William J. Van Ryzin [SEP] date of death
William J. Van Ryzin
William John Van Ryzin (April 20, 1914 – July 1, 2002) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. He is most noted as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
Early career.
Van Ryzin was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and attended local high school there. Van Ryzin subsequently enrolled at University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated with Bachelor degree in June 1935. During his university
for basic officer training, which he completed in March 1936. With 124 students, it was the largest Basic School class to that date. This class provided two future Marine Corps Commandants (Leonard F. Chapman Jr. and Robert E. Cushman Jr.), five lieutenant generals (Lewis J. Fields, Frederick E. Leek, Herman Nickerson Jr., William J. Van Ryzin, Richard G. Weede), five major generals (William R. Collins, William T. Fairbourn, Bruno Hochmuth, Raymond L. Murray, Randall) and six brigadier generals (William