Charles L. Southward – Major General, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

CHARLES L. SOUTHWARD, beloved husband, father and friend, entered into God’s presence on April 28, 2000.

Major General (Retired) Charles L. Southward proudly served his country for 44 years in the United States Army and National Guard. General Southward was highly decorated, having served the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations. He served General MacArthur’s staff through the liberation of the Philippines and occupation of Japan and was awarded the legion of Merit by General MacArthur.

Upon his retirement from active duty, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. The following day, President Johnson appointed him as Commanding General, District of Columbia National Guard, with promotion to Major General. Gen. Southward was Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard during the most turbulent period of national civil unrest. Under his command, The D.C. Guard was mobilized 24 times, including riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, May Day in 1971, the Presidential Inauguration of President Johnson and the assassination of Robert Kennedy. General Southward committed the DCNG to the streets on 18 occasions to help quell civil disturbances without the loss of a single life. He was well-known for accompanying his troops when they were mobilized. General Southward had a burden for ending civil injustice and a passion for encouraging and promoting the disadvantaged.

His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with star, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal with cluster, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three 10-year devices, Philippine Defense Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Virginia National Guard Legion of Merit, Alabama Commendation Medal and the Mississippi Magnolia Medal.

General Southward was a member of Williamsburg Community Chapel. His civic affiliations included the National Guard Association of the United States, the Association of the United States Army, the District of Columbia National Guard Association, the National Sojourners and the Army and Navy Lodge, AF&AM; He was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. He was a member of the Metropolitan Washington Board of  Trade and an honorary member of the Washington Redskins Alumni Association and the Touchdown Club of Washington.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Southward; his brother, Joe Southward; and sister, Mildred Smith. He is survived by his wife, Robin Held Southward; and children, Charles Leif and Sara Elaina Southward.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to the Children’s Ministry of  Williamsburg Community Chapel, 3899 John Tyler Hwy., Williamsburg. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at 7:30 p.m.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard