Samuel W. Koster

Samuel William Koster (December 29, 1919 – January 23, 2006) was a career officer in the United States Army. Hailing from rural Iowa, he graduated West Point in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor and attained the rank of major general. Koster is known for his service as commander of the 23rd Infantry Division during the infamous My Lai Massacre in 1968 after the Tet Offensive, later becoming the Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point.

A veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, Koster served in the U.S. Army for a total of 29 years. Although the criminal charges initially filed against him after the My Lai massacre were dropped, Koster's involvement would eventually cost him two stars. His expected promotion to lieutenant general, the traditional modern-day rank of the Superintendent of West Point, was denied, and he received a reduction in rank to brigadier general, while the Army Distinguished Service Medal that he received was rescinded.

Koster retired in 1973, two years after William Calley and Ernest Medina faced their respective trials by court-martial. Koster lived out his retirement years in Maryland, never speaking publicly about the events at My Lai, expressing no shame or remorse for the murders carried out by the men under his command, nor for any actions he had taken. He died in 2006, aged 87, and was buried at West Point Cemetery.

Early life and career Koster was born in West Liberty, Iowa, on December 29, 1919, and graduated from West Liberty High School in 1937. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1942, operations against North Korea.

Early in 1970, Koster and 13 other officers were charged with trying to cover up the massacre. Charges were dropped, however, after the Army determined that he "did not show any intentional abrogation of responsibilities". Koster, who was the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point at the time, was due to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general (three stars), but his involvement in the My Lai cover up caused him to be denied this promotion, and further inquiries led the way to his demotion. He was subsequently censured in writing, stripped of a Distinguished Service Medal and demoted to brigadier general for failing to conduct an adequate investigation. Koster's appeal was turned down.

Later life Following his demotion, Koster was reassigned as deputy commander of Maryland's Aberdeen Proving Ground, in charge of Army weapons testing. He retired from the military in November 1973 with the rank of brigadier general. His decorations included the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and Legion of Merit. Koster never regained the highest rank he had attained in the U.S. Army—major general—but it was engraved on his headstone regardless. In 1943, Koster married Cherie Kadgihn (1922–2018), who was originally from Iowa City, Iowa. They were the parents of five children—sons Samuel Jr., Robert, and Jack, all of whom became U.S. Army officers, and daughters Susanne Henley-Ross and Nancy Sroka.