William Thielemann, Brigadier General USAR (Ret)
Director
board@herobox.org

Brigadier General Thielemann was born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Georgia and Florida. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant Infantry through ROTC at Mercer University and entered active service in October 1967, serving in the US Army Southern Command, Panama.  After attending the School of the Americas’ Jungle Operations Training Course, receiving the designation of

Jungle Expert, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 193rd Infantry Brigade, Panama. Duty assignments included Heavy Mortar Platoon Leader and Headquarters Company Commander. 

General Thielemann joined the Georgia Army National Guard in March 1972 as Platoon Leader of Troop C, 196th Cavalry, Griffin. He served as Commander of Troop E, 348th Cavalry, Griffin, from 1974 to 1978. He also served as Tactical Intelligence Officer on the 48th Infantry Brigade Staff in Macon. In 1980, General Thielemann was assigned as S2 Intelligence Officer, 1st Battalion, 108th Armor in Calhoun. This was followed by Operations Officer and Executive Officer in the Armor Battalion. In April 1987, General Thielemann assumed command of 1-108th Armor Battalion. He was reassigned to commander of 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry (Mechanized), Dublin, in November 1987, and held that command position until July 1991. Other assignments included State Senior Intelligence Officer, State Chief of Training, and Deputy Commander of the 48th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized). In April 1993, General Thielemann assumed command of the 48th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized). Four years later he passed command of the Brigade at ceremonies at Fort Stewart, Georgia, on July 25, 1997.

General Thielemann commanded 1-121st Infantry Battalion (Mechanized) during its mobilization for DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM (1991). He served as Operations Officer of 1-108th Armor for the first reserve battalion rotation to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA (1983), and commander the 48th Brigade for the first brigade level reserve rotation to the National Training Center (1996). He led the Armor Battalion through transition to M1 Abrams tanks (1987), and led the Infantry Battalion through transition to M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles (1989). General Thielemann served as Ground Forces Commander during OPERATION CRESTED RIVER, the Georgia floods of 1994. In addition, he served in a variety of positions during support for natural disaster and civil disturbance missions including security of Centennial Park after the Olympic Park bombing.
      
General Thielemann is a graduate of Infantry Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Military Intelligence Advanced Course and the Army Command and General Staff College. He received a BA degree in Economics from Mercer University and a MBA in Management from Georgia State University. Decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Overseas Ribbon.