United States Army Officer. Already a member of the California National Guard, Prugh enlisted with a Coast Guard Artillery Regiment at the start of World War Two. In 1944, Prugh was given command of a battery in the 276th Coast Guard Artillery Battalion and deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he served until war's end. Having been commissioned into the army as a Second Lieutenant in 1947 and earning his law degree in 1948, Prugh was assigned to duty to the Military Affairs Division, 6th Army in San Francisco. In 1951, he was re-assigned as a trial counsel in Germany for a couple of years before being sent to Korea to serve as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. 8th Army. Graduating from the US Army War College in 1962, Lt. Colonel Prugh was sent to Vietnam and appointed Staff Judge Advocate and legal advisor to General William Westmoreland serving from 1964 until 1966. During this time, Prugh would be instrumental in persuading the South Vietnamese government to grant prisoner of war status and rights to all captured Viet Cong soldiers in the hopes that it would prevent the Viet Cong from seeking revenge against American POW's for South Vietnamese mistreatment . In 1969, Prugh was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed Judge Advocate of the US Army in Europe. In 1971, he was appointed as the 28th Judge Advocate General of the Army, a position he held until 1975. It would be under his watch that Lieutenant William Calley, the officer held responsible for the 1978 My Lai Massacre, would be placed on trial for war crimes. He would retire from the army at the rank of Major General in 1975 and over his career, was awarded numerous decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.
United States Army Officer. Already a member of the California National Guard, Prugh enlisted with a Coast Guard Artillery Regiment at the start of World War Two. In 1944, Prugh was given command of a battery in the 276th Coast Guard Artillery Battalion and deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he served until war's end. Having been commissioned into the army as a Second Lieutenant in 1947 and earning his law degree in 1948, Prugh was assigned to duty to the Military Affairs Division, 6th Army in San Francisco. In 1951, he was re-assigned as a trial counsel in Germany for a couple of years before being sent to Korea to serve as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. 8th Army. Graduating from the US Army War College in 1962, Lt. Colonel Prugh was sent to Vietnam and appointed Staff Judge Advocate and legal advisor to General William Westmoreland serving from 1964 until 1966. During this time, Prugh would be instrumental in persuading the South Vietnamese government to grant prisoner of war status and rights to all captured Viet Cong soldiers in the hopes that it would prevent the Viet Cong from seeking revenge against American POW's for South Vietnamese mistreatment . In 1969, Prugh was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed Judge Advocate of the US Army in Europe. In 1971, he was appointed as the 28th Judge Advocate General of the Army, a position he held until 1975. It would be under his watch that Lieutenant William Calley, the officer held responsible for the 1978 My Lai Massacre, would be placed on trial for war crimes. He would retire from the army at the rank of Major General in 1975 and over his career, was awarded numerous decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.
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