Julius William Gates
8th Sergeant Major of the Army

Julius W. Gates was born in North Carolina on 14 June 1941.

He entered the U.S. Army on 12 August 1958 and attended initial training at Fort Jackson, SC. He served three tours in Germany, two combat tours in Vietnam, and a tour in the Republic of Korea.

His stateside assignments include duty with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY; the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA; the 1st Ranger Battalion at Fort Stewart, GA; the Virginia Military Institute of Lexington, VA; and Fort Bliss, TX. Gates has served in numerous noncommissioned officer leadership positions. Highlights of his assignments are: Command Sergeant Major of the 2nd Armored Division (Forward); Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized); Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy; and Command Sergeant Major of U.S. Forces Korea.

Gates was sworn in as the eighth Sergeant Major of the Army on 1 July 1987 and served until his term ended in June of 1991.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with Combat Valor Device and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal with 3 Silver Loops
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with Service Star
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 5
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 5
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab

Honors

Gates was a 2005 recipient of the Doughboy Award from the National Infantry Association.

In Retirement

Sergeant Major of the Army Gates currently works for the Army Research Institute at the Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group (JRTC OPS GRP) and is often out in the field showing outside agency’s the training conducted at the JRTC so they can help improve the training for the U.S. Army.