American officers  |  home

US Army Officers
1939-1945

 Dates: day-month-year, so 10.08.1909 is August 10, 1909. RA = Regular Army. AUS = Army of the United States (temporary rank).
Abbreviations and explanations can be found at the help page.
Abbreviations for the American States are: 

AL, Alabama  AK, Alaska  AR, Arkansas  AZ, Arizona  CA, California  CO, Colorado  CT, Connecticut  DE, Delaware  DC, District of Columbia  FL, Florida  GA, Georgia  HI, Hawaii  IA, Iowa  ID, Idaho  IL, Illinois  IN, Indiana  KS, Kansas  KY, Kentucky  LA, Louisiana  MA, Massachusetts  MD, Maryland  ME, Maine  MI, Michigan  MN, Minnesota  MO, Missouri  MS, Mississippi  MT, Montana  NC, North Carolina  ND, North Dakota  NE, Nebraska  NH, New Hampshire  NJ, New Jersey  NM, New Mexico  NY, New York  NV, Nevada  OH, Ohio  OK, Oklahoma  OR, Oregon  PA, Pennsylvania  RI, Rhode Island  SC, South Carolina  SD, South Dakota  TN, Tennesee  TX, Texas  UT, Utah  VA, Virginia  VT, Vermont  WA, Washington  WI, Wisconsin  WV, West Virginia  WY, Wyoming

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

G      
Gaffey,
Hugh Joseph

18.11.1895
Hartford, CT
-
16.06.1946
crash of a B-25 north of Godman Field at Fort Knox
[Fort Knox National Cemetery, KY]
2nd Lt.
15.08.1917 [O8435]
...
...
Brig.Gen.
05.08.1942
Maj.Gen.
28.04.1943
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM
?
?
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
?
Legion of Merit (US) LM
?
?
Education: University of Pennsylvania
15.08.1917


commissioned in the field artillery
07.1940
-
?
Assistant to Plans and Training Officer, I Armored Corps
?
-
01.1942
Plans and Training Officer, I Armored Corps
1942
-
05.1943
with 2nd Armored Division
05.1943
-
04.1944
Commanding General, 2nd Armored Division (Africa; Sicily)
04.1944
-
12.1944
Chief of Staff, Third Army
03.12.1944
-
21.03.1945
Commanding General, 4th Armored Division [except for 21.02.1945-01.13.1945]
23.03.1945
-
09.1945
Commanding General, XXIII Corps
09.1945
-
16.06.1946
Commanding General, Armored School
Gavalas,
Leonidas George
"Lee"

L. Gavalas
Married 1st Viola Ann Gavalas (06.05.1910 - 30.07.1976); one son, one daughter.
Married 2nd Harriet Tsagaris Gavalas.
13.04.1912
NJ
-
25.10.1991
?
[Arlington National Cemetery]
2nd Lt. Res 01.06.1934 [O31569]
1st Lt. RA 13.07.1946, seniority 13.04.1940
Lt.Col. 01.12.1942,
01.07.1954
Col. AUS 29.03.1945,
29.06.1951
Brig.Gen. ?
Maj.Gen. ? (retd 01.09.1970)
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM 18.06.1968 for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during the period from August 1963 to March 1968
Legion of Merit (US) LM ? ?
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM ? & 2 OLC
Commendation Ribbon (US) CR ? ?
Education: Armed Forces Staff College; graduate Army War College (1956); Princeton University (1934; AB).
01.06.1934     commissioned in the Field Artillery Reserve
1943? - 1945? 1st Infantry Division (NW Europe):
(05.11.1943) - 11.02.1945 Adjutant General
27.08.1947     transferred, Adjutant General's Department
08.09.1952 - 1954 Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics and Administration of ... Command (NATO)
(1961)     Adjutant General, HQ Seventh US Army (New York, NY)
1964 - 1968? Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Continental Army Command (CONARC) and Recruiting Commander (Fort Monroe, VA) (DSM)
1968? - 1970 Chief of Staff, Fourth Army
Gavin,
James Maurice
"Jumping Jim" / "Slim Jim"







Born as James Nally Ryan, son of Irish immigrant Katherine Ryan and unknown father; orphaned. Adopted by Martin Thomas and Mary (Terrel) Gavin. Married 1st (05.09.1929) Irma Margaret "Peggy" Baulsir (divorced 1947); one daughter. Married 2nd (31.07.1948) Jean Emert Duncan; four daughters.
22.03.1907
Brooklyn, New York, NY
-
23.02.1990
Baltimore, MD
[West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY]
2nd Lt.
13.06.1929 [O17676]
1st Lt.
01.11.1934
Capt.
13.06.1939
Maj. (T)
10.10.1941 (accredited 18.10.1941)
Lt.Col. (T)
01.02.1942
Col. (T)
25.09.1942
Brig.Gen. (T)
10.10.1943?, seniority 22.09.1943
Maj.Gen. (T)
20.10.1944
Maj.
13.06.1946
Lt.Gen.
25.03.1955 (retd 31.03.1958)
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
?
2 x
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM
?
?
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
2 x
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM
?
?
Purple Heart PH
?
?

DSO; Grand Officer, Legion of Honor (France); Croix de Guerre with palm (France); Croix de Guerre with palm (Belgium); Grand Officer with swords, Order of Orange Nassau (Netherlands)

Education: US Military Academy, West Point (30.06.1925-13.06.1929; grad. # 8671); Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA (09.1932-05.1933); Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth (02.1942-?.1942)
Dropped out of school (1922) and worked at various jobs.
07.04.1924
-
30.06.1925
enlisted service (Private, Private 1st class, Corporal), Coast Artillery Corps: 16th & 2nd Coast Artillery Regiments
13.06.1929


commissioned in the infantry
12.09.1929
-
09.12.1929
Air Corps Primary Flying School (Brooks Field, TX)
12.1929
-
09.1932
25th Infantry Regiment (Camp Harry J. Jones, Douglas, AZ)
1933
-
1936
38th Infantry Regiment & 29th Infantry Regiment (Fort Sill, OK) [from 12.1933 Regimental Plans & Training Officer]
1936
-
10.1938
57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (Fort McKinley, Philippines)
10.1938
-
08.1940
7th Infantry Regiment (3rd Infantry Division) (Vancouver Barracks, WA; Fort Ord, CA) [eventually Commanding Officer, K Company]
08.1940
-
07.1941
instructor in tactics, US Military Academy, West Point
07.1941
-
08.1941
parachute training, Parachute School (Fort Benning, GA)
08.1941
-
10.1941
Commanding Officer, C Company, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (Fort Benning, GA)
16.10.1941
-
06.07.1942
S-3 (Plans and Training Officer), Staff Provisional Parachute Group (Fort Bragg, NC)
06.07.1942
-
10.10.1943
Commanding Officer, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Fort Benning, GA; Camp Mackall, NC; Fort Bragg; North Africa; Sicily; Salerno)
10.10.1943
-
26.08.1944
Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Airborne Division (UK, Normandy)
11.1943
-
06.1944
also Senior Airborne Adviser, COSSAC (UK)
27.08.1944
-
14.03.1948
Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division (Holland, Ardennes, Germany) [youngest division commander in World War II]
07.1945
-
10.1945
also Senior Officer at the Kommandantura at Berlin
1948


Chief of Staff, 5th Army (Chicago)
1949
-
1951
Joint Chiefs of Staff (1950 observer, Korean War)
1951
-
1952
Chief of Staff, Allied Forces Southern Europe
1952
-
1954
Commanding General, VII Corps
1955
-
1955
Deputy Chief of Staff (Plans and Research), US Army
1955
-
1958
Chief Research and Development, US Army
Executive vice-president (1958-1960), President (1960-1961), Chairman of the Board (1964-1977), Director & adviser (1977-1979), Arthur D. Little Inc. (an industrial research and consulting firm). US Ambassador to France, 1961-1962. Director Amercian Electric Power Co. Inc. Director, John Honock Life Insurance Co.
Published: Airborne warfare (1947); War and peace in the soace age (1958); France and the Civil War in America (1962); Crisis now (1968); On to Berlin (1978; memoirs)
Literature: Bradley Biggs, Gavin (1980); T. Michael Booth & Duncan Spencer, Paratrooper : the life of Gen. James M. Gavin (1994)
Gerald,
John P.

J.P. Gerald (Photo courtesy of Mr Anthony N. Woloch)
From South Carolina.
?
-
17.10.1944
[Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, A.7.40]
2nd Lt.
? [O-023009]
...
...
Maj.
?
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
?
Purple Heart (US) PH
?
?
30.08.1944
-
17.10.1944
Commanding Officer, 85th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 5th Armored Division (France)
Gerhardt,
Harrison Alan

H.A. Gerhardt
09.01.1909
NY
-
18.02.1980
Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, DC
2nd Lt.
10.06.1932 [O18697]
...
...
Maj.Gen.
? (retd 1967)
Education: US Military Academy, West Point (1932; grad. # 9367)
10.06.1932


commissioned in the infantry
1944
-
1946
Executive Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War
09.1962
-
08.1964
Commanding General, South Eastern Task Force (Italy)
Gerow,
Leonard Townsend



13.07.1888
Petersburg, VA
-
12.10.1972
Petersburg, VA
2nd Lt.
1911 [O3151]
...
...
Lt.Col.
08.1935
Col.
09.1940
Brig.Gen. (T)
10.1940
Maj.Gen. (T)
02.1942
Lt.Gen. (T)
01.1945 (retd 31.07.1950)
Gen. (retd)
07.1954
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM
?
3 x
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
?
Legion of Merit (US) LM
?
2 x
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM 
?
?
Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Silver Star; Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star; British Companion Order of the Bath; Russian Order of Suvorov- 2d Class; French Legion of Honor - Commander; French Croix de Guerre with Palm; Order of the Crown of Luxembourg; Belgian Order of Leopold II, Grand Officer, with Palm; Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm; Chilean Military Merit 1st Class; Peruvian Order of the Ayacucho- Grand Official; Brazil Order of Military Merit- Grand Official; Brazil Order of Aeronautical Merit-Grand Official.
Education: Virignia Military Institute (...-1911)
1911


commissioned in the infantry
1935
-
02.1942
War Plans Division, War Department General Staff (Washington, DC)
12.1940
-
02.1942
Chief of War Plans Division and (additional) from 12.1941 Assistant Chief of Staff
02.1942
-
07.1943
Commanding General, 29th Infantry Division (Fort George Meade, MD; UK)
15.07.1943
-
14.01.1945
Commanding General, V Corps (NW Europe) [except for 18.09.1944-04.10.1944]
16.01.1945
-
07.1945
Commanding General, Fifteenth Army (NW Europe)
07.1945
-
10.1945
President, Theater of Operations General Board
10.1945
-
01.1948
Commandant, Command and General Staff School (Fort Leavenworth, KS)
01.1948
-
07.1950
Commanding General, 2nd Army (Fort George Meade, MD)
Gibb,
Frederick William


Son of Frederick Innes and Jessie Anna (Leake) Gibb.
24.07.1908
New York, NY
-
06.09.1968
Andrews Air Force Base
2nd Lt.
1933 [O19222]
1st Lt.
13.06.1936
Capt.
?
Maj.
?
Lt.Col.
?
Brig.Gen.
16.03.1956
Maj.Gen.
1959 (retd 1961; disability)
Legion of Merit (US) LM
?
2 x
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
?
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM
?
2 x

 

Education: US Military Academy, West Point (...-1933; grad. # 9852); Infantry School (1938)
1933
-
1942
various assignments with infantry units
(10.1939)


65th Infantry (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
1942
-
1943
Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry (1st Infantry Division) (North Africa)
05.11.1943
-
15.07.1944
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations and Plans), 1st Infantry Division (NW Europe)
15.07.1944
-
23.09.1945
Commanding Officer, 16th Infantry (1st Infantry Division) (NW Europe)
1946
-
1948
chairman attack committee, The Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA
1949


National War College
1949
-
1952
staff member advanced study group Department of the Army and Joint Staff, Joint Strategic Plans Group, Office Joint Chiefs of Staff
1952
-
1954
Deputy Chief of Staff G-3 (Plans & Operations) HQ Allied Land Forces, Southeastern Europe (Izmar, Turkey)
1960
-
1961
Commanding General, 2nd Division (Fort Benning)
Gillem Jr.,
Alvan Cullon


08.08.1888
Nashville, TN
-
13.02.1973
Atlanta, GA
[Arlington National Cemetery, VA]
2nd Lt.
11.02.1911 [O3030]
...
...
Brig.Gen.
01.1941
Maj.Gen.
12.07.1941
Lt.Gen.
06.1945 (retd 08.1950)
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM
?
2 x
Legion of Merit (US) LM
?
?
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM
?
?
Education: University of Arizona (1908), etc.
11.02.1911


commissioned in the infantry
1935
-
1940
Instructor, Infantry School
12.07.1941
-
01.1942
Commanding General, 3rd Armored Division
17.01.1942
-
08.1942?
Commanding General, II Armored Corps
08.1942
-
10.1942
Commander, Desert Training Center
14.05.1943
-
01.07.1943
Commanding General, Armored Force
02.07.1943
-
11.1943
Commanding General, Armored Command
02.12.1943
-
08.1945
Commanding General, XIII Corps (Europe)
08.1945
-
04.1946
Commanding General, VII Corps
10.1946
-
04.1947
American Commissioner Executive HQ, Peiping, China
19.06.1947
-
31.08.1950
Commanding General, Third Army
Greer,
Frank Upton


Son of William Alexander and Cecilia (Throckmorton) Greer. Married (26.12.1917) May Imogene Mann; two daughters, three sons.
24.09.1895
Washington, DC
-
17.05.1949
Gainesville, FL ?
1st Lt.
1917 [O8423]
Capt.
18.02.1926
Maj.
01.12.1935
...
...
Brig.Gen.
03.06.1943 (retd 31.08.1946)
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
Africa 43
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
France 44
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM
?
France 44
Purple Heart PH
?
2 x
Legion of Honor (France; Croix de Guerre with palm (France)
Education: Catholic University (1915-1918); Infantry School (1921); George Washington University (LLB, 1925); Chemical Warfare School (1934); Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth (1934); Army War College (1936)
1917


commissioned in the infantry
1918


318th Infantry (AEF, France)
1926
-
1929
Canal Zone
1929
-

1932
instructor with the organized reserves in Pennsylvania
1938
-
1941
professor of military science & tactics, Rhode Island State College
1941
-
1943
18th Infantry Regiment:
01.07.1942
-
23.05.1943
Commanding Officer
1943
-
09.01.1945
Assistant Division Commander, 79th Infantry Division
1945


Bureau of Public Relations, War Department
Griswold,
Oscar Woolverton


22.10.1886
Ruby Valley, NV
-
28.09.1959
Colorado Springs, CO
2nd Lt.
15.06.1910
...
...
Brig.Gen.
10.1940
Maj.Gen.
08.1941
Lt.Gen.
14.04.1945 (retd 31.10.1947)
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM
?
2 x
Distinguished Service Medal (Navy) DSM
?
?
Silver Star (US) SSM
?
2 x
Legion of Merit (US) LM
?
?
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM
?
?
Air Medal AM
?
?
Purple Heart PH
?
?
Education: US Military Academy, West Point (...-15.06.1910; grad. # 4924)
15.06.1910


commissioned in the infantry
09.1939
-
10.1940
Commanding Officer, 29th Infantry Regiment
1940
-
1941
4th Infantry Division
1941
-
1941
Commanding General, Infantry Replacement Training Center, Camp Croft
08.1941
-
09.1941
Commanding General, 4th Mechanized Division
10.1941
-
04.1943
Commanding General, IV Corps
04.1943 -
09.1945
Commanding General, XIV Corps (Guadalcanal (1942-43), New Georgia (1943-44), and the Philippines (1944-45))
15.07.1943
-
1943 as such also: Commanding General New Georgia Occupation Force
01.11.1943
-
21.11.1944
as such also: US Military Commander, Papua New Guinea
15.03.1947
-
14.04.1947
Commanding General, Third Army
Gruenther,
Alfred Maximilian


Son of Christian and Mary Shea Gruenther.
03.03.1899
Platte Center, NE
-
30.05.1983
Washington, DC
[Arlington National Cemetery, VA]
2nd Lt.
01.11.1918 [12242]
...
...
Capt.
01.05.1935
...
...
Brig.Gen.
08.1942
Maj.Gen.
02.1943
Gen.
01.08.1951 (retd 31.12.1956; disability)
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM
?
3 x
Legion of Merit (US) LM
?
?
Bronze Star Medal (US) BSM
?
?
Education: US Military Academy, West Point
01.11.1918


commissioned, Field Artillery
1939
-
1941
War Department General Staff
1941
-
1942
Deputy Chief of Staff, then Chief of Staff, Third Army
08.1942
-
01.1943
Deputy Chief of Staff, Allied HQ, London
1943
-
1944
Chief of Staff, Fifth Army
1944
-
1945
Chief of Staff, 15th Army Group
1951
-
1953
Chief of Staff, SHAPE
11.07.1953
-
31.05.1956
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
President American Red Cross, 1957-1964.
Grunert,
George

21.07.1881
White Haven, PA
-
13.01.1971
San Antonio, TX
2nd Lt.
? [O1534]
...
...
Brig.Gen.
11.1936
Maj.Gen.
12.1939
Lt.Gen.
08.10.1943 (retd 31.07.1945)
Distinguished Service Medal (US) DSM
?
2 x
Legion of Merit (US) LM
?
?
Purple Heart PH
?
?
Education: ?
1901


commissioned in the cavalry
1938
-
?
Commander, 26th Cavalry Regiment
?
-
1940
Commander, 23rd Brigade
05.1940
-
1942
Commanding General, Philippine Department & from 1942 VI Corps Area
05.1943
-
08.1943
Deputy Chief of Staff for Service Commands, Army Service Forces
08.10.1943
-
10.10.1943
Commanding General, First Army (Governors Island, NY)
[possibly already in 08.1943?]
10.1943
-
31.07.1945
Commanding General, Eastern Defense Command
       

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z