William Westmoreland was a United States Army general who played a significant role during the Vietnam War. Born on March 26, 1914, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1936. Westmoreland became the commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968, overseeing military operations during a critical period of the conflict. Westmoreland is known for his strategy of attrition, which aimed to wear down the enemy through sustained military pressure. His leadership faced criticism for the high casualty rates and the challenges of fighting in the dense jungles of Vietnam, leading to debates about U.S. involvement in the war and its overall effectiveness.