David Anthony Bramlett
General, U.S. Army

David Anthony Bramlett was born on 29 June 1941 in Galesburg, IL, to Robert H. and Jayne E. Bramlett. His father retired from the U.S. Navy. David entered the U.S. Military Academy from Imperial Beach, CA, in 1960. Bramlett graduated from the Academy in 1964 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. His first assignment was as a platoon leader in Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in HI.

He served in Vietnam from December 1965 to November 1966; as Aide-de-Camp for the Assistant Division Commander, 25th Infantry Division; and later as Company Executive Officer, C/1-14 Infantry. He was an instructor at the Florida Ranger Camp in 1967-68. His second tour in Vietnam was from September 1968 to August 1969, and included rifle company command of C/2-327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division and Assistant Brigade S-3, 1st Brigade. After earning a Master's degree from Duke University in 1972, he was an instructor in the Department of English at West Point from 1972-75.

Bramlett's numerous command and staff positions include Commander, 1-503rd Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY; Commander, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; Commander, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); and as Commanding General, 6th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Wainwright, AK. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, 101st Airborne Division and as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/Director Plans and Training, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg.

His career also included tours of duty as Deputy Director, Plans, Policy and Programs Directorate, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL, and Assistant Division Commander, 25th Infantry Division, HI. Prior to assuming Command of the 6th Infantry Division (Light), he was Commandant of Cadets at the USMA from 1989 to 1992.

Bramlett served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff, U.S. Pacific Command at Camp H. M. Smith in Hawaii. During his tenure as Deputy Commander, he became the Interim Commander of Pacific Command after the Commander, Admiral Richard C. Macke, came under fire for comments he had made in regard to the 1995 rape scandal in Okinawa that involved several U.S. servicemen.

His final command was as Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command from 1 July 1996 to 31 August 1998.

His military education included the Advanced Course at the U.S. Army Armor School; the Command and General Staff College; and the Army War College.

General David Anthony Bramlett retired from active Army service in 1998.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with Combat Valor Device and Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal with Numeral 4
Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with 2 Stars
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge
Senior Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Ranger Tab

Personal

Bramlett is married to Judith Ann Cassidy. They have one son, Robert.

In Retirement

After retiring from the military, Bramlett became the vice president of the Hawaii Army Museum Society. He also currently serves as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University, teaching graduate seminars in U.S. Military History, the American Way of War and War Literature.