editor and Publisher of the Topeka Capitol-Journal in 1986.

He received the National Newspaper Association Award for Best Editorial in the Nation in 1986. He received an award for Best Editorial of the Year in Oklahoma Press Association competition. His expertise in the military was recognized when he was chosen to testify before a House Armed Services Subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives, studying Reserve Component field training. His military decorations include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievment Medal, National Defense Service medal, Vietnamese Honor Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal and the National Guard Service Medal.

Lieutenant Colonel Porter’s faithful service embodies the best of the true “Citizen Soldier”. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame on 7 November 1993.