2023 Hall of Fame Inductee
Pennsylvania Military College (1968)
Col. (Ret.) William Thomas Vossler was born on December 21, 1946, in Wellsville, New York. He attended Pennsylvania Military College where he completed his Bachelor of Art in History. Vossler completed Army ROTC through Widner University and commissioned in 1968 as an Infantry officer.
Some of his first assignment was as an Infantry Platoon Leader, and Rifle Company 2IC, 9th Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam & Cambodia. Vossler was then an Instructor-Trainer, Weapons Department, U.S. Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia, a Commander, Infantry Rifle Company, 9th Infantry Division in Fort Lewis, Washington with duty in the Northwestern United Sates and contingency operations in Alaska.
From 1976 to 1979 Vossler returned to U.S. Army Cadet Command as an Assistant Professor of Military Science and Associate Professor of History and Geography at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
His last assignment in uniform was as the Director, U.S. Army Military History Institute, and teaching faculty member of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania in the disciplines of military history, military leadership and strategy.
After 30 years of service, Vossler retired December 1, 1998. His military awards and honors include the Combat Infantry Badge, Legion of Merit (2), Meritorious Service Medal (3), Bronze Star Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal (3) Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnam Service Medal (3).
Since retiring Vossler has worked as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg. He also is the Owner and Operator of Mountain View Farm near Gettysburg. Until 2022, the Farm was the breeder of registered Simmental Beef Cattle in a cow-calf “seed-stock” operation (cattle for breeding not for slaughter supplying a herd replacement market throughout the USA and Canada).
Vossler has been a frequent lecturer on American Civil War and Second World War history. He has been the Experienced Staff Ride Leader at Gettysburg, Antietam and First Bull Run battlefields for units from all branches of the U.S. armed forces as well as military units from Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Vossler has also been the Leadership Seminar leader for several U.S. and foreign corporations and organizations. Some past clients include The Heritage Foundation, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, The Carnegie Institute, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, the Law Firm of Buchanon, Ingersoll and Rooney, PC., the West Point Prep School, Penn State-Dickinson College School of Law (Adjunct Professor), the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Program, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the adult leadership of several California School Districts.
Some of Vossler’s past individual battlefield clients include: the late ABC news anchor Peter Jennings, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, former Texas Governor Rick Perry and movie actor Richard Dreyfus.
Vossler has made numerous appearances on television with the history channel and C-Span. Vossler has used his historical knowledge to publish The Gettysburg Campaign – with Carol Reardon, The U.S. Army Center of Military History, CMH Publication 75-10, 2013, A Field Guide to Gettysburg – with Carol Reardon, Univ. of North Carolina Press, 2013, A Field Guide to Antietam – with Carol Reardon, Univ. of North Carolina Press, 2016, A Field Guide to Gettysburg, 2nd expanded edition, with Carol Reardon, Univ of North Carolina Press, 2017 and Battle Tested – Gettysburg Leadership Lessons for 21st Century Leaders, with Jeff McCausland, Post Hill Press, 2020.
Vossler also works with 2nd Brigade Army ROTC’s staff ride program and is a tireless advocate for educating the next generation of Army leaders.
About the Army ROTC Hall of Fame
The ROTC Hall of Fame was established in 2016 as part of the ROTC Centennial celebration. The first class (2016) inducted 326 former ROTC Cadets who had distinguished themselves in their military or civilian career.
The Hall of Fame honors graduates of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps who have distinguished themselves in military or civilian pursuits. It provides a prestigious and tangible means of recognizing and honoring Army ROTC Alumni who have made lasting, significant contributions to the Nation, the Army and the history and traditions of the Army ROTC Program.
Read more about the 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees.
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