Former AMC Commander, Longtime AUSA Senior Fellow Dies

Former AMC Commander, Longtime AUSA Senior Fellow Dies

Retired Gen. Louis Wagner
Photo by: AUSA

Retired Gen. Louis Wagner, an emeritus senior fellow for the Association of the U.S. Army and longtime supporter of AUSA programs, died Jan. 24 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was 93.

Wagner was an AUSA senior fellow for two decades before becoming an emeritus in 2022. He also was a member of the association’s Speakers Bureau. During the 2013 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, Wagner was awarded AUSA’s Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Medal for exceptional service to the Army.

“Gen. Wagner was a frequent participant in AUSA’s educational panels and programs. He always brought a great perspective and was very well respected as a soldier/scholar,” said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO.

A native of Jackson, Missouri, Wagner graduated in 1954 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and commissioned in the armor branch. Following a variety of troop assignments, Wagner attended the University of Illinois where he received a master’s degree in theoretical and applied mechanics. He then was assigned as an instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Mechanics at West Point.

Wagner served two combat tours in Vietnam as an infantry and armor adviser. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest award for valor, for actions between April 29 and May 2, 1972, during his second tour.

Then-Lt. Col. Wagner was serving as senior adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam’s 1st Armor Brigade when the brigade was ordered to protect Quang Tri City at all costs against three North Vietnamese divisions supported by two tank regiments. “As the enemy overwhelmed and shattered the brigade, [Wagner] maintained his position at the point of severest contact and was injured when his command personnel carrier was forced to cross a bridge destroyed by enemy artillery. Refusing aid, he assisted in evacuation of his counterpart who had been wounded,” according to his award citation.

Wagner, his wounds still untreated, “exposed himself continuously to enemy machine gun and antitank rocket fire while directing air strikes” as the North Vietnamese forces encircled the brigade, the citation says.

Knowing that large elements of the North Vietnamese divisions would isolate his position, Wagner chose to remain with his counterpart. Under heavy attack from enemy artillery and tanks, Wagner led the brigade through the enemy encirclement to friendly lines.

“Lieutenant Colonel Wagner's calm and fearless leadership was singularly responsible for preventing the 1st Armor Brigade's complete decimation and saved the lives of many of his South Vietnamese comrades,” the citation says.

During his service, Wagner also received the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest award for valor, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

After promotion to brigadier general in 1976, Wagner served as deputy director for combat support systems in the office of the Army’s deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisition. He also commanded the U.S. Army Armor Center, was commandant of the U.S. Army Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and served as deputy Army chief of staff for research, development and acquisition.

In April 1987, Wagner was promoted to four-star general and assigned as commander of Army Materiel Command, where he remained until his retirement in September 1989.

In retirement, Wagner remained active and connected to the Army and soldiers, including through his service with AUSA and other military associations.