Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame - BG William J. Mullins Jr.

Brigadier General William J. Mullins, Jr. began his military career by enlisting in the United States Army on 27 June 1942 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry on 9 March 1943. He served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II as a Platoon Leader and later Company Commander of Company K, 318th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division, one of General George S. Patton's "Iron Divisions." During World War II, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with "V" Device for Valor and the Combat Infantry Badge.

After release from active duty, he was commissioned a Captain in the Kansas Army National Guard and assigned on 1 March 1949 as S4, 3rd Battalion, 137th Infantry, 35th Infantry Division. He was promoted to Major on 4 March 1952, serving as S2 of the 137th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1962 and assigned as Executive Officer, Brigade Section, Headquarters, 35th Infantry Division. Upon reorganization of the Kansas Army National Guard in 1963, he was assigned as Civil Affairs Officer and later as S3, 69th Infantry Brigade (Sep).





			BG WILLIAM J. MULLINS JR.
	Brigadier General William J. Mullins, Jr. began his military career by enlisting in the United States Army on 27 June 1942 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry on 9 March 1943. He served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II as a Platoon Leader and later Company Commander of Company K, 318th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division, one of General George S. Patton's "Iron Divisions." During World War II, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with "V" Device for Valor and the Combat Infantry Badge. After release from active duty, he was commissioned a Captain in the Kansas Army National Guard and assigned on 1 March 1949 as S4, 3rd Battalion, 137th Infantry, 35th Infantry Division. He was promoted to Major on 4 March 1952, serving as S2 of the 137th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1962 and assigned as Executive Officer, Brigade Section, Headquarters, 35th Infantry Division. Upon reorganization of the Kansas Army National Guard in 1963, he was assigned as Civil Affairs Officer and later as S3, 69th Infantry Brigade (Sep). Mullins assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry on 6 October 1967 and served in that capacity until ordered to active duty in April 1968 as a result of the Pueblo Crisis. He continued to serve in that position at Fort Carson, Colorado until ordered to service in the Republic of Vietnam in 1969. From May 1969 until November 1969, he served as Deputy Chief, Revolutionary Development Cadre Division, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. This assignment took him into all four Corps Tactical Zones of that country. As a result of his exemplary performance in the Republic of Vietnam, General Mullins was awarded the Legion of Merit. General Mullins was released from active duty, 12 December 1969 and returned to state status. He was appointed on 10 February 1971 as Deputy Brigade Commander, 69th Infantry Brigade (Sep). He was subsequently assigned as Assistant Chief of Staff, State Headquarters, Kansas Army National Guard, effective 1 August 1973 and promoted to Brigadier General on 27 June 1974. He was assigned as Deputy Comnander (Army) upon reorganization of State Headquarters, Kansas Army National Guard, effective 1 December 1976 and served in that capacity until his retirement on 27 June 1979. In recognition of his accomplishments, General Mullins received his second Legion of Merit for meritorious service between the period of 1970 and his retirement in 1979. After retirement, his name was placed on the Honor Roll of the Infantry Officer Candidate Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia on 7 December 1979. In addition to his outstanding military career, Brigadier General Mullins was a dedicated public servant, educator, attorney and community leader. He holds a Bachelors Degree from the Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, a Masters Degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Brigadier General Mullins' long and dedicated service as soldier and public servant truly embodies the meaning of Citizen Soldier. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame on 5 November 1989.