LTG (R) William Patrick Tangney

William Patrick Tangney of Blythewood, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026 at the age of 81. He was born on October 7, 1945 to Raymond and Gaynell Tangney in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Lieutenant General William P. “Bill” Tangney, U.S. Army (Retired), a distinguished Special Forces officer, Vietnam War veteran, and former Commanding General of U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) graduated from The Citadel in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and was commissioned a second lieutenant in January 1968. He began his military career with the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. After completing the Special Forces Officer Course in 1969, he served with the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, as a company operations officer and detachment commander. Returning to Vietnam in August 1970, Tangney served with the highly classified Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), as an operations officer and senior launch site commander at Command and Control South (CCS), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Throughout his 35-year Army career, Tangney held numerous leadership and command positions within the Special Forces community. He commanded the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and later the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His general officer assignments included Commanding General of Special Operations Command Central, Commanding General of U.S. Army Special Forces Command, and Commanding General of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

In 1998, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He subsequently served as Deputy Commander in Chief of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from 2000 until his retirement in November 2002.

Tangney’s military decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and Special Forces Tab.

LTG Tangney’s career spanned the Vietnam War, the development of modern Army Special Operations Forces, and the opening years of the Global War on Terrorism when he deployed the 10th SF Group in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM and PROVIDE COMFORT. His legacy remains closely connected to the history and evolution of the United States Special Forces and the broader Special Operations community.

He married Katherine Mary Gaydos in 1970, and together they shared 56 wonderful years. He enjoyed golfing, watching sports, reading, talking to his Special Forces friends and was known for his time in the Army as a Special Forces Officer. He is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Patricia Tangney Dumiak. He is survived by his wife Kathi Tangney, his cousin Robert Tangney, and his two grandnephews Joseph and Matthew Kiely.

In lieu of flowers, to honor the life of LTG (Ret) Tangney, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to either:

The Green Beret Foundation

10205 US Hwy 15-501, Unit 26-8

Southern Pines, NC 28387

or

The Patrica Ann Tangney Dumiak Scholarship Endowment

University of South Carolina

Revenue & Compliance

1600 Hampton Street, Suite 736

Columbia, SC 29208

The funeral will be held at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on November 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM, followed by a reception held at Gwynn Event Center, 537 Clemson Rd, Columbia, SC.