Dupe, please combine Vietnam-Era Commander Westmoreland Dies

[deminks]

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded American troops in Vietnam — the nation's longest, most divisive conflict and the only war America lost — died Monday night. He was 91.

Westmoreland died of natural causes at Bishop Gadsden retirement home, where he had lived with his wife for several years, said his son, James Ripley Westmoreland.

The silver-haired, jut-jawed officer, who rose through the ranks quickly in Europe during World War II and later became superintendent of West Point, contended the United States did not lose the conflict in Southeast Asia.

"It's more accurate to say our country did not fulfill its commitment to South Vietnam," he said. "By virtue of Vietnam, the U.S. held the line for 10 years and stopped the dominoes from falling."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obit_westmoreland