William P. Yarborough

William Pelham Yarborough
Nickname(s)"Father of the Modern Green Berets"
BornMay 12, 1912
Seattle, Washington, United States
DiedDecember 6, 2005 (aged 93)
Southern Pines, North Carolina, United States
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States SECTION 4 GRAVESITE 3099-D
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1931–1971
Rank Lieutenant General
Service number0-202362
Unit Infantry Branch
Commands2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
473rd Infantry Regimental Combat Team
1st Battle Group, 7th Infantry Regiment
66th Counterintelligence Corps Group
United States Army Special Warfare Center/School for Special Warfare
I Corps
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit with 3 oak leaves
Bronze Star
Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valor
Italian Cross for Valor
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Eulji Order of Military Merit

Lieutenant General William Pelham Yarborough (May 12, 1912 – December 6, 2005) was a senior United States Army officer. Yarborough designed the U.S. Army's parachutist badge, paratrooper or 'jump' boots, and the M42 airborne jump uniform. He is known as the "Father of the Modern Green Berets."[1] He was descended from the Yorkshire House of Yarborough. Yarborough was a distant cousin to such British noble figures as the Baron Deramore, Lord Alvingham, the Duke of Buccleugh and the Marquess of Bath.

  1. ^ Zimmerman, p. 11