Major General William B. Raines, U. S. Army [Ret] has been honored by the Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution with the 2019 Outstanding Veteran Volunteer Award. The award is presented to a veteran in recognition of outstanding contributions of leadership, patriotism and increased public awareness of veterans.
Major General Raines, nominated by the Chief John Ross Chapter, Regent Jessica M. Dumitru and the Judge David Campbell Chapter, Regent Stacy Kehoe, serves as the chairman of the Board, Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. His leadership with the Heritage Center supports each of the three major functions of the NSDAR: Education, Historic Preservation and Patriotism.
He has successful led the Board of Trustees to secure a new location for the Heritage Center at 2 Aquarium Way and to raise more than $4 million to design and install exhibits and expand the Character Development Program in the public and private schools of the region. While needed fundraising continues, the Heritage Center is scheduled to open in February 2020.
In addition, Major General Raines is a former chairman of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, an active member of the Military Officers Association, the John Sevier Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and numerous other veterans organization.
Major General Raines retired as a Major General from the Army Reserves on April 15, 2000 after 32 years of services. His last assignment was to the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. as the vice-director of Strategy, Requirements and Integration (J8V). His prior assignment was as deputy commander, 125th U.S. Army Reserve Command in Nashville.
General Raines was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1968 at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, where he also received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering.
With 32 years of military service, he served in many important positions on active duty and in the Army Reserve. During the period June 1968 to June 1973, General Raines served in numerous active duty assignments in Okinawa (Hawk), Vietnam (Battery Commander on the Demilitarized Zone) and Fort Bliss, Texas. After leaving active duty, General Raines held numerous assignments within the 3397th U.S. Army Reserve Garrison in Chattanooga and the 125th ARCOM Headquarters in Nashville.
General Raines returned to active duty during Operations Desert Shield/Storm where he served as the commander of the 3397th USAR Garrison from Chattanooga (the unit was presented the Army Superior Unit Award) at Fort Campbell, Ky. during the period August 1990 to September 1991.
General Raines is a graduate of the Airborne School, Air Defense Artillery School, Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.