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Michael Spigelmire was born November 12, 1938 in Frederick, Maryland. Raised in Baltimore he graduated from Loyola High School and then Loyola College, Maryland. While serving in the ROTC he obtained his bachelor's degree in political science and then received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army.
- US Army Infantry School
- US Army Command and General Staff College
- US Army War College
- Georgetown University; Masters in international relations.
Spigelmire's initial tour was in Germany where he served in company and division level positions with the 24th Infantry Division, then as an A -Team detachment executive officer and commander with the 10th Special Forces Group.
1st Cavalry Division. Company Commander, then Battalion Adjutant.
Instructor. Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia.
District Senior Advisor. Vietnam
In 1972, he was assigned to the Pentagon where he served as an Operation Staff Officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations and later, as an Assistant Secretary to the General Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army.
Spigelmire next served as a brigade executive officer and later, in command of a battalion in the 1st Cavalry Division. In 1978 he served as Deputy Director for Combat Developments, United States Army Infantry School and later, as Commander, 197th Infantry Brigade. This was followed by another tour in Europe as Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations), G-3, VII Corps. In January, 1984, he assumed duties at Fort McPherson as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (Plans, Operations, and Mobilization), United States Forces Command.
In August 1985, he was assigned as the Assistant Division Commander, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia, and subsequently, as the Division Commander from July 1987 to September 1988. Returning again to Fort Benning, General Spigelmire took command of the United States Army Infantry Center and served simultaneously as the Commandant, United States Army Infantry School. In June 1990, he assumed command of the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N. C., where he served until August, 1991.
In September of 1991, he assumed command of VII Corps in Stuttgart, Germany with the mission to inactivate the Corps, withdraw 80,000 troops from Germany and return the VII Corps colors to the United States. With this mission successfully accomplished, General Spigelmire retired from the Army in July 1992.
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medals
Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab
Special Forces Tab
Army Staff Identification Badge
LT General Camo Jacket.
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