Fort Leavenworth has inducted Lt. Gen. Dave Palmer '56 into its Hall of Fame. Lt. Gen. David G. Perkins '80, Commanding General Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, officiated the ceremony.
In 1963 and 1964, Palmer was aide to the Commander of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, covering the transition between Generals Paul D. Harkins '29 and William Westmorland '36. After completing Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Palmer completed a masters degree at Duke University then served as an assistant professor at West Point. There he published a history of West Point, The River and the Rock. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he commanded 2nd Battalion, 33rd Armored Regiment in Germany then served as staff advisor to the Vietnamese National Military Academy. Palmer graduated from the War College in 1973 and published, "The Way of the Fox," a study of strategy in the American Revolution. He commanded the 1st Brigade, 2nd Armored Division and served as Corps G-3 at Fort Hood. In 1978 he published "The Summons of the Trumpet," his acclaimed study of the Vietnam War. In 1983 he became Deputy Commandant of CGSC where he championed small group instruction, helped re-implement the historical staff ride methodology, and led the college through re-accreditation. Palmer commanded the 1st Armored Division and finally served as the 53rd Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, where he focused on developing leaders of character and fitness. After retirement he took his expertise in education and leadership to Walden University where he helped focus the school on mid-career adults through pioneering work in distance education. He continued his own scholarship, publishing several more works on American Military History and established himself as an expert on the importance of character in leadership.