This dissertation is a biographical assessment of General William C. Westmorelands military career and its connection to the United States home front, Westmorelands influence on the divisions among Americans over the proper historical memory of the Vietnam War, Westmorelands West Point and World War II experiences, Westmorelands impact on race relations as Vietnam Commander and Army Chief of Staff, and his campaign for the 1974 South Carolina governorship. In my analysis, I particularly emphasize the important historical interplay of southern honor, American nationalism, familial ties, race relations, and personal humiliation over time and space as Westmoreland dealt with the Vietnam War and its polarizing legacy. Ultimately, Westmoreland became a formidable force amid the changing dynamics of Cold War America, but his lasting legacy is best understood as the most recognized symbol of the Vietnam War. Although his symbolic footprint came to surpass his military force, his dramatic elevation through the chain of command provides a remarkable story about Westmorelands determination to become a force. At the summit of his chosen career path, the nation would grapple with the meaning of Westmorelands force as well as the divisive war in which he commanded.