MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES BRIGGS – CLASS OF 1956
MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES BRIGGS – CLASS OF 1956
Briggs, Charles Forest MG (Ret) of Leelanau, Michigan
1935 – 2020
Major General Charles Forrest Briggs was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, on 29 January 1934. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in History in 1956 and commissioned as a Reserve Officer in the Adjutant General Corps. While at Western, he was a member of the TKE Fraternity. Upon completion of the Adjutant General Officer Basic Course in 1957, he was assigned to Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
After receiving a commission in the Regular Army, General Briggs attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course in 1959 and subsequently served a two-year infantry tour in the 3rd Armored Division. He completed this tour in Germany as Personnel Management Officer, Office of the Division Adjutant General. From July 1963 to July 1965, he served as an Action Officer at the Department of the Army Headquarters (HQDA), Office of Personnel Operations. In July 1965, General Briggs was assigned to South Vietnam as Personnel Advisor to the Joint General Staff, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. General Briggs returned in 1966 to HQDA for duties in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (DCSPER) and later in the Office of the Chief of Staff.
From July 1970 to July 1971, General Briggs served as Adjutant General of the 4th infantry Division in Vietnam and as Director of Military Personnel, U.S. Army, Republic of Vietnam, before being assigned to the U.S. Army Pacific Adjutant General Office. He headed the Education Directorate of TAG from July 1973 until his August 1975 appointment as Training and Doctrine Command Adjutant General. General Briggs returned to Washington in May 1977 as Chief, Enlisted Division, HQDA, DCSPER. In August 1978, he was selected Deputy TAG. General Briggs assumed command of the Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center in St. Louis in July 1980. This key position was followed by assignment as the Commanding General, 1st Personnel Command; Adjutant General, U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army; and Commander, Heidelberg Military Community in August 1982. He arrived at Forces Command Headquarters in September 1984 as the DCSPER and retired from that position I March 1986.
General Briggs was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Army General Staff Identification Badge.
He earned his Master of Arts degree in Personnel Administration from George Washington University in 1967 and was a graduate of the Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College. In addition to his degrees from Western Michigan University and George Washington University, he attended the Advanced Management Program at Emory University and the Senior Executives in Government Program at Harvard University.
General Briggs is married to the former Doris Lower of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Doris was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority and a 1955 graduate of WMU. They have two sons, Steven and Charles.