Vanden Willard

"You're safe. When we heard about Alderaan, we feared the worst."

- Vanden Willard, greeting Leia Organa on Yavin 4

Vanden Willard was a male human who served as a general in the Rebel Alliance. He served at the Rebel base on Yavin 4 during the Battle of Yavin.

Biography
"Where's Commander Willard?''" "''Waiting for you inside the Great Temple."

- Organa and a rebel, upon her arrival on Yavin 4

Vanden Willard was a General in the Rebel Alliance at the time of the Battle of Yavin. He greeted Princess Leia Organa when she returned to the Rebellion's hidden base on Yavin 4, and then helped coordinate the battle with the Death Star. Willard was responsible for reviewing the flight simulator records of any pilot who wished to fly an X-wing starfighter for the Rebel Alliance prior to their being allowed to join. He was later present at the Mako-Ta Base when Organa outlined her plan to rescue King Lee-Char of Mon Cala.

Behind the scenes
Vanden Willard was played by Irish actor Eddie Byrne in A New Hope. His voice was dubbed by Michael Bell. The character was named after screenwriter Willard Huyck, who, along with his wife Gloria Katz, helped George Lucas put some finishing touches on the revised fourth draft of the movie's script.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
 * A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
 * Star Wars: A New Hope junior novelization
 * Star Wars 45: Mutiny at Mon Cala, Part II