government corruption Westmoreland's Helicopter https://www.google.com/books/edition/Fraud_and_Corruption_in_Management_of_Mi/bNBEAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Long%20Binh%22%20corruption%20bribes%20%22Special%20Services%22&pg=PA347&printsec=frontcover&fbclid=IwAR3u52TMnQ0kZKWkAxSbSY_bRGUcL9VJ_2oeAkzrlJJCzsRJ2FZ3kb8Vvvc

Actually there was evidence of wrongdoing. Wooldridge was engaged in a conspiracy that began when Wooldridge was Command Sergeant Major of the 24th Infantry Division in Ausburg and continued when he became Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Infantry Division at Di An, Sergeant Major of the United States Army, and in his subsequent assignment as Sergeant Major of MACV.

In those positions he used his influence to arrange the assignment of co-conspirators into the military club system and used his influence to impose restraint on Army investigators who sought to investigate wrongdoing in the club and mess system.

The co-conspirators in this scheme were Wooldridge, Sgt Narvaez Hatcher, William Higdon, Seymour Lazar, Theodore Bass, John Nelson and William Bagby.

When called to testify before the Senate Subcommittee investigating the allegations, all declined to testify relying on their 5th amendment right against self incrimination.

Subsequently, in February 1973 Wooldridge and his co-conspirators were convicted in federal court after pleading guilty, part of the plea bargain required that all defendants testify truthfully before the Senate Subcommittee.

During his tenure as Sergeant Major of the Army, Wooldridge was involved in the smuggling of a number of cases of liquor into the United States aboard General Abrams aircraft at Hickam. The Army investigation was curtailed by Provost Marshal Major General Turner. Turner also prevented the CID from reviewing investigative files compiled during Wooldridge's tour of duty in Ausburg.

During his testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on May 8, 1973, Wooldridge admitted that while SGM of the Army he received over $11,000 in kickbacks from Lazar. Lazar testified that the payment was for past favorable assignments, protection, and future anticipated favors.

Wooldridge testified that he was directly involved in covering up illegal activities carried out by Lazar and his assistant Sgt Myers. In September 1967, when Wooldridge was SGM of the Army, Lazar and Myers were arrested in Vietnam for black market currency violations. Wooldridge testified that he contacted the 1st Division staff judge advocate and arranged for the charges to be dismissed.

The investigation also disclosed that Wooldridge, Hatcher, Higdon, and Lazar set up a company named Maradem to sell supplies to the military club system in Vietnam. Wooldridge was still SGM of the Army at the time. Maradem in fact did sell to the military clubs and overinvoiced, paid kickbacks to custodians and also charged transportation fees - even though transportation of commodities was actually provided at no expense by the military.

Wooldridge returned to Vietnam in 1968 as Command Sergeant Major MACV - he testified that he used his influence to strengthen Maradem's position and he was fully aware that the company was paying kickbacks to club custodians amounting to 5 or 10 percent of purchases.

Higdon alone had a Swiss Bank account with over $300,000 dollars in it. Wooldridge testified as to ownership of a Swiss account with a balance of $6,000.

Some few years ago - I requested my military pay records,so that I could pay into my federal retirement and receive credit.

During my two years in the Army from 66-68 - I earned about $2,400.00.

Woodridge did retire from the service and said this about his DD-214 - "Well, let me just say in my own behalf, that if the Army and gone ahead - on my statement of service, which you get when you retire. It is called a DD-214, they refused to characterize my service, which should have said "Honorable", but they put on there "To be determined".

Source: Deposition of William O Wooldridge, Los Angeles Ca 3-29-1973, and Senate Subcommittee Hearing May 8, 1973
This subject is a “dead horse” and I don’t want to whip it anymore. His record speaks for itself and, I guess, over rides his indiscretions. To be honest the Army club system, after SMA Wooldridge, was never the same - it seemed to be better during his time. But isn’t that what people say about crime bosses too?

http://ww2f.com/threads/sgt-major-william-o-wooldridge-the-first-sergeant-major-of-the-army.44448/