William Stephen "Bill" Culpepper, Jr.
United States Military Academy, Class of 1946

Born 24 Nov 1924 in Fort Leavenworth, KS (# 50182)
Died 23 Jun 1983 in Baltimore, MD

William Stephen Culpepper, Jr. was born 24 Nov 1924 in the post hospital at Fort Leavenworth, KS. His place of birth tells that Bill was an "Army brat." His father was a physician in the Army Medical Corps, so Bill spent his childhood traveling from one Army post to another. As was the case with so many Army children of his generation who lived overseas, Bill took up radio as a hobby that continued in his later life. Bill graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco, CA. From there he attended Sullivan Preparatory School in Washington, DC in order to achieve his lifelong ambition to enter West Point. The dream became a reality when he entered the Academy in July 1943 with the Class of 1946.

Having grown up in the Amy. Bill had an idea of what to expect from cadet life. He was one of many who kept a low profile and made no waves. Academics were a challenge for him, but with much diligence, he managed to may ahead of the Academic Department. His company mates remember Bill as quiet and rather withdrawn, keeping mostly to himself. He continued his interest in radio by saying active in the radio club during his stay at West Point. Graduation saw Bill become a second lieutenant of Infantry.

Following basic schooling at Fort Benning, GA, Bill served in Japan from 1947-50, first with the 19^th Infantry and then at Headquarters, Far East Command. From Japan, be moved to Fort Carson, CO for an assignment with the 14^th Infantry. On 30 Jun 1950, Bill married Virginia Pekor in Columbus, GA. Bill and Virginia traveled to Germany where he first served with the 26^th Infantry and then transferred to the Ordnance Corps. He spent the remainder of his tour as a logistics officer with Headquarters. Seventh Army and than as commander, 357^th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company. The Culpeppers returned to the States in 1954, where Bill became a supply management officer in the Ordnance Training Command in Aberdeen, MD. In 1956, Bill was selected to attend Syracuse University where he obtained his master's degree in business administration. With degree in hand, Bill became the assistant comptroller for Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Bill and Virginia had two sons, William III and Robert, before their divorce in 1957. Bill was married to Harriet Fox in Maryland in early 1959. He served at Aberdeen until May 1959, when he traveled to South Vietnam for assignment with the US Amy Military Assistance Advisory Group in Saigon. This tour was interrupted after three months when Bill was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Ordnance in the Pentagon. In 1960, Bill left the Army to try his hand in civilian life.

Bill's first job was with the AC Sparkplug Division of General Motors in Milwaukee, WI, where he was a contracts coordinator for the Titan II Program. He returned to Aberdeen, MD in 1964 where he became a management analyst under civil service. Bill again traveled in Vietnam in 1966, where he was a program manager for non-military construction, first for the Navy and then the State Department. He returned to the States in 1968 and went to St. Louis, MO in the civil service. He and Harriet had three children, Stephen, Phillip and Susan, before they were divorced in 1968. Bill returned in Maryland, this time to Headquarters, First Army at Fort Meade. He remained at Fort Meade until 1980, when he retired from civil service. In June 1983, Bill entered a hospital in Baltimore, suffering from emphysema and heart problems. He died 23 Jun 1983 of complications from these conditions.

Bill Culpepper had wanted to be a soldier from his early childhood. That he was able to attend West Point and serve his country in the Army and then in civilian life was the thing that made his life a success in his eyes. His son William III remembered his father's unstinting commitment to, and love for, his country and its armed services. Bill Culpepper was proud to be a West Pointer. His earthly remains are at West Point, the focal point of Bill's life, both as a young man and in his later life. That he has come full circle, back to the place when his dreams were fulfilled, would be a source of great pride to him. Rest in peace, Bill

Source: A clipping from a West Point Alumni publication, publication name and date unknown. Provided to Warren Culpepper by Jack McWhorter, Class of '46 web page manager.