Colonel Karl R. Morton

USASMA Commandant

July 1972 – January 1975

Colonel Karl R. Morton enlisted in the Army in 1945 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and was commissioned in the Infantry in 1946 at Fort Benning, Georgia. His initial assignments included 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington; 6th Infantry Division, Korea; 1st Cavalry Division, Japan; and other assignments in Alaska and the United States.

Between 1950 and 1952, Colonel Morton saw combat in Korea as both a Rifle Platoon Leader and Company Commander in the 5th Regimental Combat Team, followed by a tour with the Air Force as a Ground Liaison Officer and Aerial Observer with the 6147th Tactical Control Wing. Colonel Morton later served in the 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Augsburg, Germany; the 504th Airborne Infantry Battle Group and the 24th Infantry Division in Germany; and the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, between 1952 and 1961.

From 1961 through 1965 Colonel Morton served with the MAAG, Republic of China, 5th Infantry Division, Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of Fifth Army, completed a Baccalaureate Degree at the University of Omaha, and attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia.

After training at the Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was assigned to the Military Assistance Command in Saigon, Vietnam, and later as Brigade Executive Officer and Battalion Commander within the 1st Infantry Division. After serving in the U.S. Army, Pacific, attending the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, and completing a Master’s Degree at George Washington University, Colonel Morton returned to Vietnam as G3, U.S. Army, Vietnam, and 3rd Brigade Commander, 1st Cavalry Division.

Upon returning to the United States, Colonel Morton served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Secretary of the General Staff, and Executive Officer to the Commanding General, United States Continental Army Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia.

In July 1972, Colonel Morton became the first Commandant of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.