Saigon (AP)-- Brig. Gen. William Ross Bond, Commander of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade,
was killed by enemy small-arms fire Wednesday.  He was the fifth American general killed
in action in the Vietnam War—the previous four died in aircraft crashes.

     Bond, 51, of Portland Maine, was hit in the chest by a single bullet along the
southeastern edge of war zone D, about 70 miles northeast of Saigon.  He died within
minutes after reaching an Army field hospital.

     Military spokesmen said his command and control helicopter landed in the area shortly
after noon.  He was shot after he got out to inspect a patrol that had been in contact
with Viet Cong troops during stepped-up enemy attacks.

     “Apparently he had gotten out of the helicopter and was walking when he was hit,” said
one spokesman.  “He was not very far away from the helicopter.  His pilot flew him to
the hospital.” The spokesman said it is quite possible that Bond was hit by a sniper’s bullet.
Contact earlier in the day indicated enemy troops remained in the region.

     Bond assumed command of the 199th Nov. 28, replacing Maj. Gen. Warren K. Bennett. He had
served one previous tour in Vietnam, and had also served in Thailand.

     Bond had more than 26 years active duty in the Army. He was deputy director of the
international and civil affairs directorate of the Department of the Army before returning to
Vietnam last year.
     He held the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with
oak leaf, and the Purple Heart.

     Bond’s wife was reported to be on a trip to Colombia in South America.

     Army Maj. Gen. Keith Ware, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, died in a
helicopter crash, as did Maj. Gen. Bruno a. Hochmuth, who commanded the 3rd Marine
Division. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert F. Worley, vice commander of the 7th Air Force, was
killed when his RF4 Phantom jet was shot down, and Air Force Maj. Gen. William J. Crumm,
commander of the 3rd Air Division, died when his B52 bomber was involved in a collision with
another B52 en route to a mission in Vietnam.

     Bond was promoted to brigadier general in August 1969. He was graduated from the University
of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. A graduate of the Army
War College and other senior service schools, Bond held a number of key staff posts at Army
headquarters during his career.

     He first was in Vietnam in 1959-1960, when the United States had a small advisory mission
there.

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