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Michael Fincke

2025-10-17T07:04:01Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Awards and decorations */

{{short description|American astronaut and USAF colonel (born 1967)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox astronaut
| name = Mike Fincke
| image = NASA astronaut and SpaceX Crew-11 Pilot Mike Fincke (jsc2025e012001 alt).jpg
| caption = Fincke in 2025
| birth_name = Edward Michael Fincke
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|3|14}}
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Renita Saikia
| children = 3
| other_names = Spanky<ref name="spanky">{{Cite web |last=Cowling |first=Keith |date=January 25, 2009 |title=Today's Videos: ISS Tour With Spanky |url=http://nasawatch.com/archives/2009/01/todays-videos-iss-tour-with-spanky.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712134509/http://nasawatch.com/archives/2009/01/todays-videos-iss-tour-with-spanky.html |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |website=nasawatch.com |publisher=Spaceref.com |location=Toronto}}</ref>
| education = [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) [[Stanford University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]]) [[El Camino College]] ([[Associate of Science|AS]]) [[University of Houston]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
| type = [[NASA astronaut]]
| rank = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]] (ret.)
| time = {{Time in space|1 August 2025, 15:43:42|381|15|11|refresh=yes}}
| selection = [[NASA Astronaut Group 16|NASA Group 16 (1996)]]
| evas = 9
| eva_time = 48h 37m
| missions = {{Unbulleted indent list
| [[Soyuz TMA-4]] ([[Expedition 9]])
| [[Soyuz TMA-13]] ([[Expedition 18]])
| [[STS-134]]
| [[SpaceX Crew-11]] ([[Expedition 73]]/[[Expedition 74|74]])
}}
| insignia = [[File:Soyuz TMA-4 Patch.png|50px]] [[File:Expedition 9 insignia.png|40px]] [[File:Soyuztma13patch.jpg|50px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 18 patch.png|50px]] [[File:STS-134 patch.png|50px]] [[File:SpaceX Crew-11 logo.png|50px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 73 Patch.png|50px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 74 Patch.png|50px]]
}}

'''Edward Michael''' "'''Mike'''" '''Fincke''' (born March 14, 1967) is an American [[astronaut]] and retired [[United States Air Force]] [[colonel]]. He formerly held the American record for the most time in space (382 days) until it was broken by [[Scott Kelly (astronaut)|Scott Kelly]] on October 16, 2015. Fincke has logged nine spacewalks, totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes of EVA time. He is unique in that six of those spacewalks were in a Russian [[Orlan space suit|Orlan spacesuit]]. Before his next launch, Fincke has been certified as a pilot for both [[Boeing Starliner]] and [[SpaceX Dragon 2|SpaceX Crew Dragon]], as well as a co-pilot/flight engineer on the [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]] and a mission specialist on the [[Space Shuttle]].

Fincke was born in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] but considers its suburb [[Emsworth, Pennsylvania|Emsworth]] to be his hometown.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-01 |title=Pittsburgh-area native piloting SpaceX flight to International Space Station - CBS Pittsburgh |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/pittsburgh-area-native-piloting-spacex-flight/ |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He is a retired [[United States Air Force]] officer and an active [[NASA]] astronaut. He is a veteran of three long-duration missions aboard the [[International Space Station]] as a [[flight engineer]] on [[Expedition 9]], as commander of [[Expedition 18]], and as a flight engineer on [[Expedition 73]] and commander of [[Expedition 74]], as well as one [[Space Shuttle]] mission, [[STS-134]], as a [[mission specialist]]. Fincke is conversant in [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and [[Russian language|Russian]].<ref name="bio" /> He is married to Renita Saikia, and together, they have three children: son Chandra and daughters Tarali and Surya.<ref name="bio">{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Michael Fincke Biography |url=https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/edward-m-fincke/biography |access-date=July 6, 2021 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>

Fincke logged just under 382 days in space, placing him 10th among the most experienced American astronauts.

== Education ==
Fincke graduated from [[Sewickley Academy]] in [[Sewickley, Pennsylvania]], in 1985. He attended the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] on an [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] [[ROTC]] scholarship and graduated in 1989 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[aeronautics]] and [[astronautics]] as well as a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[Earth science|Earth]], [[Atmospheric sciences|atmospheric]] and [[planetary sciences]].<ref name="bio" /> He then received a [[Master of Science]] degree in aeronautics and astronautics from [[Stanford University]] in 1990, and a second [[Master of Science]] degree in [[planetary geology]] from the [[University of Houston–Clear Lake]] in 2001.<ref name="bio" /> He also attended [[El Camino College]] in [[Torrance, California]], where he studied [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and [[geology]],<ref name="bio" /> and [[Community College of Allegheny County]] in [[Pittsburgh]].<ref>https://www.ccac.edu/newsroom-and-marketing/ccac-newsroom/2024/0918-ccac-space-day-2024.php</ref>

== Military career ==
Immediately after graduating from MIT in 1989, Fincke attended a summer exchange program with the [[Moscow Aviation Institute]] in the former [[Soviet Union]], now Russia, where he studied Cosmonautics. After graduation from Stanford University in 1990, Fincke entered the [[United States Air Force]] where he was assigned to the Air Force Space and Missiles Systems Center, [[Los Angeles Air Force Base]] in [[California]]. There, he served as a Space Systems Engineer and a Space Test Engineer. In 1994, upon completion of the [[U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School]], [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in California, Fincke joined the 39th Flight Test Squadron, [[Eglin Air Force Base]] in [[Florida]], where he served as a flight test engineer working on a variety of flight test programs, flying the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] and [[F-15 Eagle|F-15]] aircraft. In January 1996, he reported to the Gifu Test Center, Gifu Air Base in Japan, where he was the United States flight test liaison to the Japanese/United States [[Mitsubishi F-2|XF-2]] fighter program. By 2024, Fincke had accumulated over 2000 flight hours in more than 30 different varieties of aircraft and held the rank of [[colonel]].<ref name="bio" /> Fincke belongs to the [[Association of Space Explorers]] and [[The Explorers Club]].<ref name="bio" />

== NASA career ==
Fincke was selected by [[NASA]] in April 1996 to be an astronaut. He reported to the [[Johnson Space Center]] in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station Operations Branch serving as an International Space Station spacecraft communicator (ISS CAPCOM), a member of the Crew Test Support Team in Russia and as the ISS crew procedures team lead.<ref name="bio" />

In July 1999, Fincke was assigned as backup crewmember for the [[International Space Station]] [[Expedition 4]] crew. Additionally, he served as a backup for the ISS [[Expedition 6]] crew and was qualified to fly as a left-seat flight engineer (co-pilot) on the Russian [[Soyuz spacecraft]].

He was the commander of the second NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations ([[NEEMO#NEEMO 2: May 13–20, 2002|NEEMO 2]]) mission, living and working underwater for 7 days in May 2002.<ref name="bio" />

In 2013, Fincke served as cavenaut into the [[ESA CAVES]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sauro |first1=Francesco |last2=De Waele |first2=Jo |last3=Payler |first3=Samuel J. |last4=Vattano |first4=Marco |last5=Sauro |first5=Francesco Maria |last6=Turchi |first6=Leonardo |last7=Bessone |first7=Loredana |date=July 1, 2021 |title=Speleology as an analogue to space exploration: The ESA CAVES training programme |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576521001478 |journal=[[Acta Astronautica]] |language=en |volume=184 |pages=150–166 |bibcode=2021AcAau.184..150S |doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.04.003 |issn=0094-5765 |s2cid=234819922 |url-access=subscription |hdl-access=free |hdl=11585/819077}}</ref> training in [[Sardinia]], alongside [[Soichi Noguchi]], [[Andreas Mogensen]], [[Nikolai Tikhonov (cosmonaut)|Nikolai Tikhonov]], [[Andrew J. Feustel|Andrew Feustel]], and [[David Saint-Jacques]].

=== Expedition 9 ===
[[File:Padalka Fincke ISS ultrasound.jpg|thumb|Gennady Padalka performs an [[ultrasound]] exam on Fincke during Expedition 9]]

Fincke was the space station science officer and flight engineer for ISS [[Expedition 9]] from April 18 through October 23, 2004. The mission was launched from the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] in [[Kazakhstan]] aboard the [[Soyuz TMA-4]] spacecraft and docked with the International Space Station on April 21, 2004. Fincke spent six months aboard the ISS continuing ISS science operations, maintaining station systems, and performing four spacewalks. Expedition 9 concluded with undocking from the station and safe landing back in Kazakhstan on October 23, 2004. Fincke completed his first mission in 187 days, 21 hours, and 17 minutes, and logged a total of 15 hours, 45 minutes, and 22 seconds of [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]] time in four spacewalks.<ref name="bio" />

Fincke was the backup commander for [[Expedition 13]] and [[Expedition 16]].<ref name="bio" />

=== Expedition 18 ===
[[File:Mike Fincke Expedition 18 Steelers.png|thumb|Fincke holds a [[Terrible Towel]] to support the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malik |first=Tariq |date=January 17, 2009 |title=Space Commander Cheers for Steelers in NFL Playoff |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/090117-space-commander-steelers.html |publisher=[[Space.com]]}}</ref>]]

Fincke was commander of [[Expedition 18]]. He arrived at the International Space Station aboard the [[Soyuz TMA-13]] on October 14, 2008 with cosmonaut [[Yuri Lonchakov]] and [[space flight participant]] [[Richard Garriott]]. While Richard Garriott was aboard, Fincke participated during his personal time (along with Yury Lonchakov, [[Gregory Chamitoff]], and Richard Garriott) in filming and starring in a science-fiction movie made in space, ''[[Apogee of Fear]]''. On April 8, 2009, Fincke, Lonchakov, and space tourist [[Charles Simonyi]] returned to Earth aboard the TMA-13.

Replacing Fincke as commander of the space station was [[Gennady Padalka]], whom he served with on Expedition 9.

=== STS-134 ===
Fincke was a [[mission specialist]] on [[STS-134]], which was his only flight on the [[Space Shuttle]]. Fincke made three spacewalks during the mission. He has completed 26 hours and 12 minutes of spacewalking time, bringing his total EVA time to 48 hours and 37 minutes.<ref name="bio" /> As of July 2025, this places him 17th all time on the [[List of cumulative spacewalk records|list of spacewalkers]].

=== Commercial Crew Program ===
[[File:NASA CCTCap Announcement 2014.jpg|thumb|Fincke on podium for the announcement of both Boeing and SpaceX as the providers for the Commercial Crew Program's CCTCap program in 2014]]
[[File:Original CFT Crew.jpg|thumb|Fincke, Ferguson, Mann - one of the original CFT crews. 2019-2020]]
[[File:KSC-20221018-PH KLS01 0222.jpg|thumb|Fincke (left) with Sunita Williams (center) and Barry Wilmore (right) as they prepare to test the Starliner crew module.]]
Fincke has been deeply involved with NASA's Commercial Crew Program for over a decade. From 2014-2019, he served as the Astronaut Office Chief of the Commercial Crew Branch during the original Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts award. He has contributed significantly to the development of both the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft.

In January 2019, NASA announced that Fincke would fly on [[Boeing Starliner|CST-100 Starliner]]’s [[Boeing Crew Flight Test]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bob Granath |date=January 22, 2019 |title=NASA Announces Updated Crew Assignment for Boeing Flight Test Retrieved on January 22, 2019 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-announces-updated-crew-assignment-for-boeing-flight-test |access-date=January 22, 2019 |publisher=NASA |archive-date=November 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110222101/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-announces-updated-crew-assignment-for-boeing-flight-test/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, in June 2022, NASA revised the mission to a two-person flight test with Fincke serving as the backup spacecraft test pilot. On September 30, 2022, NASA announced that Fincke would fly as the pilot on the Starliner's first operational mission, [[Boeing Starliner-1]] (PCM-1).<ref name="new">{{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Sean |date=June 16, 2022 |title=NASA Updates Astronaut Assignments for Boeing Starliner Test Flight |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-updates-astronaut-assignments-for-boeing-starliner-test-flight |access-date=June 17, 2022 |website=nasa.gov |publisher=NASA}}</ref> However, in March 2025, he was announced as the pilot of [[SpaceX Crew-11]] due to ongoing testing with the {{ComV|Starliner|Calypso}} following technical issues during the [[Boeing Crew Flight Test]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NASA Shares SpaceX Crew-11 Assignments for Space Station Mission |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-shares-spacex-crew-11-assignments-for-space-station-mission/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |language=en |website=nasa.gov |publisher=NASA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Will Robinson Smith |date=March 28, 2025 |title=NASA switches Starliner crew to SpaceX Dragon as testing continues on troubled Boeing capsule|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/03/28/nasa-switches-starliner-crew-to-spacex-dragon-as-testing-continues-on-troubled-boeing-capsule/}}</ref>

Fincke has been certified as a co-pilot/flight engineer for the Soyuz, a mission specialist for the flight deck crew of the Space Shuttle, and a pilot for Starliner and Crew Dragon. His extensive work in spacecraft development included significant contributions to Starliner's development through his work in the Avionics and Software Integration Lab (ASIL), focusing on flight software refinement, systems integration, and human-spacecraft interfaces.

Throughout his career, Fincke has remained at the forefront of testing and developing human-rated spacecraft, leveraging his engineering, flight test, and astronaut experience to contribute to the next era of space exploration.

On August 1, 2025, Fincke launched on NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station, where he will serve as a member of [[Expedition 73]]/[[Expedition 74|74]].

== Acting ==
* Fincke was a guest star on the final episode of ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' along with fellow astronaut [[Terry Virts]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=JSC |first=Amiko Nevills |date=July 20, 2016 |title=Final Frontier Astronauts Land on Star Trek |url=http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/features/Astros_on_StarTrek.html |access-date=August 3, 2020 |website=nasa.gov |publisher=NASA |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126060011/http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/features/Astros_on_StarTrek.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* He was also featured in the ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'' Blu-ray special features, talking about what it is like to work in space and how ''Star Trek'' influences people to believe in the magic of space travel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=matt |date=September 26, 2009 |title=Review – Star Trek The Next Generation Movies Blu-ray Box Set |url=https://trekmovie.com/2009/09/26/review-star-trek-the-next-generation-movies-blu-ray-box-set/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=trekmovie.com }}</ref>
* Fincke appeared in ''[[The Wiggles]]'' video Wiggle Around the Clock (2006), demonstrating a space suit.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Wiggle Around the Clock |type=DVD |publisher=HIT Entertainment |people=The Wiggles}}</ref>
* Fincke voiced himself in the Season 14 ''[[Arthur (TV Series)|Arthur]]'' episode "Buster Spaces Out".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=John |date=October 10, 2011 |title=The 15 Geekiest Episodes of PBS's Arthur |url=https://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/10/arthur/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819092859/https://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/10/arthur/ |archive-date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2013 |publisher=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref>
* Fincke also appeared in ''Man on a Mission: Richard Garriott's Road to the Stars'', a documentary based on [[Richard Garriott]]'s spaceflight as a fellow astronaut who launched to the ISS with him on a [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz spacecraft]].

== Awards and decorations ==
{|
|[[File:US Air Force Senior Astronaut Observer Navigator Combat System Officer Badge.png|200px]]
|Master Astronaut Observer Badge
|-
|[[File:Master space badge.JPG|200px]]
|[[Space and Missile Badge|Command Space Operations Badge]]
|}
{|
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon|width=106}}
| [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Air and Space Commendation Medal ribbon|width=106}}
| [[Air Force Commendation Medal]] with two [[oak leaf clusters]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Air Force Achievement Medal ribbon|width=106}}
| [[Air Force Achievement Medal]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=NasaDisRib.svg|width=106}}
| [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]] with two oak leaf clusters
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=106}}
| [[NASA Space Flight Medal]] with two oak leaf clusters
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award|width=106}}
| [[National Defense Service Medal]] with [[service star]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Air Force Training Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| [[Air Force Training Ribbon]]
|}

* Distinguished graduate from the United States Air Force ROTC, Squadron Officer School and Test Pilot School Programs
* Recipient of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School Colonel Ray Jones Award as the top Flight Test Engineer/Flight Test Navigator in class 93B
* Recipient of the [http://www.sewickley.org/ Sewickley Academy] Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005<ref>[https://www.sewickley.org/alumni/alumni-honors-and-awards/distinguished-alumni#/ The Distinguished Alumni Award] Sewickley Academy, Retrieved 12 Jul 2025</ref>

== References ==
{{Include-NASA}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Twitter}}
* [https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/edward-m-fincke/biography NASA biography]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/fincke_edward.htm Spacefacts biography of Mike Fincke]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgBgmw-2U8c International Space Station Tour (part 1 of 4)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120322080642/http://www.scholarsavenue.org/2008/01/23/nasa-flies-down-to-kgp-colonel-edward-michael-fincke-usaf/ Interview with The Scholars' Avenuve, IIT Kharagpur]

{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Sergey Aleksandrovich Volkov|Sergei Volkov]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Expedition 18|ISS Expedition Commander]] | years=October 24, 2008, to April 8, 2009}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Gennady Padalka]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{People currently in space}}
{{NASA Astronaut Group 16}}
{{Underwater diving|unddiv}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fincke, Edward Michael}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Aquanauts]]
[[Category:Commanders of the International Space Station]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Space systems engineers]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American systems engineers]]
[[Category:United States Air Force officers]]
[[Category:University of Houston–Clear Lake alumni]]
[[Category:MIT School of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:Sewickley Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Spacewalkers]]

Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)

2025-10-17T06:55:44Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Awards and decorations */

{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Short description|American astronaut and US Army officer (born 1958)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name = Jeffrey Williams
|image = Jeffrey N. Williams 2009.jpg
|caption = Williams in 2009
|birth_name = Jeffrey Nels Williams
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|1|18}}
|birth_place = [[Superior, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|education = [[United States Military Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
|type = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], [[United States Army|USA]]
|time = 534d 2h 48m
|selection = [[NASA Astronaut Group 16|NASA Group 16 (1996)]]
|evas = 5
|eva_time = 31h 55m
|missions = [[STS-101]] [[Soyuz TMA-8]] ([[Expedition 13]]) [[Soyuz TMA-16]] ([[Expedition 21]]/[[Expedition 22|22]]) [[Soyuz TMA-20M]] ([[Expedition 47]]/[[Expedition 48|48]])
|insignia = [[File:Sts-101-patch.png|58px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 13 Patch with Reiter.svg|50px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 21 Patch.svg|52px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 22 Patch.svg|50px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 47 Patch.svg|50px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 48 Patch.png|50px]]
}}
'''Jeffrey Nels Williams''' (born January 18, 1958) is a retired [[United States Army]] officer and a [[NASA]] [[astronaut]]. He is a veteran of four [[space flight]]s and formerly held the American record for most days spent in space, which was surpassed in April 2017 by his colleague [[Peggy Whitson]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=Barnett |first=Amanda |last2=Mueller |first2=Eleanor |date=April 24, 2017 |title=Trump congratulates NASA astronaut |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/23/politics/nasa-astronaut-peggy-whitson-trump/index.html |access-date=2020-08-24 |website=CNN}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Williams was born in [[Superior, Wisconsin]], and raised in [[Winter, Wisconsin]]. During his childhood, Williams reached the rank of Star Scout, the third-highest in the [[Boy Scouts of America]].<ref name="astro-bsa">{{cite web |url=http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-558.aspx |title=Astronauts and the BSA |work=Fact sheet |publisher=[[Boy Scouts of America]] |access-date=2006-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414205119/http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-558.aspx |archive-date=April 14, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="JOTA">{{cite web |url=http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/International/ProgramEnrichment/JOTA_JOTI.aspx |title=Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet Extravaganza |publisher=Boy Scouts of America |access-date=2010-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620064814/http://scouting.org/scoutsource/International/ProgramEnrichment/JOTA_JOTI.aspx |archive-date=June 20, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the [[Jamboree on the Air]] in October 2009 he communicated with Boy Scouts in the [[National Scouting Museum]] in [[Texas]] from the International Space Station.<ref name="JOTA" /> Williams graduated from Winter High School in Winter, Wisconsin, in 1976. He earned a degree in applied science and engineering from the [[U.S. Military Academy]] in 1980, receiving his commission in the [[United States Army]].

== NASA career ==
Williams served with the Army at [[Johnson Space Center]] from 1987 to 1992 before training as a [[test pilot]]. In 1996, he was selected by [[NASA]] as an astronaut candidate. In July 2002, Williams served as the commander of the [[NEEMO#NEEMO 3: July 15–21, 2002|NEEMO 3]] mission aboard the [[Aquarius (laboratory)|Aquarius]] [[Underwater habitat|underwater laboratory]], living and working underwater for six days.<ref name="three">{{Cite web |url=http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/mission/miss.cfm?mis_index=212 |title=Life Sciences Data Archive : Experiment |author=NASA |date=April 21, 2011 |publisher=NASA |access-date=September 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024024749/http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/mission/miss.cfm?mis_index=212 |archive-date=October 24, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Army">{{cite journal |journal=The Army Space Journal |volume=1 |issue=3 |date=Summer 2002 |url=http://www.armyspace.army.mil/spacejournal/Article.asp?AID=30 |title=Army Space Command Astronaut Trains for Life in Space -- Underwater |access-date=December 21, 2011 |last=Montoya |first=Donald |publisher=[[Army Space Command]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331223026/http://www.armyspace.army.mil/spacejournal/Article.asp?AID=30 |archive-date=March 31, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
[[File:Jeffrey Williams in Destiny.jpg|thumb|left|Williams in the ''[[Destiny (ISS module)|Destiny]]'' laboratory module during Expedition 21]]

===STS-101===
In 2000, Williams launched to space for the first time on [[STS-101]]. STS-101 delivered supplies to the [[International Space Station]], hauled up using a Spacehab double module and an Integrated Cargo Carrier pallet. Williams and fellow crew member [[James S. Voss|James Voss]] performed a spacewalk and then reboosted the station from 230 miles (370 km) to 250 miles (400 km). They returned to Earth after over 9 days on orbit.

===Expedition 13===
[[File:Jeffrey Williams inside the Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft.jpg|thumb|right|Williams onboard Soyuz TMA-8]]
Williams also flew aboard the [[Soyuz TMA-8]] mission, replacing [[Expedition 12]] astronaut [[William S. McArthur]]. He was previously in [[orbit]] as the Expedition 13 flight engineer and science officer aboard the International Space Station. He returned to Earth on September 28, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition13/exp13_undocking.html|title=Space Station Crew Back on Earth|date=2006-09-28|publisher=NASA|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref>

During his six-month stint at the [[International Space Station]] in 2006, Williams orbited the Earth more than 2,800 times. During [[Expedition 13]], he worked on hundreds of experiments, [[spacewalk|walked in space]] twice, and captured more photographs of the Earth than any other astronaut in history. Many of his photos are found in his book ''The Work of His Hands: A View of God's Creation from Space'', where he shares personal narrative and vivid photos of the Earth.

On August 24, 2006, a taped message made by him to be played at an official NASA press conference was accidentally played over the air-to-ground loop,<ref>{{cite news|title=NASA lets name of new vehicle slip early |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2006/08/22/nasa-lets-name-of-new-vehicle-slip-early/28496181007/
|date=August 22, 2006|publisher=Sarasota Herald Tribune|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> the tape revealing that the [[Crew Exploration Vehicle]] under development to replace the [[Space Shuttle]] after 2010 would be named [[Orion spacecraft|Orion]] after the [[Orion (constellation)|famed wintertime constellation]].

===Expedition 21/22===
Williams also served as a flight engineer for [[Expedition 21]] and assumed command of [[Expedition 22]] in November 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/nov/HQ_08-306_Expedition_crews.html|title=NASA Assigns Space Station Crews, Updates Expedition Numbering|first=Katherine|last=Trinidad|date=November 21, 2008|publisher=NASA|access-date=January 29, 2023|archive-date=April 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417221108/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/nov/HQ_08-306_Expedition_crews.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> having arrived on the International Space Station with his crew mates via [[Soyuz TMA-16]] which launched on September 30, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9eya90Y5jo | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231231442/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9eya90Y5jo| archive-date=2009-12-31 | url-status=dead|title=Expedition 21 Soyuz Launch |publisher=[[NASA TV]] |date=September 30, 2009}}</ref> Williams with Expedition 22 Flight Engineer [[Max Suraev|Maksim Surayev]] landed their Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft on the steppes of [[Kazakhstan]] on March 18, 2010, wrapping up a 167-day stay aboard the Space Station.

====First live tweetup from space====
[[File:ISS-47 Jeff Williams works with the SmartCycler in the Destiny lab.jpg|thumb|left| Williams at work in the ''Destiny'' laboratory]]
On October 21, 2009, Williams and his Expedition 21 crewmate, [[Nicole Stott]], participated in the first [[NASA Tweetup]] from the station with members of the public gathered at [[NASA]] Headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Cioffi |first=Carla |date=October 21, 2009 |title=20091021 NASA Live Tweetup Event with International Space Station |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157622635092926/ |publisher=NASA}}</ref> This involved the first ''live'' [[Twitter]] connection for the astronauts.<ref>{{cite web |author=Yembrick |first=John |date=October 1, 2009 |title=NASA Hosts Long-Distance Tweetup with Astronauts on Space Station |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/oct/HQ_M09-185_ISS_Tweetup.html |access-date=October 20, 2009 |publisher=NASA}}</ref> Previously, astronauts on board the Space Shuttle or ISS have sent the messages they desire to send as tweets down to [[Johnson Space Center|Mission Control]] which then posted the message via the [[Internet]] to Twitter.<ref>{{cite web |author=Horowitz |first=Etan |date=May 22, 2009 |title=The great debate over Astro Mike's 'tweets from space' |url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/etan_on_tech/2009/05/the-great-debate-over-astro-mikes-tweets-from-space.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525211849/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/etan_on_tech/2009/05/the-great-debate-over-astro-mikes-tweets-from-space.html |archive-date=May 25, 2009 |access-date=October 2, 2009 |publisher=[[The Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref>

===Expedition 47/48===

[[File: ISS-47 Jeff Williams, Tim Kopra and Tim Peake in front of BEAM's entrance.jpg|thumb|right| Williams with crew mates Tim Peake and Tim Kopra at the entrance to the BEAM]]

Williams returned to space station in 2016<ref>{{cite web |author=Buck |first=Joshua |date=February 11, 2014 |title=NASA, International Space Station Partners Announce Future Crew Members |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/february/nasa-international-space-station-partners-announce-future-crew-members/#.Uw1jAPldUXU |publisher=NASA}}</ref> as part of [[Expedition 47]][[Expedition 48|/48]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Launch, Docking Returns International Space Station Crew to Full Strength|url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/launch-docking-returns-international-space-station-crew-to-full-strength-0|publisher=NASA|access-date=19 March 2016|date=March 19, 2016}}</ref> Upon the departure of [[Soyuz TMA-19M]] he became commander of Expedition 48.<ref name="days">{{cite web |author=Garcia |first=Mark |date=17 June 2016 |title=NASA Astronauts Swap Station Command |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/06/17/nasa-astronauts-swap-station-command |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505221145/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/06/17/nasa-astronauts-swap-station-command/ |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |access-date=June 19, 2016 |publisher=blogs.nasa.gov}}</ref> Williams was returned to Earth safely on 6 September 2016.

On Expedition 47, Williams surpassed [[Scott Kelly (astronaut)|Scott Kelly]]'s record of 520 cumulative days in space which was set when he returned from space on March 1, 2016; Williams beat this record with 534 cumulative days.<ref name=nasabio>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/williamsj_0.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015174748/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/williamsj_0.pdf |access-date=December 3, 2023|title=Jeffrey N. Williams, (Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.) NASA Astronaut |publisher=NASA|date=May 2019| archive-date=October 15, 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Williams is a committed Christian.<ref name="The Work of His Hands149">{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Jeffrey |title=The Work of His Hands: A View Of God's Creation From Space |date=June 1, 2010 |publisher=[[Concordia Publishing House]] |isbn=978-0758615893 |page=149}}</ref> Following his return from the Expedition 21 mission, he wrote the book ''The Work of His Hands: A View Of God's Creation From Space'' about his experience in space. The book reflects in Williams words the "vivid lessons about the meticulous goodness of divine providence, God's care for His creation, and His wisdom in ordering the universe".<ref name="The Work of His HandsBC">{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Jeffrey |title=The Work of His Hands: A View Of God's Creation From Space |date=June 1, 2010 |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |isbn=978-0758615893 |page=back cover}}</ref>
He is married to Anne-Marie Williams.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.superiortelegram.com/news/1937394-soyuz-expedition-22-lifts-wisconsin-astronaut | title=Soyuz Expedition 22 lifts off with Wisconsin astronaut| date=September 30, 2009}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
{|
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] with [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Legion of Merit]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Army Commendation Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=80}}
| [[National Defense Service Medal]] with award star
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=NasaDisRib.svg|width=80}}
| [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=USA - NASA Excep Rib.png|width=80}}
| [[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=80}}
| [[NASA Space Flight Medal]] with two oak leaf clusters
|}

==References==
{{Include-NASA}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Jeffrey N. Williams}}
* [https://archive.today/20130414141200/http://www.cph.org/space Jeffrey Williams' book ''The Work of His Hands: A View of God's Creation from Space'']
* {{Twitter}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/williamsj_0.pdf |title=Jeffrey N. Williams, (Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.) NASA Astronaut |publisher=NASA |access-date=June 24, 2021 |date=May 2019 |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505221142/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/williamsj_0.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/williams_jeffrey.htm Spacefacts biography of Jeffrey N. Williams]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uE0ISlYhHQ Jeff Williams Enters the BEAM Module]

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank De Winne]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of commanders of the International Space Station|ISS Commander]] ([[Expedition 22]]) | years=30 November 2009 to 17 March 2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Oleg Kotov]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Timothy Kopra]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of commanders of the International Space Station|ISS Commander]] ([[Expedition 48]]) | years=18 June to 6 September 2016}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Anatoli Ivanishin]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{NASA Astronaut Group 16|state=autocollapse}}
{{Underwater diving|unddiv}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Jeffrey}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Aquanauts]]
[[Category:United States Army astronauts]]
[[Category:NASA civilian astronauts]]
[[Category:Commanders of the International Space Station]]
[[Category:People from Superior, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army colonels]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
[[Category:American Lutherans]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:Spacewalkers]]

Matt Urban

2025-10-17T04:29:35Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Military awards and honors */

{{Short description|United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1919–1995)}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Matt Urban
|image= Lt Col. Matt Urban.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Urban wearing his Army uniform after receiving the Medal of Honor in 1980
|birth_name = Matt Louis Urbanowicz
|nickname= "Matty" "The Ghost"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/matt-urban-is-the-most-decorated-infantry-officer-youve-never-heard-of |title='The Ghost' is the most decorated infantry officer you've never heard of |publisher=Wearethemighty.com |date= 2016-12-28|accessdate=January 25, 2017}}</ref>
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1919|8|25}}
|birth_place= [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S.
|death_date= {{death date and age|1995|03|04|1919|08|25}}
|death_place= [[Holland, Michigan]], U.S.
|placeofburial= [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
|allegiance= United States
|branch= [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears= 1941–1946
|rank= [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]]
|unit=
|commands= [[60th Infantry Regiment (United States)|2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry]], [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]]
|battles= [[World War II]]
*[[North Africa Campaign]]
*[[Sicily Campaign]]
*[[Operation Overlord]]
|awards= [[Medal of Honor]] [[Silver Star]] (2) [[Legion of Merit]] [[Bronze Star Medal]] w/ [["V" Device]] (3) [[Purple Heart]] (7)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
'''Matt Louis Urban''' (August 25, 1919 – March 4, 1995) was a [[United States Army]] [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] and one of the most decorated American soldiers of [[World War II]]. Urban performed valiantly in combat on many occasions despite being wounded in action several times. He received over a dozen personal decorations for combat, including seven [[Purple Heart]]s. In 1980, he received the [[Medal of Honor]] and three other U.S. decorations and one foreign decoration for his actions in [[France during the Second World War|France]] and [[Belgium in the Second World War|Belgium]] in 1944.

==Early years==
Matt Urban was born Matthew Louis Urbanowicz in [[Buffalo, New York]]. His father Stanley was a Polish immigrant and a plumbing contractor. His mother Helen was born in [[Depew, New York]]. Urban was baptized at [[Corpus Christi R. C. Church Complex|Corpus Christi Church]] and lived at 1153 Broadway while growing up. He attended [[East High School (Buffalo, New York)|East High School]] in Buffalo, and graduated in 1937. He had three brothers: Doctor Stanley (Urbanowicz) Urban, Arthur (Urbanowicz) Urban,<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> and Eugene, who died in 1927 from appendicitis.

In the fall of 1937, Urban enrolled at [[Cornell University]] in [[Ithaca, New York]]. He majored in history and government with a minor in community recreation. He graduated on June 14, 1941, with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree; during his last year, he used the name Matty L. Urbanowitz.<ref>Cornell Alumni News issues, 1939–1941, "Matty L. Urbanowitz, 41"; December 15, 1943, Vol. 46, #12, p. 233, "Captain Matty L. Urbanowitz", two Silver Stars.</ref> While at Cornell University, he was a member of the [[Reserve Officers Training Corps]] (ROTC), the track and boxing teams, and the [[Kappa Delta Rho]] fraternity.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story">{{cite book |title=The Matt Urban Story, Life And World War II Experiences, By Lieutenant Colonel Matt Urban, Our Most Combat Decorated Soldier, 1989 |last1=Urban |first1=Matt |last2=Conrad |first2=Charles |authorlink2= Charles F. Conrad |isbn=978-0-9624621-0-8|year=1989 |publisher=Matt Urban Story Incorporated }}</ref>

==Military service==
The U.S. Army service records for Urban use both "Matt Urban" and "Matty Louis (L.) Urbanowitz".<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/><ref>[http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/2_WWII/indexes/army/Army-U.html] US Army Silver Star index, 1943, WWII; two Silver Stars, Urbanowitz, Matty L.</ref><ref name="orders">{{cite web|title=Award of the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Matt Urban|url=https://www.apd.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/go8010.pdf|website=Army Publishing Directorate|publisher=Department of the Army|access-date=October 24, 2017|date=September 18, 1980}}</ref> The name "Matt Louis Urban" was engraved on the front of his original white Arlington National Cemetery headstone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/funeralinformation/OrderHeadstone.aspx |title=The Official Website of Arlington Cemetery – Funeral Information | Order Headstone |access-date=January 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212606/http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/funeralinformation/OrderHeadstone.aspx |archive-date=January 4, 2014 }} Arlington National Cemetery (Official Website), government headstone information</ref> His current and private grave monument at Arlington National Cemetery uses the name "Matt L. Urban".<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/GravesiteLocator/GravesiteLocator.aspx] Arlington National Cemetery (Official Website), Find a Gravesite</ref>

Urban was commissioned a [[Second Lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] of infantry in the U.S. Army on May 22, 1941, and entered active duty on July 2, 1941, at [[Fort Bragg]], North Carolina.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> He first assignment was as a platoon leader of D Company, 2nd Battalion, [[60th Infantry Regiment]], [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]]. While at Fort Bragg, he founded the newsletter for the 60th Infantry.

===World War II===
Urban served as a [[first lieutenant]] and [[Captain (United States)|captain]] in six [[Campaigns of World War II|campaigns]] during World War II, and was severely wounded his seventh time while charging an enemy machine gun position on 3 September 1944, in Belgium. He was promoted to first lieutenant on February 1, 1942, captain on April 30, 1943, [[Major (United States)|major]] on October 2, 1944, and [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] on October 2, 1945. He was medically retired from the U.S. Army on February 26, 1946.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

Beginning at Fort Bragg, Urban served as a platoon leader. During the war he was a morale/special services officer, a platoon leader, a company executive officer and company commander, and a battalion executive officer and battalion commander of the 60th Infantry Regiment (the "Go Devils")<ref>[[60th Infantry Regiment (United States)]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=September 2025}}, 9th Infantry Division ("Old Reliables").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lonesentry.com/usdivisions/history/infantry/division/9th_infantry_division.html|title=9th Infantry Division Unit History (LoneSentry.com)|work=lonesentry.com}}</ref>

====North Africa====
Urban first went into combat when he made the beach landing under fire with another soldier on a raft on November 8, 1942, the first day of the [[Operation Torch|invasion of North Africa]], of the [[North Africa Campaign]].<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> Along with a Purple Heart, one of the first medals he received during the war was a [[Silver Star]].<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/><ref>[http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=2325] Military Times, Hall of Valor, Matt Urban (Urbanowicz); Note: Matty Urbanowitz is the name on his citations except for Medal of Honor.</ref>

While serving with the Second Battalion, 60th Infantry, he was wounded in action seven times. A member of his unit, Sergeant Earl G. Evans, wrote "the major, only a lieutenant at the time, was wounded in Maknassy, Tunisia and refused to be evacuated. He followed up this refusal by taking out a combat patrol. At another time in Tunisia, our battalion successfully halted a German counterattack, and it was through the major's efforts that we succeeded. As our outfit was falling back, the major held his ground and grabbed the closest German. He killed him with a trench knife, took the German's machine pistol, and fired at the onrushing enemy."<ref name=buffnews/> During the German counterattack Urban was wounded by grenade shrapnel.

====Sicily====
The 60th Infantry disembarked from Africa on July 28, 1943, on the {{USS|Orizaba}}, and arrived at [[Palermo]], [[Sicily]], on July 31,<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> after the invasion of Sicily by an American amphibious landing force on July 9 and the Allied invasion of Italy on July 10. German planes raided the harbor and the ''Orizaba'' was also attacked by German planes in the early morning of August 1 before Urban's unit disembarked from the ship that day. Urban, on deck at the time, replaced an anti-aircraft gunnery crew's spotter who was machine-gunned by a German [[Junkers Ju 87|Stuka]] dive bomber. Using the badly wounded spotter's binoculars, Urban spotted the plane returning and the gun crew was able to shoot it down.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

After the invasion of Sicily, the Germans were entrenched in a fortified mountain stronghold where the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] got bogged down by the difficult terrain. The 60th Infantry and [[Moroccan Goumier|4th Tabor of Goumiers]] were given the mission of crossing the mountains in central Sicily undetected to flank the Germans.<ref>[https://9thinfantrydivision.net/battle-history/sicily/ www.9thinfantrydivision.net]</ref>{{full short|date=April 2019}} Urban's company and battalion successfully spearheaded 4,000 men with pack-mules single file by night, which caught the Germans off guard and caused them to retreat from [[Troina]] to the next line of defense at [[Randazzo]].

A battle would have cost hundreds of American lives.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> Sicily was liberated on August 20. On September 5, Urban was presented a [[Silver Star]] in Sicily, before the 9th Infantry Division was sent back to England on November 8 for a rest and to re-equip and train for the [[Invasion of Normandy]].<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

====France====
Urban and the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry landed on [[Utah Beach]] on June 11, 1944.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /> On June 14, Urban's company attacked German positions near [[Renouf]], France. As F Company was hit by heavy enemy small arms and tank fire, Urban picked up a bazooka after the bazooka gunner was shot, and persuaded the gunner's ammo carrier to accompany him through the hedgerows to a point near the oncoming tanks. Exposing himself to the enemy, he knocked out two German tanks, and the company moved forward and routed the enemy. Later that day, while advancing near [[Orglandes]], Urban was struck in the left leg by shrapnel by direct fire from a German tank who spotted and aimed towards him before he could fire the bazooka.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /> Urban refused to be evacuated after a medic attended him, and continued directing his company from position to position while being carried by his men sitting down on a stretcher.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" />

The next day, he was wounded in the right forearm and attended in the field by the 2nd Battalion doctor, who had him evacuated to a field hospital surgical tent where Urban underwent surgery on his left calf by two doctors using lanterns for light.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /> Urban was then shipped to England for further treatment on a troop carrier.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /><ref name="citation" /> While Urban was recovering at a hospital in England in July 1944, he learned from casualties from his battalion that they had been taking severe losses in the hedgerows of France, and were lacking experienced combat officers. In order to go back to his men instead of being sent back to the United States because of his leg injury, he took charge of training forty soldiers near the hospital who were soon being sent to Normandy. He left with them on a troop carrier.

On July 25, after arriving and dropping the soldiers off for combat duty on Normandy in the morning, he began hitchhiking his way from [[Utah Beach]] to his company and battalion near [[Saint-Lô]], France, as the [[Operation Cobra|breakout from Normandy]] (July 25–31, 1944) was about to commence, with the 9th Division in the lead.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /> Urban, limping and using a stick he made as a cane, reached the 2nd Battalion to find that the unit was checked by strong enemy opposition after their attack began. German machine guns and an anti-tank gun had them pinned down. He then got men moving again so they would not be killed in their foxholes and ditches.

He helped a soldier pull a wounded and pinned-down [[M4 tank|Sherman tank]] driver out of his burning tank before it exploded.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /> He located another American support tank which was still operable, but its gun was not manageable and its turret gunner had been wounded. The tank was stalled because of crossfire from a German machinegun and an anti-tank gun positioned on top of a hill which had destroyed another tank.

Urban was told by a tank platoon lieutenant that the driver was still inside the tank. The lieutenant and then a tank platoon sergeant were both machine-gunned and killed while attempting to get to the tank's turret and its [[M2 Browning|50-caliber machine gun]]. Urban crawled alongside the tank and was able to get to and man the tank turret under fire. He ordered the tank driver to advance in high gear, and as the tank jumped off, he fired on the German machine gun emplacement. The anti-tank gun also started firing at Urban, but was not able to hit him or disable his tank. The 2nd Battalion rallied behind Urban and advanced into the valley in a unified assault.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" />

Urban destroyed more machinegun positions and the 2nd Battalion overran the Germans lines with hand-to-hand and bayonet fighting causing many German soldiers to surrender. The 2nd Battalion commander, Max L. Wolf, witnessed the action from his command post on another hill with his binoculars and recommended Urban for the Medal of Honor for spearheading the 2nd Battalion's Saint-Lô breakthrough and saving many lives.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /> Urban was then made the executive officer of the battalion.

Staff Sergeant Evans, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion command post on July 25, 1944, wrote up Urban's recommendation for Wolf. On July 5, 1945, Evans wrote [[The Pentagon]] about Urban actions after Evans was released from a German [[Prisoner of war|prisoner-of-war]] camp, saying in part: "Urban move forward, and damned if the U.S. Army didn't move forward also. He bellied up to the tank and amid heavy gunfire scrambled aboard and manned the machine gun. The driver took heart with Urban aboard. The tank roared forward, and Urban tore the hillside apart with that gun. The men, once again with 'Urban-itis' scrambled up the rise and gained the objective."<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /><ref>[https://www.holycross.edu/sites/default/files/files/libraryarchives/octofoil_35_4_1980_july_august.pdf The Octofoil, July–August 1980]</ref>

On August 2, Urban was wounded in the chest by a shell fragment that narrowly missed his heart. He again refused to be evacuated to a hospital. On August 6, Wolf was killed in action near [[Cherbourg-Octeville|Cherbourg]], France,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phigam.org/wwii |title=Phi Gamma Delta in World War II |publisher=Phigam.org |date= |accessdate=2017-01-25}}</ref> and Urban, only 24 years old, assumed command of the battalion. Urban was wounded again by shrapnel on August 15, but remained with his unit.<ref name="citation" /> The 60th Infantry was awarded the French [[Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)|Croix de Guerre]] with palm for the period of June 11–18, 1944.<ref>DA GO 43, 19 December 1950: 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division: Croix de Guerre with Palm awarded under French Decision No. 267, 22 July 1946, with citation for the period 11–18 June 1944</ref>

====Belgium====
[[File:Yanks of 60th Infantry Regiment advance into a Belgian town under the protection of a heavy tank. - NARA - 531213.tif|thumb|left|[[60th Infantry Regiment (United States)|60th Infantry]] soldiers alongside of a [[M4 Sherman|Sherman]] [[Rhino tank|"Rhino" tank]] in Belgium]]
On September 2, 1944, the 2nd Battalion was assigned to a regiment of another infantry division.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> After Urban and his battalion dug in one mile from [[Philippeville]], Belgium, Urban met with the division's commanding officer, a [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]], who ordered Urban and his 2nd Battalion to attack Philippeville the next morning.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

Urban and two others scouted the village and found at least a [[regiment]]-sized German force there which was well defended with machine guns, tanks, and antiaircraft guns aimed down the one road leading to the village. On September 3, Urban and his battalion attacked Philippeville after getting the artillery cover he requested from the general. While charging at a forward enemy machinegun emplacement with two grenades, he was shot through the neck, permanently disabling his larynx.<ref name="Digest">{{cite book|last1=Hubbell|first1=John G.|title=The Hero We Nearly Forgot|date=December 1981|publisher=Reader's Digest|page=129}}</ref><ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

One of Urban's men got to him and immediately plugged and bandaged his two neck wounds. Another soldier arrived and both soldiers dragged Urban one hundred yards to a muddy ditch while under fire from another German machinegun as the battle raged.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> The 2nd Battalion doctor and chaplain arrived. The doctor gave Urban [[Blood plasma|plasma]] and performed a [[tracheotomy]] on him. The chaplain gave Urban [[last rites]] after the doctor nodded to him that Urban would not live.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> On September 4, Urban was carried off the battlefield to a field hospital tent.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

Urban spent a few weeks in a field hospital in France before being sent back to England for further recovery.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> On October 2, 1944, he was promoted to major. The 9th Infantry Division was awarded a Belgian Unit Citation for meritorious service during the period September 3–13, 1944.<ref>DA GO 43, 1950: 9th Infantry Division: Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army by Decree No. 1391, 20 November 1945, with citation for the period 3–13 September 1944</ref>

====Germany====
While getting a pass to Scotland in December, he returned instead to the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, which was at Camp Elsenborn, Germany.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> Urban was welcomed by his men, who thought he had been killed in action. Although Urban could not speak, he requested a combat assignment in writing.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> His request was denied for medical concerns by the 60th Infantry Regiment commander at Elsenborn. He was allowed to stay with the 2nd Battalion until the battalion pulled out of Elsenborn, and he returned to England.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

Beginning in October 1945, he was a staff writer and later an editor for ''Liberty Magazine''{{'}}s Veterans' View Bulletin until October 1947; he was medically retired from the U.S. Army in February 1946. During this time he was promoted to [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] and changed his legal name from Matty Urbanowitz to Matt Urban.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

==Later years==
In 1949, he became the Recreation Director in Port Huron, Michigan. Starting in 1956, he took a job as Director of the Monroe, Michigan, Community Center until 1972. After leaving the job, he continued to serve the community center as coach for basketball, baseball, and football programs. At Monroe, he also trained several young men who became national Golden Gloves Champions. He was appointed chair of the Michigan Olympic Boxing Committee. Later, as part of the Chicago Olympic Committee, he was one of three trainers who accompanied [[Muhammad Ali]], at that time still known as Cassius Clay, to the San Francisco Olympic tryouts.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

After Monroe, he became the Director of the Recreation Department for Holland, Michigan from 1972 to 1989. He organized a camp for underprivileged children and became its Camp Director, served as [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys Club]] director, and a [[Cub Scout#United States|Cub Scout]] Cubmaster. He was also involved in other activities and organizations like the [[Red Cross]], the Amateur Softball Association, and [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scouts]], as chairman, board member, and committee member. He was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Softball Hall of Fame.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

In 1989, Urban retired and self-published an [[autobiography]], ''The Matt Urban Story, Life And World War II Experiences''.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> In 1990, the book was retitled as ''The Hero-We Nearly Forgot, The Matt Urban Story''.

===Medal of Honor===
[[File:President Carter awarding MOH to Colonel Urban.jpg|thumb|240px|Urban awarded the Medal of Honor by [[U.S. President]] [[Jimmy Carter]], July 19, 1980]]
In early 1979, a Michigan [[Disabled American Veterans]] (DAV) regional service representative who had come to know Urban personally over a long period of time, sent an official Medal of Honor recommendation inquiry to U.S. Army Headquarters. The misplaced MOH recommendation for Urban was found and revealed that Major Max L. Wolf, Urban's battalion commander in France, had initiated a Medal of Honor recommendation for Urban which was forwarded by Staff Sergeant Earl Evans just prior to Wolf being killed in action in France on August 6, 1944.<ref name="buffnews">{{cite news|last1=Cichon|first1=Steve|title=July 4, 1979: Matt Urban to finally get Medal of Honor|url=http://buffalonews.com/2014/07/04/july-4-1979-matt-urban-finally-get-medal-honor/|publisher=Buffalo News|date= July 4, 2014}}</ref> The U.S. Army then completed the necessary recommendation process to award Urban the Medal of Honor. In 1980, by the direction of the President, the Department of the Army awarded Matt Urban the Medal of Honor, in the name of the Congress.<ref name="orders" /><ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/>

On July 10, 1980, Urban was notified by the [[White House]] that he was a Medal of Honor recipient, and the next day he was notified that the Medal of Honor award ceremony would be on July 19. On July 18, Urban was presented the [[Legion of Merit]], [[Bronze Star Medal]] with [["V" device]] (second [[oak leaf cluster]]), and his seventh Purple Heart (sixth oak leaf cluster), by [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Army Chief of Staff]], [[Edward C. Meyer]], during a ceremony at the Pentagon.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/> At a ceremony at the [[Embassy of France, Washington, D.C.|French Embassy]], he was also presented the Croix de guerre with Bronze Star by Francois Lefebvre de Labouaye, the French [[Ambassador]] to the United States.<ref name="autogenerated1980">[https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SBS19800720.1.1 The Sun newspaper, July 20, 1980, ''Hero honored 35 years late'']</ref> The citation for the medal which was not personally awarded to Urban before this occasion was signed by General [[Charles de Gaulle]] in June 1944.<ref name="autogenerated1980"/> On July 19, President [[Jimmy Carter]] presented Urban the Medal of Honor in front of several hundred guests, which included fellow 9th Infantry Division veterans who had served with Urban in combat.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Jimmy|title=Congressional Medal of Honor Remarks on Presenting the Medal to Lt. Col. Matt Urban, U.S. Army, Retired.|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=44777|website=American Presidency Project|date=July 19, 1980}}</ref>

===Death===
[[File:ANCExplorer_Matt_Urban_grave.jpg|thumb|Urban's grave at Arlington National Cemetery]]
Urban died on March 4, 1995, in [[Holland, Michigan]], at the age of 75. The cause of death was a collapsed lung, reportedly due to his war injuries. He is buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]] in [[Arlington, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgV1cmJhbhIEbWF0dA--/ |title=Burial Detail: Urban, Matt L. (Section 7A, Grave 40) |work= ANC Explorer|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery |id=(Official website)}}</ref>

==Military awards and honors==
Urban's military awards include fourteen individual decorations for combat: the Medal of Honor, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals (two for heroism), and seven Purple Hearts.<ref name="arlingtonbio">{{cite web|title=Biography of Matt Urban|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Prominent-Military-Figures/Matt-Urban|website=Arlington National Cemetery|publisher=United States Army|accessdate=23 October 2017}}</ref> Urban received the following military decorations and awards:<ref name="The Matt Urban Story"/><ref name="arlingtonbio" /><ref name="Tanber2005">{{cite news|last1=Tanber|first1=George|title=Who Has More Medals?|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mg0wAAAAIBAJ&dq=who-has-more-medals&pg=2502%2C4680751|accessdate=25 October 2017|publisher=Toledo Blade|date=30 May 2005}}</ref>

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|-
|colspan="4"|[[File:Combat_Infantry_Badge.svg|200px]]
|-
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=oak|ribbon=Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=service-star|other_device=|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Croix de Guerre 1939-1945.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Croix_de_guerre_1939-1945_with_palm_(France)_-_ribbon_bar.png|width=106}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="12"|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|colspan="6"| [[Medal of Honor]]
|colspan="6"| [[Silver Star]] with bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]]
|colspan="4"|[[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Valor device]] and two bronze oak leaf clusters
|colspan="4"|[[Purple Heart]] with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
|-
|colspan="4"|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with [[Service star|{{frac|3|16}}" silver star]] and one [[Service star|{{frac|3|16}}" bronze star]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|colspan="4"|''[[Croix de guerre 1939–1945|Croix de Guerre]]'' with Star (France){{refn|group=Note| There is a discrepancy between Army records and Urban's autobiography. The Army lists this medal as the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, while Urban states it is the Croix de Guerre with [[Silver-gilt|Silver-Gilt Star]].<ref name="arlingtonbio" /><ref name="autogenerated1980"/><ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mlurban-gravesite-7a-062803.jpg Arlington headstone]</ref><ref name="The Matt Urban Story" />}}
|colspan="4"|''Croix de Guerre'' with Palm<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160808143444/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/DA_GO_1950-43_(WWII_Foreign_Unit_Awards).pdf] DA GO 43, 1950: French Croix de guerre with Palm, awarded to the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division under Decision No. 267, 22 July 1946, with citation for the period 11–18 June 1944</ref><ref name="Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 for 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Divsion">{{cite web|title=Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1|url=http://www.mobileradar.org/Documents/p672_1.pdf|quote=''Foreign Unit Awards'', #49, French Croix de guerre, awarded to the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, for the period 11–18 June 1944, Department of the Army General Order 43–50}} (DA GO 43, 1950)</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112321/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0060in.htm 60th Infantry Regiment Honors.] 60th Infantry Regiment. French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, ''Cotentin Peninsula''</ref> (Unit Citation – Emblem not authorized) (France)
|-
|}

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{ribbon devices|number=|ribbon=U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Army Presidential Unit Citation]]{{refn|group=Note| Urban's autobiography lists two awards of the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), while the Army officially credits him with one.<ref name="The Matt Urban Story" /><ref name="Tanber2005" /> Prior to September 3, 1944, Urban's final day in combat, the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment received two PUCs awarded for April 23–24 and June 16, 1944.<ref name="Register">{{cite book|title=DA Pam 672-1 Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register|date=1961|publisher=United States. Department of the Army|location=Washington, DC|page=119|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b5033248;view=1up;seq=131|accessdate= November 3, 2017}}</ref> According to his Medal of Honor citation, Urban was wounded in the early morning hours of June 15 and "evacuated to England".<ref name="orders" /> He did not return to his unit until July 25. Therefore, if he was not present during the cited action on June 16, he would not be eligible for the second PUC.}}
|-
|}

===Medal of Honor citation===
Urban's Medal of Honor citation reads:

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel (then captain), 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division 
Place and date: Renouf, France, 14 July to 3 September 1944 
Entered service at: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 2 July 1941 
Date and place of birth: 25 August 1919, Buffalo, New York<ref name="citation">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-t-z.html|title=Medal of Honor Recipients – World War II (T–Z)|work=Medal of Honor Citations|publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]]|date=December 3, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231211059/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-t-z.html|archive-date=December 31, 2009}}</ref>

G.O. No.: 10, 18 September 1980<ref>General Orders No. 10, 18 September 1980, Citation (Official Copy)</ref>

[[File:Armymoh.jpg|120px|center]]
{{quote|
The [[President of the United States]] in the name of [[United States Congress|The Congress]] takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to 
{{center|'''LIEUTENANT COLONEL MATT URBAN, RETIRED''' UNITED STATES ARMY}}

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty: Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain) Matt Urban, 112-22-2414, United States Army, distinguished himself by a series of bold, heroic actions, exemplified by singularly outstanding combat leadership, personal bravery, and tenacious devotion to duty, during the period 14 June to 3 September 1944 while assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On 14 June, Captain Urban's company, attacking at Renouf, France, encountered heavy enemy small arms and tank fire. The enemy tanks were unmercifully raking his unit's positions and inflicting heavy casualties. Captain Urban, realizing that his company was in imminent danger of being decimated, armed himself with a bazooka. He worked his way with an ammo carrier through hedgerows, under a continuing barrage of fire, to a point near the tanks. He brazenly exposed himself to the enemy fire and, firing the bazooka, destroyed both tanks. Responding to Captain Urban's action, his company moved forward and routed the enemy. Later that same day, still in the attack near Orglandes, Captain Urban was wounded in the leg by direct fire from a 37mm tank-gun. He refused evacuation and continued to lead his company until they moved into defensive positions for the night. At 0500 hours the next day, Captain Urban, though badly wounded, directed his company in another attack. One hour later he was again wounded. Suffering from two wounds, one serious, he was evacuated to England.

In mid-July, while recovering from his wounds, he learned of his unit's severe losses in the hedgerows of Normandy. Realizing his unit's need for battle-tested leaders, he voluntarily left the hospital and hitchhiked his way back to his unit near St. Lo, France. Arriving at the 2d Battalion Command Post at 1130 hours, 25 July, he found that his unit had jumped-off at 1100 hours in the first attack of "Operation Cobra". Still limping from his leg wound, Captain Urban made his way forward to retake command of his company. He found his company held up by strong enemy opposition. Two supporting tanks had been destroyed and another, intact but with no tank commander or gunner, was not moving. He located a lieutenant in charge of the support tanks and directed a plan of attack to eliminate the enemy strong-point. The lieutenant and a sergeant were immediately killed by the heavy enemy fire when they tried to mount the tank. Captain Urban, though physically hampered by his leg wound and knowing quick action had to be taken, dashed through the scathing fire and mounted the tank. With enemy bullets ricocheting from the tank, Captain Urban ordered the tank forward and, completely exposed to the enemy fire, manned the machine gun and placed devastating fire on the enemy. His action, in the face of enemy fire, galvanized the battalion into action and they attacked and destroyed the enemy position. On 2 August, Captain Urban was wounded in the chest by shell fragments and, disregarding the recommendation of the Battalion Surgeon, again refused evacuation. On 6 August, Captain Urban became the commander of the 2d Battalion. On 15 August, he was again wounded but remained with his unit.

On 3 September, the 2d Battalion was given the mission of establishing a crossing-point on the Meuse River near Heer, Belgium. The enemy planned to stop the advance of the allied Army by concentrating heavy forces at the Meuse. The 2d Battalion, attacking toward the crossing-point, encountered fierce enemy artillery, small arms and mortar fire which stopped the attack. Captain Urban quickly moved from his command post to the lead position of the battalion. Reorganizing the attacking elements, he personally led a charge toward the enemy's strong-point. As the charge moved across the open terrain, Captain Urban was seriously wounded in the neck. Although unable to talk above a whisper from the paralyzing neck wound, and in danger of losing his life, he refused to be evacuated until the enemy was routed and his battalion had secured the crossing-point on the Meuse River. Captain Urban's personal leadership, limitless bravery, and repeated extraordinary exposure to enemy fire served as an inspiration to his entire battalion. His valorous and intrepid actions reflect the utmost credit on him and uphold the noble traditions of the United States Army.

{{center|— ''Jimmy Carter''}} }}

===Personal awards and honors===
Urban's personal awards and honors include:
* Man of the Year Award (1953), [[Monroe, Michigan]]
* [[New York State]] [[Conspicuous Service Cross (New York)|Conspicuous Service Cross]] (1979)
* Matt Urban Day (1979), Holland, Michigan
* [[Amateur Softball Association|Amateur Softball Association of America]], National Softball Hall of Fame (Commissioner), 1980 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asasoftball.com/hall_of_fame/memberDetail.asp?mbrid=27 |title=Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) |publisher=Asasoftball.com |date=1995-03-04 |accessdate=2014-01-18}}</ref>
* Matt Urban Sports Complex [http://www.cityofholland.com/parksandcemeteries/matt-urban-sports-complex (1996)], Holland, Michigan
* Matt Urban Center [http://www.urbanctr.org (2000)], [[Buffalo, New York]]
* Matt Urban [[American Legion]] Post 40, Monroe, Michigan
* Lt. Col. Matt Urban Memorial (2008),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.erie.gov/veterans/index.php?q=lt-col-matt-quotthe-ghostquot-urban |title=Lt. Col. Matt "The Ghost" Urban | Veterans Service Agency |access-date=2013-05-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226041555/http://www2.erie.gov/veterans/index.php?q=lt-col-matt-quotthe-ghostquot-urban |archive-date=2013-12-26 }} Veterans Service Agency. Lt. Col. Matt "The Ghost" Urban</ref> Buffalo, New York
* Lt. Col. Matt Urban [[VFW]] Post 7275 (2011), [[Lancaster, New York]]
* Lt. Col. Matt Urban [[Polish Legion of American Veterans]] (PLAV) Post 164,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-19 |title=Ed Wojciak named 2008 Veteran of the Year |url=http://www.plavpost164.blogspot.com |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=plavpost164.com}}</ref> [[Warren, Ohio]]
* National Veteran Boxers Association, Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame (2012) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ring44.com/buffalo-boxing-hall-fame/2012-2/lt-col-matt-the-ghost-urban |title=LT. Col Matt "The Ghost" Urban | Buffalo Veterans Boxers Association |publisher=Ring44.com |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215092228/http://ring44.com/buffalo-boxing-hall-of-fame/2012-2/lt-col-matt-the-ghost-urban/|archive-date=2013-12-15|url-status=dead|access-date=2016-01-27}}</ref>
* Matt Urban Memorial Bridge, [[U.S. Route 24 in Michigan|US 24]], was named after Urban in 2014, in Monroe County, Michigan<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schor|first1=Andy|title=House of Representatives Week in Review|url=http://schorblog.blogspot.com/2015_01_01_archive.html|website=Schor Report Blogspot|date=1 January 2015}}</ref>
* [[Kappa Delta Rho]] fraternity, Ordo Honoris – Beta Chapter, [[Cornell University]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ordo Honoris Recipients by Chapter|url=http://www.kdr.com/content/34/About-KDR/Ordo-Honoris-Inductees/|website=National Fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho}}</ref>
* The Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, building at [[Fort Jackson (South Carolina)|Fort Jackson, South Carolina]] was named "Urban Hall" in March 2017<ref>[http://jackson.armylive.dodlive.mil/files/2017/04/040617.pdf ''The Fort Jackson Leader'', April 6, 2017]</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II#U|List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |accessdate=October 4, 2010 |url=https://cornell-magazine.cornell.edu/Archive/2005sepoct/depts/Currents.html |title=Cornell Alumni Magazine, 2005 article about Urban '41 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813192358/http://cornell-magazine.cornell.edu/Archive/2005sepoct/depts/Currents.html |archivedate=August 13, 2007}}
* {{cite web |accessdate=October 4, 2010 |url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/arlington/urban_matt.html |title=Home of Heroes}}
* {{cite web |access-date=May 23, 2013 |url=http://www2.erie.gov/veterans/index.php?q=lt-col-matt-quotthe-ghostquot-urban |title=Erie County, New York, Veterans Service Agency, Medal of Honor recipient bio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226041555/http://www2.erie.gov/veterans/index.php?q=lt-col-matt-quotthe-ghostquot-urban |archive-date=December 26, 2013 }}
* {{cite web |accessdate=May 23, 2013 |url=http://www.lonesentry.com/usdivisions/history/infantry/division/9th_infantry_division.html |title=Division History, 9th Infantry Division}}
* {{cite web |accessdate=May 23, 2013 |url=http://www.9thinfdivsociety.org/wwii.html |title=9th Infantry Division Society}}
* {{cite web |accessdate=May 23, 2013 |url=http://www.urbanctr.org |title=Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of Western New York}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Urban, Matt}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Cornell University alumni]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Battle of Normandy recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor]]

Lucius Roy Holbrook

2025-10-17T04:16:14Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Military decorations */

{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Lucius Roy Holbrook
|image=Lucius R. Holbrook (U.S. Army major general).jpg
|caption= From the 1926 edition of ''The National Cyclopedia of American Biography''
|birth_date={{birth date|1875|4|30}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1952|10|19|1875|4|30}}
|birth_place=[[Arkansaw, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|death_place=[[San Francisco, California]], U.S.
|placeofburial= [[Morris Hill Cemetery Mausoleum|Morris Hill Cemetery]], [[Boise, Idaho]]
|placeofburial_label=Place of burial
|allegiance={{USA}}
|branch=[[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|20px|United States Army seal]] [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears=1896–1939
|servicenumber=0-352
|rank=[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|20px]] [[Major General (United States)|Major General]]
|commands=[[Philippine Department]]
|unit=
|battles=[[Philippine–American War]] *[[Battle of Arayat]] *[[Battle of Cabiao]] *[[Battle of San Isidro]] *[[Battle of Santa Rosa II]] *[[Battle of Talavera (Philippines)|Battle of Talavera]] [[World War I]]
|awards=[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Silver Star]] [[Croix de Guerre]] [[Légion d'honneur]]
|relations= MG [[Willard Ames Holbrook]] (Brother) BG [[Willard Ames Holbrook Jr.]] (Nephew)
|laterwork=
}}

'''Lucius Roy Holbrook''' (April 30, 1875 – October 19, 1952) was a [[Major general (United States)|major general]] who commanded the [[United States Army]]'s [[Philippine Department]] from 1936 to 1938.

==Early life and family history==
Holbrook was born in [[Arkansaw, Wisconsin]].<ref name="auto">{{cite book|last=Davis|first=Henry Blaine Jr.|title=Generals in Khaki|publisher=Pentland Press, Inc.|year= 1998|ISBN= 1571970886|oclc=40298151|page=185}}</ref> He was a son of Willard Francis and Mary (Ames) Holbrook.<ref name="auto1">{{cite book|title=Who Was Who in American History - the Military|date=1975|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|location=Chicago|isbn=0837932017|page=262}}</ref> His father was born at [[Wrentham, Massachusetts]], on April 27, 1827, and died September 17, 1886. Holbrook's mother, Mary Ames, was born November 19, 1840, at [[West Bridgewater, Massachusetts]], and died on July 12, 1889.

Holbrook graduated from high school in [[Northfield, Minnesota]], in 1892. He entered the [[United States Military Academy]] on June 15, 1892, and graduated on June 12, 1896,<ref name="auto"/> as a [[Second lieutenant (United States)|second lieutenant]] of [[United States Cavalry|Cavalry]].

His brother, [[Willard Ames Holbrook|Willard]] was an army officer who attained the rank of major general.<ref name="auto"/> His nephew, [[Willard Ames Holbrook Jr.]], also pursued an army career and retired as a [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]].

==Military career==
Holbrook served with the [[4th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|4th Cavalry Regiment]] at [[Fort Walla Walla]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]],<ref name="auto1"/> until December 22, 1896, and at [[Boise Barracks]], [[Fort Sherman (Idaho)|Fort Sherman]] and [[Wardner, Idaho]], until May 1899.<ref name="auto1"/> During his time at Boise, he met Henrietta Coffin, (January 7, 1877 – March 28, 1965), the daughter of Frank R. Coffin, a [[merchant]] and [[Bank (disambiguation)|banker]] and Charlotte Irene (Quivey) Coffin. The couple were married on June 7, 1899, at the [[Presidio of San Francisco]] in [[California]] and were the parents of three sons.<ref name="auto"/>

On June 24, 1889, Holbrook was posted to the [[Philippines|Philippine Islands]] and during the [[Philippine–American War]], he participated in the Northern Campaign, fighting in battles at [[Battle of Arayat|Arayat]], [[Battle of Cabiao|Cabiao]], [[Battle of San Isidro|San Isidro]], [[Battle of Santa Rosa II|Santa Rosa]], and [[Battle of Talavera (Philippines)|Talavera]]. He then served with General [[Theodore Schwan]]'s [[Southern Expedition]] from January 3 to February 18, 1900, and was at the Battles of Muntinlupa and [[Biñan]], [[Battle of Carmona and Silan|Carmona and Silan]], [[Battle of Tiaong|Tiaong]], [[Battle of Candaleria|Candaleria]] and [[Battle of Tayabas|Tayabas]]. Promoted to [[First lieutenant (United States)|first lieutenant]] on January 23, 1900, later in the year he was posted to Troop H, [[6th Cavalry Regiment]], which was stationed at Boise Barracks in Idaho, until February 11, 1901.<ref name="auto1"/>

Holbrook returned to the [[Philippines]] in March 1901 and served with Troop B, [[15th Cavalry Regiment]] and Troop I, 4th Cavalry Regiment, based at [[Manila]], until July 1, 1901, and at [[Fort Riley]], [[Kansas]], until August 7, 1902. He was promoted to [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]] on July 15, 1902. He was then assigned to [[Camp Stotsenburg]], in the Philippines, until June 14, 1903. He returned to the US and served at [[Fort Logan]], [[Colorado]], and [[Fort Huachuca]], [[Arizona]], until August 28, 1904.

Holbrook was a distinguished graduate of the [[Infantry-Cavalry School]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]], on July 2, 1905, and then attended the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]] until July 25, 1906.<ref name="auto"/> Holbrook was the umpire for maneuvers at [[Fort D.A. Russell (Wyoming)|Fort D.A. Russell]], [[Wyoming]] (later [[Fort Francis E. Warren]]) until September 16, 1906. He then joined the [[5th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|5th Cavalry Regiment]] at [[Fort Wingate]], [[New Mexico]], until October 24, 1907.

Holbrook was assigned to the [[Commissary Department]] where he commanded the first training school for army [[baking|bakers]] and [[cooking|cooks]] until March 9, 1911.<ref name="auto1"/> During this time, he wrote the army's first cooking manuals. He was assisted in this endeavor by [[Colour sergeant|Color Sergeant]], later Major Patrick Dunne. These works include:
*''Handling the Straight Army Ration and Baking Bread. A Practical Manual for Army Cooks, Mess Stewards, and Post Bakers, in Field or in Garrison and on the March; for Company Officers, Post Treasurers and Mess Officers of Troops Aboard Army Transports'' with Patrick Dunne (1905)<ref>Holbrook, Lucius R., and Patrick Dunne. ''Handling the Straight Army Ration and Baking Bread. A Practical Manual for Army Cooks, Mess Stewards, and Post Bakers, in Field or in Garrison and on the March; for Company Officers, Post Treasurers and Mess Officers of Troops Aboard Army Transports''. Kansas City, Mo: F. Hudson Pub. Co, 1905. {{OCLC|2588126}}</ref>
*''The Army Baker: A Manual Prepared for the Use of Students of the Training School for Bakers and Cooks'' (1910)<ref>Holbrook, Lucius R. ''The Army Baker: A Manual Prepared for the Use of Students of the Training School for Bakers and Cooks''. Fort Riley, Kan: Mounted Service School Press, 1910. {{OCLC| 4852640}}</ref>
*''The Mess Sergeant's Handbook'' with Patrick Dunne (1916)<ref>Holbrook, Lucius R., and Patrick Dunne. ''The Mess Sergeant's Handbook''. Menasha, Wis: Banta, 1916. {{OCLC|2563418}}</ref>
*''The Mess Officer's Assistant''<ref>Holbrook, Lucius Roy. ''The Mess Officer's Assistant''. Fort Leavenworth [Kan.]: U.S. Cavalry Association, 1917. {{OCLC|8944798}}</ref>

Holbrook then served as Assistant to the Chief Commissary, [[Maneuver Division]], [[San Antonio, Texas]], until July 21, 1911, and at Fort Riley until September 20, 1911. He was then ordered to [[Paris]], [[France]], where he attended the [[Ecole de L'Intendance]] (the French Army School of Supply) until December 15, 1912.<ref name="auto1"/>

Holbrook was stationed at [[Schofield Barracks]], [[Hawaii]], until April 4, 1916, and was then a [[United States Army Quartermaster Corps|quartermaster]] at Fort Riley, until July 1916. In 1916, he served with General [[John J. Pershing]]'s [[Pancho Villa Expedition|Mexican Expeditionary Forces]], as commander of the bakeries. This was the first use of the army field oven, which he had invented. He was promoted to [[Major (United States)|major]] on July 1, 1916.

[[File:111-SC-38214 - NARA - 55235582-cropped.jpg|thumb|left|Group of Commanders and Officers after dinner with Gen. John J. Pershing. Front row: McCoy, [[Hunter Liggett]], [[Philippe Petain]], [[John J. Pershing]], [[James W. McAndrew]], Lucius Roy Holbrook.]]
Holbrook then served at [[Fort Sam Houston]], [[Texas]], until March 7, 1917, where he was in command of the [[7th Field Artillery Regiment]] of the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Division]], and he sailed with it for [[France]] on July 31, 1917, almost four months after the [[American entry into World War I]]. When the United States became involved in [[World War I]], this was the first artillery unit to be sent to France, and it fired the first US [[artillery]] [[shell (projectile)|shell]] against [[Germany]].

While with the [[American Expeditionary Force]], Holbrook was at [[Le Valdahon]], from August 14 to October 18, 1917; at [[Sommerviller Sector]], October 21 to November 20, 1917; [[Ansauville Sector]], January 19 to April 4, 1918; [[Cantigny Sector]], April 20 to June 8, 1918; [[Montdidier-Noyon Defense]], June 9 to 13, 1918; and [[Saizerais Sector]], August 4, to 16, 1918.

Holbrook was promoted to the temporary rank of [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on August 16, 1918.<ref name="auto1"/> He then commanded the [[54th Field Artillery Brigade]], in training until October 3, 1918; served with the [[1st Field Artillery Brigade]], in the [[Meuse-Argonne Offensive]], until November 7, 1918; and again commanded the 54th Field Artillery Brigade, at [[Chateau Reynel]] and elsewhere until May 22, 1919.

Holbrook returned to the United States in May 1919 and commanded Camp Bragg, [[North Carolina]], from May 16, 1919, until July 1, 1919, when he became the head of the Artillery Department of the [[Command and General Staff School]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]]. On July 15, 1919, he reverted to the rank of [[Colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. On February 24, 1920, he was promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]].

From January 27, 1921, to May 4, 1922, Holbrook served as assistant chief of staff for supply, [[Ninth Corps Area]]; and as chief of staff, Ninth Corps Area until June 30, 1924. After this assignment, he became the chief of staff, Non-Divisional Group, [[United States Army Reserve|Organized Reserve Corps]], Ninth Corps Area, until June 30, 1925; and inspector, Ninth Corps Area, until October 19, 1925. He was promoted to brigadier general on October 20, 1925.<ref name="auto1"/>

Holbrook then commanded troops at [[Fort Douglas (Utah)|Fort Douglas, Utah]], until August 19, 1926. He then commanded [[Camp Stotsenburg]], in the [[Philippines]] until May 11, 1929. Afterwards, he commanded [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina]], from August 20, 1929, until October 5, 1930, when he became commander of the [[U.S. 1st Infantry Division|1st Division]] and [[Fort Hamilton]], [[New York (state)|New York]], until November 9, 1935. He was promoted to [[Major General (United States)|major general]] on December 28, 1933.<ref name="auto1"/>

On January 22, 1936, Holbrook became commanding general of the [[Philippine Department]] until 1938.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2">{{cite book|title=Who Was Who in American History - the Military|date=1975|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|location=Chicago|isbn=0837932017|page=263}}</ref> Holbrook retired on January 31, 1939.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/>

==Military decorations==
* [[File:U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]].<ref name="militarytimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=17694|title=Valor awards for Lucius Roy Holbrook|publisher=}}</ref> His citation reads:

{{blockquote|For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. As commander of the six battalions of Artillery and the [[1st Field Artillery Brigade]], he, with great distinction, directed the artillery support of the [[U.S. 1st Infantry Division|1st Division]] in the attacks on [[Cantigny]] and the [[Soissons salient]]. His careful judgment and high military attainments where shown in the accuracy and timeliness of the fire from the batteries under his direction, which despite the difficulties involved, contributed materially to the success of the operation.}}

* [[File:SilverStar.gif|60px]]  [[Silver Star|Silver Star for Gallantry]].<ref name="militarytimes.com"/> His citation reads:

{{blockquote|In action against insurgent forces near [[Tayabas, Quezon|Tayabas, Philippine Islands]], on January 21, 1900}}

* [[File:SilverStar.gif|60px]]  Silver Star with [[oak leaf cluster]] for bravery<ref name="militarytimes.com"/>
** [[Montenegro]]
* [[File:Mexican Service Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[Mexican Service Medal]]
* [[File:World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]]
* [[File:Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[Army of Occupation of Germany Medal]]
* [[Montenegrin Ordre du Prince Danilo I|Montenegrin Ordre du Prince Danilo I (3rd Class)]]<ref name="auto2"/>
* [[Montenegrin Medaille de Bravoure d'Argent]]
* [[File:Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|French Croix de Guerre]]<ref name="auto2"/>
* [[File:Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[Légion d'honneur|French Legion of Honor (Officer)]]<ref name="auto2"/>
* [[File:Fourragère CG TOE.jpg|60px]]  [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Fourragère of the French Croix du Guerre]]

==Dates of promotion==
* June 12, 1896 – [[Second lieutenant (United States)|Second Lieutenant]]
* January 23, 1900 – [[First lieutenant (United States)|First Lieutenant]]
* July 15, 1902 – [[Captain (United States O-3)|Captain]]
* July 1, 1916 – [[Major (United States)|Major]]
* May 15, 1917 – [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]]
* August 5, 1917 – [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] (temporary)
* August 16, 1918 – [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] (temporary)
* July 15, 1919 – [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]]
* February 24, 1920 – [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]
* October 20, 1925 – [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]]
* December 28, 1933 – [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
* January 31, 1939 – [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] (Retired)

==Children==
The Holbrook's children:
* Franklin Rayle Coffin, born on May 2, 1901. Advancing to the rank of major general, he retired in December 1955. On May 7, 1927, he married Virginia Howell of [[Trenton, New Jersey]], born on January 8, 1902. They are the parents of, Franklin Coffin Holbrook, who attained the rank of first lieutenant. He married Nancy Bascom Palmer and they had two children: Palmer Lee, and Franklin Rayle Coffin Holbrook, II.
* John Ames, born on October 26, 1903. He became a captain in the [[United States Navy]] and retired. On August 8, 1952, he married Barbara Barber of [[Berkeley, California]]. By a previous marriage, he was the father of, John Ames Jr., born on April 1, 1936.
* Lucius Roy, born July 30, 1906. He held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the [[United States Air Force]]. On July 16, 1934, he married Mary Gertrude Sutterle in [[Shanghai]], [[China]]. They had two children: Lucius Roy, 3rd, born January 4, 1944; and Marilyn Sutterle, born September 7, 1948.

==Death==
Major General Lucius R. Holbrook died on October 19, 1952, at [[Letterman Army Hospital]].<ref name="auto"/> His remains were taken by train to [[Boise, Idaho]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Lucius Roy Holbrook}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{succession box
|after = [[Hugh Aloysius Drum]]
|title = [[Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College|Commandant of the Command and General Staff College]]
|before = [[Charles Henry Muir]]
|years = August–September 1920
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holbrook, Lucius Roy}}
[[Category:1875 births]]
[[Category:1952 deaths]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Philippine–American War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Boise, Idaho]]
[[Category:People from Northfield, Minnesota]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)]]
[[Category:People from Waterville, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Commandants of the United States Army Command and General Staff College]]
[[Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:United States Army generals of World War I]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Minnesota]]
[[Category:19th-century United States Army personnel]]

Daniel C. Burbank

2025-10-17T03:44:56Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Awards and decorations */

{{short description|American astronaut (born 1961)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name = Daniel Burbank
|image = Daniel Burbank.jpg
|birth_name = Daniel Christopher Burbank
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|7|27}}
|birth_place = [[Manchester, Connecticut]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|education = [[Fairfield University]] [[United States Coast Guard Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) [[Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
|type = [[NASA astronaut]]
|rank = [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]], [[United States Coast Guard|USCG]]
|time = 188 days
|selection = [[NASA Astronaut Group 16|NASA Group 16 (1996)]]
|missions = [[STS-106]] [[STS-115]] [[Soyuz TMA-22]] ([[Expedition 29]]/[[Expedition 30|30]])
|insignia = [[File:Sts-106-patch.png|45px]] [[File:STS-115 patch.png|45px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 29 Patch.png|45px]] [[File:ISS Expedition 30 Patch.png|45px]]
}}
'''Daniel Christopher Burbank''' (born July 27, 1961) is a retired American [[astronaut]] and a veteran of two [[Space Shuttle]] missions. Burbank, a [[Captain (U.S. Coast Guard)|Captain]] in the [[United States Coast Guard]], is the second Coast Guard astronaut after [[Bruce Melnick]].

==Early life and education==
Burbank was born in [[Manchester, Connecticut]], and raised in [[Tolland, Connecticut]], where he graduated from [[Tolland High School]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Facing fear is part of success, astronaut tells Tolland grads|first=Harlan |last=Levy |date=June 22, 2013|url=https://www.journalinquirer.com/towns/tolland/facing-fear-is-part-of-success-astronaut-tells-tolland-grads/article_ee90d646-daea-11e2-bd24-001a4bcf887a.html|publisher=JournalInquirer|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> He attended [[Fairfield University]] his freshman year before transferring to the [[United States Coast Guard Academy]], where he earned his commission in 1985. In 1987, he went through flight training and became an instructor pilot, serving at various Coast Guard stations at [[Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City]], [[Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod]], and [[Coast Guard Air Station Sitka]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2000 – LCDR Daniel C. Burbank Selected as a NASA Astronaut|url=https://cgaviationhistory.org/2000-lcdr-daniel-c-burbank-selected-as-a-nasa-astronaut/|publisher=United States Coast Guard Aviation History|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> He has a master's degree in aeronautical science from [[Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Did You Know?
|url=https://news.erau.edu/media-resources/did-you-know|publisher=Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>

==NASA career==
Selected by [[NASA]] in April 1996, Burbank reported to the [[Johnson Space Center]] in August 1996. After completing two years of training and evaluation, Burbank worked technical issues for the Astronaut Office Operations Planning Branch, and the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) Branch, and served as CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) for both Space Shuttle and ISS missions. He was also a member of the Space Shuttle Cockpit Avionics Upgrade design team. Twice flown, he served as a mission specialist on STS-106 and STS-115 logging over 23 days in space, and 7 hours and 11 minutes of EVA time. From January 2007 to December 2009, Burbank served as a professor of engineering at the [[U.S. Coast Guard Academy]], where he taught astronomy, aerodynamics, and statics & engineering design. Burbank was assigned to ISS [[Expedition 29]] and [[Expedition 30]] aboard ISS beginning September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Expedition 30-31 Press Kit|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/605284main_Expedition_30_31_Press_Kit.pdf|date=November 2011|access-date=November 23, 2022|publisher=NASA|archive-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227003732/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/605284main_Expedition_30_31_Press_Kit.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Spaceflight experience===
[[File:ISS Expedition 30 Burbank exercises.jpg|thumb|left|Burbank exercises in the ''[[Tranquility (ISS module)|Tranquility]]'' module of the International Space Station.]]
[[STS-106]] [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|''Atlantis'']] (September 8–20, 2000). During the 12-day mission, the crew successfully prepared the ISS for the arrival of the first permanent crew. The five astronauts and two [[cosmonaut]]s delivered more than 6,600 pounds of supplies and installed batteries, power converters, oxygen generation equipment and a treadmill on the ISS. A [[space walk]] was performed to connect power and data cables between the newly arrived Service Module and the ISS.<ref>{{cite web|title=STS-106 Atlantis|url=https://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-106.htm
|date=March 27, 2020|website=spacefacts.de|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>

[[STS-115]] ''Atlantis'' (September 9–21, 2006) successfully restarted assembly of the ISS. During the 12-day mission, the crew delivered and installed the massive P3/P4 truss, and two sets of solar arrays that provide one quarter of the station's electrical power. The crew also performed unprecedented robotics activity using the Shuttle and ISS robotic arms. Burbank made a seven-hour extravehicular activity (EVA), a.k.a. a "spacewalk," that completed P3/P4 truss installation, activated the solar alpha rotary joint and enabled the solar arrays to be deployed.<ref name="burbank"/><ref>{{cite web|title=STS-115 Atlantis|url=https://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-115.htm
|date=March 27, 2020|website=spacefacts.de|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>

'''[[Expedition 29]]''' was launched to the ISS along with Russian cosmonauts [[Anton Shkaplerov]], [[Anatoli Ivanishin]] and Burbank on November 13, 2011, arriving at the station on November 16, 2011 via [[Soyuz TMA-22]].<ref name=exp30>{{cite web |title=Expedition 30 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition30/index.html |publisher=[[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117161735/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition30/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> This expedition spent 66 days in space. Expedition 29 officially ended with the undocking of Soyuz TMA-02M on 21 November 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=2015-02-12|title=Expedition 29|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition29/index.html|access-date=2020-06-13|website=NASA|archive-date=2020-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227003830/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition29/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

'''[[Expedition 30]]''' Burbank then served as commander of Expedition 30, beginning in November 2011. Burbank, along with Shkaplerov and Ivanishin, returned to Earth on April 27, 2012 after spending an additional 158 days in space.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garcia|first=Mark|date=2015-02-12|title=Expedition 30|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition30/index.html|access-date=2020-06-13|website=NASA|archive-date=2012-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117161735/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition30/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Post-NASA career ==
Burbank retired from NASA in June 2018.<ref name="retire">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/astronaut-dan-burbank-retires-from-nasa |title=Astronaut Dan Burbank retires from NASA |publisher=NASA |date=3 June 1990 |access-date=13 June 2020}}</ref> In 2022, he returned to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy to teach mechanical engineering as a Professor of Practice.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former astronaut returns to teach at U.S. Coast Guard Academy |first=David M. |last=Santos |url=https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3136299/former-astronaut-returns-to-teach-at-us-coast-guard-academy/|date=August 30, 2022|publisher=United States Coast Guard|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
Burbank has received the following awards and honors:<ref name="burbank">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/burbank.pdf |title=Biographical data: Daniel C. Burbank (Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Ret.) NASA Astronaut | date=July 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2021|publisher=NASA}}</ref>
{|
| [[File:Flightastrobadge.jpg|150px]]
| [[Astronaut Badge|Coast Guard Astronaut Badge]]
|-
| [[File:Naval Aviator Badge.jpg|150px]]
| [[United States Naval Aviator|Naval Aviator Badge]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] with one oak leaf cluster
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Legion of Merit]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Air Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Coast Guard Commendation Medal]] with one award star
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Coast Guard Achievement Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=80}}
| [[National Defense Service Medal]] with one service star
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
| [[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=NasaDisRib.svg|width=80}}
| [[NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=USA - NASA Excep Rib.png|width=80}}
| [[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=SpaceFltRib.svg|width=80}}
| [[NASA Space Flight Medal]] with two award stars
|}

==Personal life==
Burbank is listed as a member of the astronaut band "[[Max Q (Astronaut band)|Max Q]]", and a former member of [[The Idlers]]. He is a licensed [[amateur radio]] operator (ham) with Technician License K1DCB.<ref>{{cite web|title=ULS License - Vanity License - K1DCB - Burbank, Daniel C|access-date=2020-10-31|url=https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=3896664}}</ref>

==References==
{{Portal|Biography}}
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Daniel C. Burbank}}
* {{Twitter|name=Dan Burbank}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/burbank.pdf |title=Biographical data: Daniel C. Burbank (Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Ret.) NASA Astronaut | date=July 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2021|publisher=NASA}}
* [https://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/burbank_daniel.htm Spacefacts biography of Daniel C. Burbank]
* [https://www.qrz.com/db/K1DCB QRZ.com Ham License information for Daniel Burbank]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080905231703/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/09/11/101/ Story: Five Radio Amateurs Now Aboard ISS]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/reserve/magazine/mag2006/V53-05-06/5-06.pdf ''Reservist'' Magazine]

{{NASA Astronaut Group 16}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael E. Fossum|Michael Fossum]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Expedition 30|ISS Expedition Commander]] | years=21 November 2011 to 27 April 2012}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Oleg Kononenko]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burbank, Daniel C.}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:United States Coast Guard astronauts]]
[[Category:NASA civilian astronauts]]
[[Category:People from Manchester, Connecticut]]
[[Category:People from Tolland, Connecticut]]
[[Category:United States Coast Guard Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Coast Guard captains]]
[[Category:United States Coast Guard Aviation]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
[[Category:Amateur radio people]]
[[Category:Commanders of the International Space Station]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]
[[Category:Spacewalkers]]

Eric Shinseki

2025-10-17T03:30:10Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: Updated page.

{{Short description|US Secretary of Veterans Affairs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Eric Shinseki
| image = Eric Shinseki official Veterans Affairs portrait.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2009
| office = 7th [[United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs]]
| president = [[Barack Obama]]
| deputy = [[W. Scott Gould]] [[Sloan D. Gibson]]
| term_start = 21 January 2009
| term_end = 30 May 2014
| predecessor = [[James Peake]]
| successor = [[Bob McDonald (businessman)|Bob McDonald]]
| office1 = 34th [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]]
| president1 = [[Bill Clinton]] [[George W. Bush]]
| term_start1 = 21 June 1999
| term_end1 = 11 June 2003
| predecessor1 = [[Dennis Reimer]]
| successor1 = [[Peter Schoomaker]]
| office2 = 28th [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army]]
| president2 = [[Bill Clinton]]
| term_start2 = 24 November 1998
| term_end2 = June 21, 1999
| predecessor2 = [[William W. Crouch]]
| successor2 = [[Jack Keane]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|11|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Lihue, Hawaii]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Patricia Shinseki
| children = 2
| education = [[United States Military Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) [[Duke University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| rank = [[General (United States)|General]]
| serviceyears = 1965–2003
| commands = [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] [[Seventh United States Army]] [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe|Allied Land Forces Central Europe]] [[SFOR|NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] 2nd Brigade, [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]] 3rd Squadron, [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|7th Cavalry Regiment]], 3rd Infantry Division 3rd Squadron, [[5th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|5th Cavalry Regiment]], [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]]
| battles = [[Vietnam War]] [[Bosnian War]]
| mawards = [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Distinguished Service Medal (United States Navy)|Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Legion of Merit]] (2) [[Bronze Star Medal]] (3) [[Purple Heart]] (2)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/search.php?term=shinseki |title=Award citations, Eric Ken Shinseki |website=Hall of Valor |publisher=Military Times |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://armyhistory.org/general-eric-k-shinseki/ |title=Biography, General Eric K. Shinseki |website=Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army |date=January 21, 2015 |publisher=Army Historical Foundation |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
| module = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Opening Statement of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki at a Hearing on Veterans' Health Care.ogg |title=Shinseki's voice |type=speech |description=Shinseki at a [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee]] hearing on [[Veterans Health Administration controversy of 2014|Veterans Health Administration issues]]. Recorded May 15, 2014}}
}}
'''Eric Ken Shinseki''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|ᵻ|n|ˈ|s|ɛ|k|i}}; {{langx|ja|新関健|''Shinseki Ken''}}, born 28 November 1942) is a retired [[United States Army]] [[General (United States)|general]] who served as the seventh [[United States secretary of veterans affairs]] from 2009 to 2014 and as the 34th [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|chief of staff of the Army]] from 1999 to 2003.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaffe |first1=Greg |last2=O'Keefe |first2=Ed |date=May 30, 2014 |title=Obama accepts resignation of VA Secretary Shinseki |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/shinseki-apologizes-for-va-health-care-scandal/2014/05/30/e605885a-e7f0-11e3-8f90-73e071f3d637_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref> Shinseki is a veteran of two tours of combat in the [[Vietnam War]], in which he was awarded three [[Bronze Star Medal]]s for valor and two [[Purple Heart]]s.<ref name="May 2009 remarks">{{cite web | title=Remarks by Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, 2009 Secretary's Awards for Excellence in Nursing | author=Eric Shinseki | publisher=U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | date=May 12, 2009 | url=http://www.va.gov/opa/speeches/2009/09_0512.asp | access-date=May 31, 2014 | archive-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006090946/http://www.va.gov/opa/speeches/2009/09_0512.asp | url-status=dead }}</ref> He was the first Asian-American [[List of United States Army four-star generals|four-star general]], and the first Asian-American Secretary of Veterans Affairs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/asianpacificamericans/profiles |title=Overseas Contingency Operations Profiles |website=Asia Pacific Americans in the United States Army |publisher=United States Army |access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
[[File:Shinseki 1965.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Shinseki at [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] in 1965]]
Shinseki was born in [[Lihue, Hawaii|Lihue]], [[Kauai|Kaua{{okina}}i]], in the then [[Territory of Hawaii]], to an American family of [[Japanese diaspora|Japanese ancestry]]. [[Sansei|His grandparents emigrated]] from [[Hiroshima]] to Hawaii in 1901.<ref>Obata, Hiroshi. [http://www.hiroshimapeacemedia.jp/mediacenter/article.php?story=20090130144958922_ja 両祖父母は広島出身] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721215538/http://www.hiroshimapeacemedia.jp/mediacenter/article.php?story=20090130144958922_ja |date=July 21, 2011 }} ("Shinseki: both grandparents are from Hiroshima"). ''Hiroshima Peace Media'' (Japan). January 30, 2009</ref> He grew up in a [[sugarcane]] [[Sugar plantations in Hawaii|plantation]] community on Kaua'i and graduated from [[Kauai High School|Kaua'i High and Intermediate School]] in 1960.<ref name="USNWR18DEC2008" /> While attending Kaua'i he was active in the [[Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts of America)|Boy Scouts]] and served as [[class president]].<ref name="USNWR18DEC2008" /> As a boy, Shinseki learned that three of his uncles had served in the [[442nd Infantry Regiment]], a unit of Japanese Americans that became one of the most decorated fighting units in United States history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eric K. Shinseki|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1502787/Eric-K-Shinseki|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=May 30, 2014}}</ref> Motivated by his uncles' example, he attended the [[United States Military Academy]] and graduated in 1965 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree and a commission as a [[Second Lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]]. He earned a [[Master of Arts]] degree in [[English Literature]] from [[Duke University]] in 1974. He was also educated at the [[Armor Branch (United States)|Armor]] Officer Advanced Course, the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]], and the [[National War College]] of [[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]].

==Military service==
[[File:Lieutenant General Eric K. Shinseki is promoted to General DA-SC-00-00054 (6507404).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Shinseki is pinned with the rank of general by Army chief of staff Dennis Reimer and his wife Patty in July 1997]]
[[File:Gen Eric Shinseki official portrait.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A 2003 portrait of Shinseki]]
Shinseki served in a variety of command and staff assignments in the Continental United States and overseas, including two combat [[Tour of duty|tours]] with the [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th]] and [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th]] Infantry Divisions in the [[South Vietnam|Republic of Vietnam]] as an [[Artillery observer#U.S. Army / U.S. Marine Corps|artillery forward observer]] and as commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, [[5th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|5th Cavalry Regiment]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. During one of those tours while serving as a forward artillery observer, he stepped on a [[land mine]], which blew the front off one of his feet; after spending almost a year recovering from his injuries, he returned to active duty in 1971.<ref name="May 2009 remarks"/>

Shinseki has served at [[Schofield Barracks, Hawai'i]], with Headquarters, [[United States Army Pacific|United States Army Hawaii]], and [[Fort Shafter]] with Headquarters, [[United States Army Pacific]]. He has taught at the U.S. Military Academy's Department of English. During duty with the [[3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (United States)|3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment]] at [[Fort Bliss]], [[Texas]], he served as the regimental adjutant and as the executive officer of its 1st Squadron.

Shinseki's ten-plus years of service in Europe included assignments as Commander, 3rd Squadron, [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|7th Cavalry]], [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]] ([[Schweinfurt]]); Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division ([[Kitzingen]]); Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, 3rd Infantry Division (Operations, Plans and Training) (Würzburg); and Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver, 3rd Infantry Division (Schweinfurt). The 3rd Division was organized at that time as a heavy [[Armoured warfare|mechanized]] division. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations, Plans, and Training), [[VII Corps (United States)|VII Corps]] ([[Stuttgart]]). Shinseki served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Support, [[Allied Land Forces Southern Europe]] ([[Verona]]), an element of the [[Allied Forces Southern Europe]].

From March 1994 to July 1995, Shinseki commanded the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] at [[Fort Hood]], Texas. In July 1996, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] and became Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army. In June 1997, Shinseki was appointed to the [[Four-star rank|rank of general]] before assuming duties as Commanding General, [[Seventh United States Army]]; Commander, Allied Land Forces Central Europe; and Commander, [[NATO]] [[SFOR|Stabilization Force]] in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. Shinseki became the Army's 28th [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Vice Chief of Staff]] on 24 November 1998, then became its 34th [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff]] on 22 June 1999,<ref>{{cite news|access-date=May 27, 2006|last=Fahrig|first=Jody T.|url=http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=4731|title=Army welcomes Shinseki as new chief|agency=Army News Service|date=June 23, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312164047/http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=4731|archive-date=March 12, 2008}}</ref> the last Vietnam War veteran to hold the post.

Shinseki visited wounded [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] employees at [[Walter Reed Army Medical Center]] in the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks|September 11th attack]] on the Pentagon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2021 |title=Gonzales, Paul 9/11 Pentagon Attack Oral History |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/archives/Collections/ncdu-det-206/2001/9-11-pentagon-attack/oh-fh/gonzales.html |access-date=10 August 2025 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |quote="Thursday, my wife’s going to hate me for this one. Thursday she tried to keep people away from me, because if somebody came into the room and started talking I might try to wake up and they, she knew I had to stay asleep. She didn’t want me panicking with the machine and everything else. I guess it’s very unnerving, the ventilator being on you but—so Thursday, she was actually screening doctors coming in. “What are you here for?” “Neurology.” “He’s been cleared by Neurology. Why are you here? Ok, you can look at him. You can’t touch him.” She was very, she wanted to make sure I was out and stayed out. She wouldn’t talk to me that day, because she didn’t want me waking up. Well somebody decided to come visit me that day. She said, “No, you can’t go in.” “I just want to go in and kind of see how he’s doing.” “No. You won’t go in.” She stood at the door. Wouldn’t budget. The Army hospital staff particularly the military members were getting very nervous, because the person she not letting in was General [Shinseki], Chief of Staff of the Army. It’s his frigging hospital. He only has four stars, what the heck. He was in greens, the black stars, it’s hard to see. (Laughter) No big entourage. She would not budge. Refused. He came back on Sunday. He brought backup. He brought his wife, and brought flowers. I got a birthday card from him right after that. Very nice man."}}</ref>

Shinseki retired on 11 June 2003, at the end of his four-year term. His Farewell Memo contained some of his ideas regarding the future of the military.<ref>{{cite news|first=Eric K|last=Shinseki|url=https://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/documents/shinseki.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307104405/http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/documents/shinseki.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 7, 2009|title=End of Tour Memorandum|publisher=The Washington Post Company|date=June 10, 2003 |access-date=December 7, 2008}}</ref> At that time, General Shinseki retired from the Army after 38 years of military service.

{{As of|2009}}, Shinseki was the highest-ranked [[Asian American]] military officer in the history of the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Second Act for General Shinseki|author=Thom Shanker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/us/politics/15shinseki.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 14, 2009|access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> Additionally, as of 2004, he is the highest-ranked [[Japanese American]] to have served in the United States Armed Forces.<ref>{{cite news|title=An Inspiration for a Generation |author=Gregg K. Kakesako|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/03/31/news/story3.html|newspaper=[[Honolulu Star Bulletin]] |date=March 31, 2004|access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref>

===Army Chief of Staff===
[[File:Defense.gov_News_Photo_010111-D-3569D-001.jpg|thumb|Shinseki as Army Chief of Staff with members of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (2001)]]
During his tenure as Army Chief of Staff, Shinseki initiated an innovative but controversial plan to make the army more strategically deployable and mobile in urban terrain by creating [[Stryker|Stryker Interim-Force Brigade Combat Teams]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Army Takes on Critics of an Armored Vehicle|author=Thom Shanker|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B14F83E5B0C7A8EDDA90994DA404482|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 29, 2002|access-date=March 20, 2011}}</ref> He conceived a long-term strategic plan for the army dubbed "Objective Force", which included a program he designed, [[Future Combat Systems]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.ausa.org/WEBINT/DeptAUSANews.nsf/byid/CCRN-6CGLGV|title=Objective Force is Needed for Relevancy|date=April 1, 2001|work=AUSA News|publisher=Association of the United States Army|access-date=March 20, 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509002847/http://www3.ausa.org/WEBINT/DeptAUSANews.nsf/byid/CCRN-6CGLGV|archive-date=May 9, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> One other controversial plan that Shinseki implemented was the wearing of the black beret for all army personnel.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beret battle: Army approves color change |url=http://amarillo.com/stories/2001/03/16/usn_beretbattle.shtml|newspaper=Amarillo Globe=News|date=March 16, 2001|access-date=March 20, 2011}}</ref> Prior to Shinseki implementing this policy, only the [[75th Ranger Regiment|United States Army Rangers]] could wear the [[black beret]]. When the black beret was given to all soldiers and officers, the Rangers moved to the [[tan beret]].

Shinseki publicly clashed with Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] during the planning of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|war in Iraq]] over how many troops the United States would need to keep in Iraq for the postwar occupation of that country. As Army Chief of Staff, Shinseki testified to the [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services]] on 25 February 2003, that "something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers" would probably be required for postwar Iraq. This was an estimate far higher than the figure being proposed by Secretary Rumsfeld in his invasion plan, and it was rejected in strong language by both Rumsfeld and his [[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|Deputy Secretary of Defense]], [[Paul Wolfowitz]], who was another chief planner of the invasion and occupation.<ref name=Schmitt2003>{{cite news|last=Schmitt|first=Eric |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/28/us/threats-responses-military-spending-pentagon-contradicts-general-iraq-occupation.html |title=Pentagon Contradicts General on Iraq Occupation Force's Size|work=The New York Times|date=February 28, 2003 |access-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> From then on, Shinseki's influence on the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] reportedly waned.<ref>Shanker, Thom [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/12/washington/12shinseki.html "New Strategy Vindicates Ex-Army Chief Shinseki"], ''New York Times,'' January 12, 2007.</ref> Critics of the Bush administration alleged that Shinseki was forced into early retirement as Army Chief of Staff because of his comments on troop levels;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dowd |first1=Maureen |title=Alan (not atlas) shrugged |work=The New York Times |date=September 19, 2007 |ref=Gale Document Number: GALE A168804830 |location=Gale General OneFile |page=A25(L) |quote=He shoved Gen. Eric Shinseki into retirement -- and failed to show up at his retirement party -- after the good general correctly told Congress that it would take several hundred thousand troops to invade and control Iraq}}</ref> however, his retirement was announced nearly a year before those comments.<ref>CNN Political Unit. [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/08/factcheck/ CNN Political Unit debate fact check]. [[CNN.com]]. October 9, 2004.</ref>

When the [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|insurgency]] took hold in postwar Iraq, Shinseki's comments and their public rejection by the civilian leadership were often cited by those who felt the Bush administration deployed too few troops to Iraq.<ref name=WashingtonPost_Ricks-Tyson_20061116>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/15/AR2006111500800.html|title=Abizaid Says Withdrawal Would Mean More Unrest|first=Thomas E. |last=Ricks |author2=Ann Scott Tyson|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 16, 2006|page=A22|quote=General [Eric] Shinseki was right that a greater international force contribution, U.S. force contribution and Iraqi force contribution should have been available immediately after major combat operations.|access-date=December 13, 2006}}</ref> On 15 November 2006, in testimony before Congress, [[USCENTCOM|CENTCOM]] Commander General [[John Abizaid]] said that Shinseki had been correct that more troops were needed.<ref name=WashingtonPost_Ricks-Tyson_20061116/>

==Post-military career==
[[File:Barack Obama signs S.1055 2010-10-05 1.jpg|thumb|right|President Barack Obama and guests at signing of bill to grant [[Congressional Gold Medal]] to [[100th Infantry Battalion (United States)|100th Infantry Battalion]] and [[442nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|442nd Regimental Combat Team]] in recognition of their [[World War II]] service. Shinseki is at the far right.]]
Shinseki has served as a director for several corporations: [[Honeywell International]] and [[Ducommun]], military contractors; Grove Farm Corporation; [[First Hawaiian Bank]];<ref name=WashingtonPost_Rucker-Ricks_20081207>{{cite news|access-date=December 7, 2008|title=Shinseki Slated to Head VA, Obama Confirms|first=Philip|last=Rucker|author2=Thomas E. Ricks|newspaper=Washington Post |date=December 6, 2008|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/12/06/shinseki_slated_to_head_va_dem.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328045338/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/12/06/shinseki_slated_to_head_va_dem.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2013}}</ref> and [[Guardian Life Insurance|Guardian Life Insurance Company of America]].<ref name="ForbesPeople_2008">{{cite news|access-date=December 7, 2008 |title=Shinseki biography|url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/eric-k-shinseki/41426|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210181024/http://people.forbes.com/profile/eric-k-shinseki/41426|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 10, 2008|work=Forbes}}</ref> He is a member of the Advisory Boards at the [[Center for Public Leadership]], [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]], [[Harvard University]], and to the [[U.S. Comptroller General]]. He is a member of the [[Council on Foreign Relations]], the [[Atlantic Council]] of the United States, and the [[Association of the United States Army]].<ref name=PurposePrize_Shinseki_20081207>{{cite web|access-date=December 7, 2008|title=The Purpose Prize: Shinseki|url=http://www.purposeprize.org/judges/shinseki.cfm|archive-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210205852/http://www.purposeprize.org/judges/shinseki.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009–2014)==
On 7 December 2008, then-[[President-elect of the United States|President-elect]] [[Barack Obama]] announced at a [[News conference|press conference]] in [[Chicago]] that he would nominate Shinseki to become the [[United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Secretary of Veterans Affairs]].<ref name=CNN_7_December_2008_Shinseki>{{cite news|access-date=December 7, 2008 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/07/obama.shinseki/|title=Obama: No one 'more qualified' than Shinseki to head VA |date=December 7, 2008|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Shinseki was unanimously confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on 20 January 2009, and sworn in the next day.<ref name=abrams>{{cite news|last=Abrams|first=Jim|title=Senate confirms 6 cabinet secretaries |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2009/Jan/20/senate_confirms_6_cabinet_secretaries.html|access-date=January 10, 2013|publisher=Real Clear Politics|date=January 20, 2009}}</ref>

===Veterans Health Administration scandal===
{{main article|Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014}}
In May 2014, Shinseki was embroiled in a scandal involving the [[Veterans Health Administration]], which is a component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Questions involving substandard timely care and false records covering up related timelines had come to light, involving treatment of veterans in a number of veterans hospitals.<ref>[http://us.cnn.com/2014/05/15/politics/va-scandal-eric-shinseki-preview/index.html?hpt=po_c2 Shinseki 'mad as hell' about VA allegations, but won't resign]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140516/NEWS05/305160047/VA-s-top-health-official-resigns-amid-scandal-over-delays-vets-care |title=VA's top health official resigns amid scandal over delays in vets' care | Military Times |publisher=militarytimes.com |date=May 15, 2014 |access-date=May 19, 2014 |archive-date=May 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519183727/http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140516/NEWS05/305160047/VA-s-top-health-official-resigns-amid-scandal-over-delays-vets-care |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 30 May 2014, Obama announced that he had accepted Shinseki's resignation as Secretary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/30/shinseki-va-veteran-scandal-health-care-delays/9758061/|title=Embattled VA chief Shinseki resigns|publisher=USA Today|date=May 30, 2014|access-date=May 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/30/politics/va-hospitals-shinseki/|title=Veterans Secretary Eric Shinseki resigns |publisher=CNN|date=May 30, 2014|access-date=May 30, 2014}}</ref> Shinseki said he could not explain the lack of integrity among some leaders in veterans healthcare facilities: "That breach of integrity is irresponsible, it is indefensible, and unacceptable to me". He said he could not defend what happened because it was indefensible, but he could take responsibility for it and he would.<ref name="ShinsekiStatement">{{cite news|title=US president accepts with 'regret' Veterans Affairs chief's resignation|url=http://www.chicagochronicle.com/index.php/sid/222467197/scat/b8de8e630faf3631/ht/US-president-accepts-with-regret-Veterans-Affairs-chiefs-resignation|access-date=May 31, 2014|work=Chicago Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531144235/http://www.chicagochronicle.com/index.php/sid/222467197/scat/b8de8e630faf3631/ht/US-president-accepts-with-regret-Veterans-Affairs-chiefs-resignation|archive-date=May 31, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Shinseki's resignation meant that 2014 was the first time since 2000 that there had not been an Asian American in the [[Cabinet of the United States]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mak |first=Tim |date=June 1, 2014 |title=There Are No Asian-Americans In The Cabinet For The First Time Since 2000 |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/01/there-are-no-asian-americans-in-the-cabinet-for-the-first-time-since-2000.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>

In an interview with retired General [[Peter W. Chiarelli]], journalist [[Robert Siegel]] described the situation as "a case of a very, very good man who's run up against some pretty terrible problems in his job", to which Chiarelli responded, "I don't look up to any man more than I look up to Eric Shinseki".<ref>{{cite web|last=Siegel|first=Robert|title=Retired Army Gen. On Shinseki: 'I Don't Look Up To Any Man More'|publisher=NPR|access-date=May 31, 2014|date=May 30, 2014|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/05/30/317426056/retired-army-gen-on-shinseki-i-dont-look-up-to-any-man-more}}</ref>

==Family==
Shinseki is married to his [[Childhood sweetheart|high school sweetheart]], Patricia; they are the parents of two children, Lori and Ken.<ref name="USNWR18DEC2008">{{cite news|title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Gen. Eric Shinseki|first=Bobbie Kyle |last=Sauer |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2008/12/18/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-gen-eric-shinseki|newspaper=U.S. News & World Report|date=December 18, 2008|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref> He also has seven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shane III |first=Leo |date=June 19, 2013 |title=Shinseki's style: Determined, quiet |url=http://www.stripes.com/shinseki-s-style-determined-quiet-1.226462 |newspaper=Stars and Stripes |access-date=April 9, 2015 }}</ref>

==Awards, decorations, and badges==
Shinseki was awarded the following medals, ribbons, badges, and tabs:<ref name="VAbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.va.gov/opa/bios/bio_shinseki.asp |title=Eric K. Shinseki|work=Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs |publisher=United States Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=January 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915001346/http://www.va.gov/opa/bios/bio_shinseki.asp |archive-date=September 15, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mil/asianpacificsoldiers/history/overseasconops.html |title=Overseas Contingency Operations |work=Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Army |publisher=United States Army |access-date=January 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126023258/http://www.army.mil/asianpacificsoldiers/history/overseasconops.html |archive-date=January 26, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} {{cite web |url=http://www.army.mil/leaders/CSA/csa8X10.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030429020649/http://www.army.mil/leaders/CSA/csa8X10.jpg |archive-date=April 29, 2003 |title=Chief of Staff of the Army Official Portrait |date=June 24, 2001 |work=Army Leadership |publisher=United States ARmy |access-date=January 29, 2013 }} {{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-resolution/190 |title=S.RES.190 – Commending General Eric Shinseki of the United States Army for his outstanding service and commitment to excellence. (Agreed to Senate – ATS) |website=www.congress.gov |publisher=Library of Congress |quote=Whereas General Shinseki has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with oak leaf clusters), Bronze Star Medal with 'V' Device (with 2 oak leaf clusters), Purple Heart (with oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge; }}</ref>
{|
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name="Bio">[http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/eric_shinseki.htm Eric K. Shinseki: Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107003852/http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/eric_shinseki.htm |date=January 7, 2017 }}, About.com, U.S. Government, by Robert Longley, last accessed July 13, 2013</ref> (with one [[oak leaf cluster]])<ref name="valor">{{cite news |title=Eric Ken Shinseki |url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=100397 |newspaper=Hall of Valor |publisher=Gannett |access-date=March 13, 2015 }} {{cite news |last=Tran |first=Can |date=December 7, 2008 |title=Obama Picks Army Gen. Shinseki To Head VA |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/263183 |newspaper=Digital Journal |access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name="Bio"/> (with one oak leaf cluster)<ref name="valor"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (US Navy)|Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name=presidency>{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=85040 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140830055751/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=85040 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 30, 2014 |title=President-Elect Barack Obama Announces General Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans Affairs |date=December 7, 2008 |website=The American Presidency Project |publisher=UCSB |access-date=August 30, 2014 }}</ref>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name=presidency/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (United States Coast Guard)|Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref name=presidency/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Legion of Merit]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)<ref name="Bio"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] (with [["V" Device]] and two Oak Leaf Clusters)<ref name="Bio"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Purple Heart]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)<ref name="Bio"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]<ref name="Bio"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (with two Oak Leaf Clusters)<ref name="Bio"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Air Medal]]<ref name="Bio"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]] (with Oak Leaf Cluster)<ref name="Bio2">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030716151231/http://asianamerican.net/bios/General_Shinseki.html General Eric K. Shinseki, Retired Chief of Staff, United States Army]}}, Asian American Network, last accessed July 13, 2014</ref>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Achievement Medal|Army Achievement Medal]]<ref name="Bio2"/>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award|width=60}}
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with [[Service star]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|name=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with four [[Service star]]s
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Armed Forces Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon|Army Overseas Service Ribbon]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg|width=60}}
|[[NATO Medal]] for Former Yugoslavia
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}}
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=BRA Ordem do Merito Militar Grande Oficial.png|width=60}}
|[[Order of Military Merit (Brazil)|Order of Military Merit]] (Grand Officer; Brazil)<ref>{{in lang|pt}} {{Cite act |url=https://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/jsp/visualiza/index.jsp?data=15/03/2002&jornal=1&pagina=1 |type=Decree |date=14 March 2002}}</ref>
|}
{|
|-
|align=center| [[File:US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif|60px]]
|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Parachutist Badge]]
|-
|align=center| [[File:Ranger Tab.svg|60px]]
|[[Ranger Tab]]
|-
|align=center| [[File:Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.png|60px]]
|[[Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge]]
|-
|align=center| [[File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg|60px]]
|[[Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge]]
|-
|align=center| [[File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png|60px]]
|[[Army Staff Identification Badge]]
|-
|align=center| [[File:ArmyOSB.svg|60px]]
|[[Overseas Service Bar|Four Overseas Service Bars]]
|}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141016071140/http://www1.va.gov/opa/bios/biography.asp?id=76 VA Official Biography]}}
* [http://www.history.army.mil/books/cg&csa/Shinseki.htm Official U.S. Army biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306055041/https://history.army.mil/books/cg%26csa/Shinseki.htm |date=March 6, 2021 }}, in Bell, William Gardner. ''Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff 1775–2005: Portraits & Biographical Sketches of the United States Army's Senior Officer'', [[United States Army Center of Military History]], 2005. ({{ISBN|0-16-072376-0}})

==Further reading==
*{{cite web |url=http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=1619 |title=Transcript of the Chief of Staff of the Army's Remarks to Soldiers Radio and Television (after the attacks of September 11th) |date=September 14, 2001 |publisher=Army News Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210115643/http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=1619 |archive-date=December 10, 2008 |access-date=January 26, 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=1205 |title=Commentary: Shinseki leaves legacy of irreversible momentum |date=June 10, 2003 |publisher=Army News Service |last=Burlas |first=Joe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210115638/http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=1205 |archive-date=December 10, 2008 |access-date=January 26, 2013}}
* Dickey, Connie. "Chief of Staff shares his concerns for the soldier and the Army", ''ARNEWS'', June 28, 1999. From media interview 3 days after becoming Army Chief of Staff. (URL retrieved May 27, 2006)
* Moulin, Pierre. [http://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org/ " Commentary: Eric Shinseki Gallery"], ''Fort DeRussy – U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii'', April 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-56647-850-2}}
* Siemieniec, Jack. [http://www.mccoy.army.mil/readingroom/triad/02112000/Army%20vision%20explained.htm "Chief of Staff expands on Army Vision"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171835/http://www.mccoy.army.mil/readingroom/triad/02112000/Army%20vision%20explained.htm |date=March 3, 2016 }}, ''ARNEWS'', January 31, 2000. (URL retrieved May 27, 2006)
* Boyer, Peter J.. [http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/07/01/a-different-war A Different War – Is the Army becoming irrelevant?] ''[[The New Yorker]]'', July 1, 2002.

==External links==
{{Sister project links|s=no|v=no|b=no|wikt=no}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101217041608/http://www1.va.gov/opa/bios/secretary.asp Biography]}} at the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]]
*{{C-SPAN|81416}}
*{{NYTtopic|people/s/eric_k_shinseki}}
**[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/us/politics/11vets.html?hp NYTimes article on cabinet post]
*[http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll16/id/1150 Eric K. Shinseki Collection (while CSA)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502014454/http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll16/id/1150 |date=May 2, 2013 }} US Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
*[http://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org/ Eric K. Shinseki Gallery Fort DeRussy Army Museum of Hawaii]

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{{USSecVA}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shinseki, Eric}}
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Harold Keith Johnson

2025-10-16T03:11:39Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Decorations and awards */

{{Short description|US Army general (1912–1983)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Harold K. Johnson
| image = GEN Harold K. Johnson.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Johnson in 1965
| nickname = Johnny<ref name=Halberstam-19>''[[The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War]]'', [[David Halberstam]], 2007, Hyperion, p. 19</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|2|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bowesmont, North Dakota]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|9|24|1912|2|22|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| placeofburial = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears = 1930–1968
| rank = [[General (United States)|General]]
| unit = [[Infantry Branch (United States)|Infantry Branch]]
| commands = [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]] [[8th Infantry Division (United States)|8th Infantry Division]] (acting) [[8th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|8th Cavalry Regiment]] [[5th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|5th Cavalry Regiment]] 3rd Battalion, [[8th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|8th Cavalry Regiment]] 3rd Battalion, [[7th Infantry Regiment (United States)|7th Infantry Regiment]] 3rd Battalion, [[57th Infantry Regiment (United States)|57th Infantry Regiment]] L Company, [[57th Infantry Regiment (United States)|57th Infantry Regiment]] Headquarters Company, [[28th Infantry Regiment (United States)|28th Infantry Regiment]] M Company, [[3rd Infantry Regiment (United States)|3rd Infantry Regiment]] C Company, [[3rd Infantry Regiment (United States)|3rd Infantry Regiment]]
| battles = {{tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
**[[Battle of Bataan]] {{pow}}
*[[Korean War]]
**[[Battle of the Pusan Perimeter]]
**[[Pusan Perimeter offensive|Breakout from the Pusan Perimeter]]
**[[UN Forces September 1950 counteroffensive|September 1950 counteroffensive]]
**[[UN offensive into North Korea|Invasion of North Korea]]
**[[Second Phase Offensive]]
***[[Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River]]
***[[UN Forces retreat from North Korea]]
**[[Third Battle of Seoul]]
**[[Operation Thunderbolt (1951)|Operation Thunderbolt]]
**[[Operation Rugged]]
**[[Operation Dauntless]]
**[[Chinese spring offensive]]
**[[UN May–June 1951 counteroffensive]]
*[[Vietnam War]]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards = [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Legion of Merit]] (4) [[Bronze Star Medal]]
| alma_mater = [[United States Military Academy]] [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]] [[Joint Forces Staff College|Armed Forces Staff College]] [[National War College]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}

'''Harold Keith Johnson''' (22 February 1912 – 24 September 1983) was a [[United States Army]] [[General (United States)|general]] who served as [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] from 1964 to 1968. Regarded as a premier tactician, Johnson became skeptical that the level of resources given to the [[Vietnam War]], much of which went into 'find, fix, and destroy the big main force units' operations, could deliver victory. Johnson came to believe that the Communist forces held a trump card, because they controlled whether there were engagements with U.S. forces, giving an option to simply avoid battle with U.S. forces if the situation warranted it.

==Early life==
Harold Keith Johnson was born in [[Bowesmont, North Dakota]], on 22 February 1912. After graduation from high school in 1929, Johnson attended the [[United States Military Academy]], West Point, New York. On June 13, 1933, he graduated [[List of United States Military Academy graduates from the class of 1933|USMA class of 1933]] and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. Johnson's first duty assignment was with the [[3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)|3rd Infantry (Old Guard)]] at [[Fort Snelling]], Minnesota.

==Military career==
In 1938, Johnson attended [[United States Army Infantry School|Infantry School]] at [[Fort Benning]]. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the [[28th Infantry Regiment (United States)|28th Infantry]] at [[Fort Niagara]], New York. Requesting an overseas transfer, Johnson was reassigned to the [[57th Infantry Regiment (United States)|57th Infantry]] ([[Philippine Scouts]]) at [[Fort Bonifacio|Fort McKinley]], Philippine Islands in 1940.

===World War II===
After the [[Battle of Bataan]], Johnson became a prisoner of war (POW) of the Japanese on 9 April 1942. Participating in the [[Bataan Death March]], Johnson was eventually imprisoned at [[Camp O'Donnell]], Cabanatuan and [[New Bilibid Prison|Bilibid Prison]]. In December 1944, the Japanese attempted to transfer Johnson and 1,600 other POWs out of the Philippines. On 14 December 1944, American fighter planes sank the Japanese ship ''[[Ōryoku Maru]]'', killing over 300 of the POWs. Johnson survived and was eventually transferred to Japan. Unwilling to give up their POWs to the advancing Allies, Japan again transferred Johnson. Finally ending up in [[List of Japanese-run internment camps during World War II|Inchon Prison]] [[Korea]], Johnson was liberated by the [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]] on 7 September 1945.

===Korean War and rise to senior command===
After Johnson's return to the United States, his first assignment was with the Ground Forces School. In August 1946, he attended the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College|Command and General Staff College]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]], Kansas, where he remained as an instructor for another two years. Johnson next attended the [[Joint Forces Staff College|Armed Forces Staff College]] in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1949. After graduation, he was assigned as commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, [[7th Infantry Regiment (United States)|7th Infantry]] at [[Fort Devens]], Massachusetts.

Johnson organized the 1st Provisional Infantry Battalion at Fort Devens and, in August 1950, he was dispatched to Korea. The battalion became the 3rd Battalion, [[8th Cavalry Regiment]], assigned to the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] for the defense of the [[Pusan Perimeter]]. Still with the 1st Cavalry Division, Johnson was later promoted to command the [[5th Cavalry Regiment|5th]] and the 8th Cavalry Regiments. In February 1951, he was reassigned as assistant chief of staff, G3 of [[I Corps (United States)|I Corps]].

Returning to the United States, Johnson was assigned to the office of the chief of the Army Field Forces, [[Fort Monroe]], Virginia. In 1952, he attended the [[National War College]]. After graduation, Johnson was assigned to the office of the assistant chief of staff, G3, where he served first, as chief of Joint War Plans Branch, then as the assistant to the chief of the Plans Division, and finally as the executive officer of the assistant chief of staff.

In January 1956, Johnson was assigned to duty as assistant division commander of the [[8th Infantry Division (United States)|8th Infantry Division]] at [[Fort Carson]], Colorado. Later in 1956, he transferred with the 8th Division to West Germany. Johnson's next assignment was as chief of staff, [[Seventh United States Army|Seventh Army]] Headquarters at [[Patch Barracks|Stuttgart-Vaihingen]]. Then in April 1959, Johnson moved to Headquarters, [[United States Army Europe]] as assistant chief of staff, G3. The following December, he was appointed chief of staff, [[Headquarters Allied Force Command Heidelberg|Central Army Group (CENTAG)]] at [[NATO]] Headquarters concerned with planning for the employment of French, German, and American troop operations in Central Europe.

Returning to the United States, Johnson was assigned as commandant, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In February 1963, he became assistant deputy chief of staff for military operations (operations and plans), Department of the Army, and in July was appointed as deputy chief of staff for military operations.

===Chief of Staff===
On 3 July 1964, Johnson was appointed the 24th [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]]; his reputation as an expert tactician led to him being selected over candidates with more seniority. He had told the [[National Guard Association of the United States|National Guard Association]] that year that "military force ... should be committed with the object beyond war in mind" and "broadly speaking, the object beyond war should be the restoration of stability with the minimum of destruction, so that society and lawful government may proceed in an atmosphere of justice and order."<ref name=Parameters-Sorley>''Parameters to Change a War: General Harold K. Johnson and the PROVN Study'', LEWIS SORLEY</ref>

====Vietnam War====
Johnson went to Vietnam in December 1965 after the [[Battle of Ia Drang]]. He "concluded that it had not been a victory at all and that Westmoreland's big-unit strategy was misconceived".<ref name=Parameters-Sorley/> However, Johnson publicly said there was no alternative to disrupting enemy main force units in the [[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]] as preventing them from establishing base areas in the middle of the country was essential. After talking to junior officers involved in the first major actions, Johnson concluded that enemy main force units had the ability to evade engagements, giving them the option to keep casualties below an acceptable level, but they were in fact accepting the actual kill ratios being achieved, as evidenced by them attacking United States forces. Johnson started the process to have Westmoreland replaced in Vietnam, and commissioned the PROVN Study, which noted that "aerial attacks and artillery fire, applied indiscriminately, also have exacted a toll on village allegiance." There was a deep-seated reluctance among the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] to interfere with the command decisions of Westmoreland, but harassing artillery fire, by United States forces at least, was greatly reduced.<ref>''The Ia Drang Campaign 1965: A Successful Operational Campaign or Mere Tactical Failure?'', Peter J. Schifferle (1994)</ref><ref name=Parameters-Sorley/>

As Johnson saw it, the communist units would always keep their casualties below what they considered a prohibitive level, and could not be swept away by US firepower. He did, however, acknowledge that the U.S. Commander in Vietnam, General [[William Westmoreland]], had little choice but to engage the enemy's main formations, which had to be prevented from securing base areas where they could concentrate. Johnson was instrumental in altering the focus to a counterinsurgency approach, but was frustrated at the US Congress' refusal to provide the manpower necessary for successful pacification. In his later years Johnson said it had been obvious that US national mobilization was required to win in Vietnam, and he regretted not resigning in protest at the government asking the army to fight a war without hope of ultimate victory.

====Conditions for enlisted personnel====
As chief of staff, one of Johnson's noteworthy accomplishments was creating the office of the [[Sergeant Major of the Army]] to improve the quality of life for enlisted personnel. He selected Sergeant Major [[William O. Wooldridge]] to be the first to hold this post. Johnson also served as acting [[chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] for a few months in 1967 during the convalescence of General [[Earle Wheeler]]. Johnson retired from active duty in July 1968. For three years, General Johnson headed the [[Freedoms Foundation]] at Valley Forge and afterwards worked as a banking executive until retiring for good.

==Final years==
Johnson married Dorothy Rennix in 1935. During his term as chief of staff, he had been involved in many policy debates regarding the escalation of the Vietnam War as a proponent of full military mobilization to achieve a pacification of [[South Vietnam]]. He considered resigning in protest over President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s decision not to mobilize the reserves, and at the end of his life expressed regret at not doing so. He was the subject of a biography, ''Honorable Warrior'', by Lewis Sorley.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sorley |first=Lewis |author-link=Lewis Sorley |year=1999 |title=Honorable Warrior: General Harold K. Johnson and the Ethics of Command |url=https://archive.org/details/honorablewarrior0000sorl |url-access=registration |location=Lawrence, Kans.: University Press of Kansas |isbn=0700608869 |oclc=38043059}}</ref> Johnson died on 24 September 1983, in [[Washington, D.C.]] Johnson came to regret not opposing the escalation of the Vietnam War, lamenting that "I am now going to my grave with that lapse in moral courage on my back."<ref>{{cite news|title = Would The Military Obey Commander In Chief Trump? Probably.|date = 30 August 2016|access-date = 30 August 2016|last = Wood|first = David|newspaper = [[Huffington Post]]|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/trump-military-commander-in-chief_us_57c480e7e4b0cdfc5ac89475?section=us_politics}}</ref> He was buried in [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/2/Cgdqb2huc29uEgZoYXJvbGQ-/ | accessdate = March 31, 2023 | website = ANC Explorer | title = Burial detail: Johnson, Harold K }}</ref>

==Decorations and awards==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=CIB2.png|width=206|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Prisoner of War Medal.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=World War II Victory Medal ribbon|width=110}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Cheon-Su_Security_Medal_Ribbon.png|width=110}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Sam IL Security Medal Ribbon.png|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=PHL Legion of Honor - Legionnaire BAR.png|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=AFP_Long_Service_Medal.gif|width=110}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=BRA_Ordem_do_Merito_Militar_Gra-cruz.png|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Philippine_Defense_ribbon.png|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Phliber_rib.svg|width=110}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=PHL_Independence_Medal_ribbon.png|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=Republic of Korea War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]] (2nd award)
|-
|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
|[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] with bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|[[Legion of Merit]] with three bronze oak leaf clusters
|-
|[[Bronze Star Medal]]
|[[Prisoner of War Medal]] ''(retroactive)''
|[[American Defense Service Medal]] with [[service star]]
|-
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with four bronze [[campaign star]]s
|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with service star
|[[Korean Service Medal]] with silver and bronze campaign stars
|[[Order of National Security Merit (Korea)|South Korean Order of National Security Merit]] Cheon-Su Medal
|-
|South Korean Order of National Security Merit Sam IL Medal
|[[Philippine Legion of Honor]] Legionnaire
|[[AFP Long Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Order of Military Merit (Brazil)|Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit of Brazil]]
|[[Philippine Defense Medal]] with one service star
|[[Philippine Liberation Medal]] with one service star
|-
|[[Philippine Independence Medal]]
|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|[[Korean War Service Medal]] ''(retroactive)''
|-
|}

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg|width=110}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Philippines_Presidential_Unit_Citation.png|width=110}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Korean_Presidential_Unit_Citation.png|width=110}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="6"| [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Army Presidential Unit Citation]] with two bronze oak leaf clusters
|colspan="6"| [[Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation]]
|colspan="6"| [[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation]]
|-
|}

===Distinguished Service Cross citation===
:Johnson, Harold K.
:Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), U.S. Army
:3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division
:Date of Action: 4 September 1950

:Citation:

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 9 July 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Harold K. Johnson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Johnson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Tabu-dong, Korea, on 4 September 1950. When his battalion had been forced to withdraw from their hill position by a series of fierce attacks by an overwhelming number of the enemy, Colonel Johnson immediately directed a counterattack in an attempt to regain the vitally important dominating terrain. Placing himself with the most forward elements in order to more effectively direct and coordinate the attack, Colonel Johnson rallied his men and led them forward. Moving about exposed to the heavy enemy artillery, mortar and small-arms fire, he directed fire, assigned positions and, by personal example, proved the necessary incentive to stimulate and keep the attack moving. When his battalion began to falter due to the devastating enemy fire, Colonel Johnson moved forward to close proximity of the enemy to establish and personally operate a forward observation post. Remaining in this exposed position, he directed effective mortar counter fire against the enemy. When his mortars became inoperable and his casualties very heavy due to the tremendous firepower and numerically superior enemy forces, he realized the necessity for withdrawal. Remaining in the position until the last unit had withdrawn, he directed the salvaging of both weapons and equipment. Reestablishing a new defensive position, he reorganized his battalion and supervised medical attention and evacuation of the wounded. His conspicuous devotion to duty and selfless conduct under enemy fire provided an inspiring example to his men and prevented a serious penetration of friendly lines.<ref name="valor.militarytimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7333#153840|title=Valor awards for Harold K. Johnson|website=Military Times |access-date=2023-12-10}}</ref>

==Dates of rank==
{|class="wikitable" style="background:white"
|-
|align="center" |No insignia
|[[Cadet]], [[United States Military Academy]]: 1 July 1929
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O1 insignia.svg|13px]]
|[[Second Lieutenant#United States|Second lieutenant]], [[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]]: 13 June 1933
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O2 insignia.svg|13px]]
|[[First Lieutenant#United States|First lieutenant]], Regular Army: 13 June 1936
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|33px]]
|[[Captain (U.S. Army)|Captain]], [[Army of the United States]]: 9 September 1940
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|40px]]
|[[Major (United States)|Major]], Army of the United States: 19 December 1941
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|40px]]
|[[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]], Army of the United States: 7 April 1942
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|33px]]
|[[Captain (U.S. Army)|Captain]], Regular Army: 13 June 1943
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|60px]]
|[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], Army of the United States: 2 September 1945
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|40px]]
|[[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]], Army of the United States: 1 May 1946 (Reduced in rank.)
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|40px]]
|[[Major (United States)|Major]], Regular Army: 15 July 1948
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|40px]]
|[[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]], Regular Army: 28 July 1950
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|60px]]
|[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], Army of the United States: 30 December 1950
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|33px]]
|[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]], Army of the United States: 1 January 1956
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|60px]]
|[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], Regular Army: 1 February 1956
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|66px]]
|[[Major general (United States)|Major general]], Army of the United States: 1 July 1959
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|33px]]
|[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]], Regular Army: 22 May 1960
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|66px]]
|[[Major general (United States)|Major general]], Regular Army: 5 November 1962
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|99px]]
|[[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant general]], Army of the United States: 1 July 1963
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|132px]]
|[[General (United States)|General]], Army of the United States: 1 July 1964
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|132px]]
|[[General (United States)|General]], Regular Army, Retired: 30 June 1968
|-
|}

== See also ==
* {{Portal inline|Biography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* ''Thunderbolt'' by Lewis Sorley {{ISBN|0-671-70115-0}}
* ''Four Stars'' by Mark Perry {{ISBN|0-395-42923-4}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140604160958/http://history.army.mil/html/books/070/70-14/CMH_Pub_70-14.pdf ''Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff''] (PDF; pp. 144–145): Army biography, a publication of the [[United States Army Center of Military History]]

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.dod.dimoc.26967|name=STAFF FILM REPORT 66-18A (1966)}}
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.dod.dimoc.26968|name=STAFF FILM REPORT 66-19A (1966)}}
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.dod.dimoc.26979|name=STAFF FILM REPORT 66-27A (1966)}}
* [http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll16/id/3170 Harold K. Johnson Collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508033643/http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll16/id/3170 |date=2013-05-08 }} US Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{succession box|title=[[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]]|before=[[Earle G. Wheeler]]|after=[[William C. Westmoreland]]|years=1964–1968}}
{{succession box
|before = [[Lionel C. McGarr]]
|title = [[Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College|Commandant of the Command and General Staff College]]
|after = [[Harry Jacob Lemley, Jr.]]
|years = 1960–1963
}}
{{s-end}}
{{US Army Chiefs of Staff}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Harold}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:American torture victims]]
[[Category:Bataan Death March prisoners]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Commandants of the United States Army Command and General Staff College]]
[[Category:People from Pembina County, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Staff of the United States Army]]
[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Japan]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Philippine Legion of Honor]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil)]]
[[Category:Order of National Security Merit members]]
[[Category:Military personnel from North Dakota]]

Joseph Beyrle

2025-10-16T03:10:33Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Awards and decorations */

{{short description|United States Army soldier}}
{{Infobox military person
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|8|25}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|12|12|1923|8|25}}
| birth_place = [[Muskegon, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Toccoa, Georgia]], U.S.
| placeofburial = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| image = NNS JUMPIN JOE7.jpg
| caption = Beyrle in Ramsbury, 1943
| nickname = "Jumpin' Joe"
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = [[United States Army]] [[Red Army]]
| serviceyears = 1942–1945
| rank = [[Staff Sergeant]]
| servicenumber = 
| commands =
| unit = {{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[506th Parachute Infantry Regiment]], [[101st Airborne Division]] {{flagdeco|USSR}} [[1st Guards Tank Army (Soviet Union)|1st Battalion, 1st Guards Tank Brigade]], [[Red Army]]
| battles =
{{tree list}}
* [[World War II]]
** [[Operation Overlord]]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards = {{plainlist|
* [[ Bronze Star]]
* [[Purple Heart]]
* [[World War II Victory Medal]]
* French [[Croix de guerre 1939-1945|Croix de guerre]]
* Soviet [[Order of the Red Banner]]
* [[Medal "For the Liberation of Warsaw"]]
}}
| spouse = JoAnne Hollowell
| children = 3 including [[John Beyrle|John]]
}}

'''Joseph Robert Beyrle''' (pron. BYE-er-lee) ({{langx|ru|Джозеф Вильямович Байерли}}; [[Romanization of Russian|romanized]]: ''Dzhozef Vilyamovich Bayyerli''; August 25, 1923 – December 12, 2004) is the only known American soldier to have served in combat with both the [[United States Army]] and the [[Soviet Red Army]] in World War II. He took part in [[Mission Albany]], the airborne landings of the 101st Airborne Division on June 5–6, 1944, as a member of the [[506th Parachute Infantry Regiment]]. He was captured by the Germans and sent east as a prisoner of war.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Beyrle escaped from the German [[Stalag III-C]] in January 1945 and joined a Soviet tank battalion under the command of [[Aleksandra Samusenko]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Красноармеец из американского штата Мичиган|url=http://www.rg-rb.de/index.php?option=com_rg&task=item&id=5667|access-date=2020-06-27}}</ref> Wounded, he was evacuated and eventually made his way to the United States in April 1945. Beyrle died in 2004 and was buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]]. His son [[John Beyrle]] later became the United States Ambassador to Russia.

==Early life==
{{No sources section|date=December 2023}}
Joseph Beyrle was the third of seven children born to William and Elizabeth Beyrle, whose parents had come to America from Germany in the 1800s. He was six years old when the Great Depression struck; his father, a factory worker, lost his job. The family was evicted from their home and was forced to move in with Joseph's grandmother. Some of his earliest memories, Beyrle later told his children, were of standing in government food lines with his father. His two older brothers dropped out of high school and joined the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], an unemployment work-relief program, sending home enough money to allow the rest of the family to stay together. His older sister died of [[scarlet fever]] at age 16.

==US Army==
Upon his enlistment, Beyrle volunteered to become a paratrooper, and after completing basic airborne infantry training at [[Camp Toccoa]] he was assigned to the [[506th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] of the [[101st Airborne Division]], the "Screaming Eagles". Beyrle specialized in radio communications and demolition, and was first stationed in [[Ramsbury|Ramsbury, England]], to prepare for the upcoming [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] invasion from the west. After nine months of training, Beyrle completed two missions in occupied France in April and May 1944, delivering gold to the [[French Resistance]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=D-Day vets remember 'Jumpin' Joe' Beyrle|url=https://www.army.mil/article/127489/d_day_vets_remember_jumpin_joe_beyrle|access-date=2020-06-27|website=www.army.mil|language=en}}</ref>

On 6 June, [[D-Day]], Beyrle's [[C-47 Skytrain|C-47]] came under enemy fire over the Normandy coast, and he was forced to jump from the exceedingly low altitude of {{convert|360|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}. After landing in [[Saint-Côme-du-Mont]], [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]] Beyrle lost contact with his fellow paratroopers, but succeeded in blowing up a power station.<ref name=":0" /> He performed other sabotage missions before being captured by German soldiers a few days later.<ref>{{cite book
|first= Thomas H. |last= Taylor
|title= Behind Hitler's Lines The True Story of the Only Soldier to Fight for Both America and the Soviet Union in World War II
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=hImaVlWLxucC&q=joseph+beyerle+Behind+Hitler's+Lines
|date= 2004
|publisher= Random House
|isbn= 9780891418450
|accessdate= December 15, 2013
}}</ref>

==Prisoner of war==
[[File:JBeyrlePOW.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Beyrle as a [[POW]], fall 1944]]
Over the next seven months, Beyrle was held in seven German prisons. He escaped twice, and was both times recaptured. Beyrle and his fellow prisoners had been hoping to find the [[Red Army]], which was a short distance away. After the second escape (in which he and his companions set out for Poland but boarded a train to Berlin by mistake), Beyrle was turned over to the [[Gestapo]] by a German civilian.<ref name=latimes>{{Cite news |first=Elaine |last=Woo |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-16-me-beyrle16-story.html|title=Joe Beyrle, 81; Fought for U.S. and Soviets in World War II |date=December 16, 2004 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref> Beaten and tortured, he was released to the German military after officials stepped in and determined that the Gestapo had no jurisdiction over prisoners of war. The Gestapo were about to shoot Beyrle and his comrades, claiming that he was an American spy who had parachuted into Berlin.

Beyrle was taken to the [[Stalag III-C Alt-Drewitz|Stalag III-C]] [[POW camp]] in [[Drzewice|Alt Drewitz]], from which he escaped in early January 1945.<ref name=latimes /> He headed east, hoping to meet up with the Soviet army. Encountering a Soviet tank brigade in the middle of January, he raised his hands, holding a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, and shouted in Russian, 'Amerikansky [[Comrade#Russo-Soviet usage|tovarishch]]! ("American comrade!"). Beyrle was eventually able to persuade the battalion's commander ([[Aleksandra Samusenko]], reportedly the only female tank officer of that rank in the war) to allow him to fight alongside the unit on its way to Berlin.<ref name=latimes /> Beyrle began a month-long stint in a Soviet tank battalion, where his demolitions expertise was appreciated.

==Soviet Army==
Beyrle's new battalion was the one that freed his former camp, Stalag III-C, at the end of January, but in the first week of February, he was wounded during an attack by German [[dive bomber]]s. He was evacuated to a Soviet hospital in Landsberg an der Warthe (now [[Gorzów Wielkopolski]] in Poland), where he received a visit from Soviet Marshal [[Georgy Zhukov]], who, intrigued by the only non-Soviet in the hospital, learned his story through an interpreter, and provided Beyrle with official papers in order to rejoin American forces.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In World War II, He Fought For Two Armies|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127286866|access-date=2020-06-27|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref>

Joining a Soviet military convoy, Beyrle arrived at the [[Embassy of the United States, Moscow|U.S. embassy in Moscow]] in February 1945, only to learn that he had been reported by the U.S. War Department as killed in action on June 10, 1944, in France. A [[Requiem|funeral mass]] had been held in his honor in [[Muskegon]], and his obituary was published in the local newspaper. Embassy officers in Moscow, unsure of his [[Good faith|bona fides]], placed him under Marine guard in the [[Hotel Metropol Moscow|Metropol Hotel]] until his identity was established through his fingerprints.<ref name=latimes />

==Post-military==
Beyrle returned home to [[Michigan]] on April 21, 1945, and celebrated [[V-E Day]] two weeks later in [[Chicago]]. He was married to JoAnne Hollowell in 1946 in the same church and by the same priest who had held his funeral mass two years earlier.<ref>Taylor, Thomas H., ''The Simple Sounds of Freedom'', Random House, 2002, p. 310</ref> Beyrle worked for [[Brunswick Corporation]] for 28 years, retiring as a shipping supervisor.

His unique service earned him medals from U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] and Russian President [[Boris Yeltsin]] at a ceremony in the [[White House Rose Garden|Rose Garden of the White House]] marking the 50th anniversary of [[D-Day]] in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallagher|first=James P. |title=VETERAN LIVES TO SEE FORMER ALLIES BECOME FRIENDS|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-09-28-9409280275-story.html|access-date=2020-06-27|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
{{More citations needed|section|date=November 2021}}
[[File:JBeyrlegravesite.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Joe Beyrle's gravesite]]
Beyrle died in his sleep of heart failure on December 12, 2004, during a visit to [[Toccoa, Georgia]], where he had trained as a paratrooper in 1942. He was 81. He was buried with honors in Section 1 of [[Arlington National Cemetery]] in April, 2005.

Beyrle and his wife JoAnne had a daughter, Julie, and two sons. The elder son, Joe Beyrle II, served in the 101st Airborne during the [[Vietnam War]]. His son [[John Beyrle]] served as the [[United States Ambassador to Russia]] 2008–2012.

On September 17, 2002, a book by Thomas Taylor about Beyrle, ''The Simple Sounds of Freedom'', was published by [[Random House]]. A Ballantine paperback version, ''Behind Hitler's Lines'', came out June 1, 2004.

In 2005, a plaque was unveiled on the wall of the church in [[Saint-Côme-du-Mont]], France, where Beyrle landed on June 6, 1944. A permanent plaque was dedicated at the site on July 5, 2014.<ref>[http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/normandy-city-destiny-and-light/2013/dec/15/normandy-70th-anniversary-d-day-events/ Normandy: 70th Anniversary D-Day events May-August 2014], The Washington Times Communities, December 15, 2013</ref>

An exhibition devoted to Joe Beyrle's life and wartime experiences was shown in Moscow and three other Russian cities in 2010.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.1victory.org
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701143033/http://www.1victory.org/
| website=www.1victory.org
| title=Celebrating 'Jumpin Joe' Beyrle and Russia-USA cooperation on the 65th anniversary of V-E day
| date=12 July 2015
| accessdate=12 July 2015
| archive-date=1 July 2014
}}</ref> The exhibition opened a four-city American tour at The [[National World War II Museum]] in [[New Orleans]], with showings in Toccoa and [[Omaha]] in 2011, and Beyrle's hometown of Muskegon in June 2012. A permanent installation of the exhibition is now on display at the USS Silversides Museum in Muskegon.
<gallery mode="packed">
File:J. Beyrle3.jpg|The German record with Beyrle's details as a prisoner of war
File:J. Beyrle p 27 telegram.jpg|The US War Department telegram sent to Beyrle's family, incorrectly telling them of his death, September 1944
File:JRBI-med doc russ.jpg|Beyrle's Soviet medical chart detailing his wounds
</gallery>

==Awards and decorations==
{|
|[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|200px]]
|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Basic_Parachutist_Badge_One_Combat_Jump.jpg|150px]]
|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Parachutist Badge]] with one Combat Jump Star
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=4|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|[[Purple Heart]] with four Oak Leaf Clusters
|-
|[[File:Prisoner of War Medal.svg|106px|border]]
|[[Prisoner of War Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Army Good Conduct Medal]]
|-
|[[File:American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|106px]]
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2
|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with 2 [[Service Star]]s and [[Arrowhead Device]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|[[File:Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm (France) - ribbon bar.png|106px]]
|[[Croix de Guerre (France)]]
|-
|[[File:Order of Red Banner ribbon bar.png|106px]]
|[[Order of the Red Banner]]
|-
|[[File:SU Order of the Red Star ribbon.svg|106px]]
|[[Order of the Red Star]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127286866|title=In World War II, He Fought For Two Armies|website=NPR.org}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Ribbon Medal For The Liberation Of Warsaw.png|106px]]
|[[Medal "For the Liberation of Warsaw"]]
|-
|[[File:Order_of_Glory_Ribbon_Bar.png|106px]]
|[[Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" ]]
|-
|[[File:Zhukov rib.png|106px]]
|[[Medal of Zhukov]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |first=Irina, Associated Press Writer |last=Titova |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-russian-museum-honors-us-wwii-vet-2010feb18-story.html|title=Russian museum honors US WWII vet |date=18 February 2010 |newspaper=[[San Diego Union Tribune]] }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:50 years of victory rib.png|106px]]
|[[Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"]]<ref name="auto"/>
|}

==Notes==
<references/>

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyUR5mYInD4 NBC Nightly News Obituary, Dec. 2004]
* [https://www.relicsww2.net/joseph-beyrle-soldier-and-hero-who-fought-for-the-usa-and-ussr/ Joseph Beyrle – Soldier and Hero who fought for the USA and USSR]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beyrle, Joseph}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Soviet military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:American escapees]]
[[Category:American prisoners of war in World War II]]
[[Category:Escapees from German detention]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Michigan]]
[[Category:People from Muskegon, Michigan]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany]]

William D. Leahy

2025-10-16T02:56:38Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Decorations and awards */

{{Short description|American admiral (1875–1959)}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} 
{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Fleet Admiral Leahy (cropped).tif
| caption = Leahy, {{circa|1945}}
| alt = Portrait in uniform, with [[aiguillette]] indicating an aide to the President of the United States
| office = [[Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief]]
| term_start = 20 July 1942
| term_end = 21 March 1949
| president = {{unbulleted list|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]|[[Harry S. Truman]]}}
| preceded = Office established
| succeeded = [[Omar Bradley]] {{small|(as [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]])}}
| office1 = [[United States Ambassador to France]]
| president1 = Franklin D. Roosevelt
| term_start1 = 8 January 1941
| term_end1 = 1 May 1942
| predecessor1 = [[William Christian Bullitt Jr.]]
| successor1 = [[Jefferson Caffery]]
| office2 = [[Governor of Puerto Rico]]
| president2 = Franklin D. Roosevelt
| term_start2 = 11 September 1939
| term_end2 = 28 November 1940
| predecessor2 = [[Blanton Winship]]
| successor2 = [[Rexford Tugwell]]
| office3 = [[Chief of Naval Operations]]
| president3 = Franklin D. Roosevelt
| term_start3 = 2 January 1937
| term_end3 = 1 August 1939
| predecessor3 = [[William Harrison Standley]]
| successor3 = [[Harold Rainsford Stark]]
| birth_name = William Daniel Leahy
| birth_date = {{birth date|1875|5|6|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1959|07|20|1875|05|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hampton, Iowa]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Bethesda, Maryland]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Louise Tennent Harrington|3 February 1904|21 April 1942|reason=died}}
| children = [[William Harrington Leahy]]
| alma_mater = [[United States Naval Academy]]
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1893–1959
| rank = [[Fleet admiral (United States)|Fleet Admiral]]
| unit =
| commands = {{ublist|[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief]]|[[Chief of Naval Operations]]|[[ComBatPac|Battleships Battle Force]]|{{USS|New Mexico|BB-40|6}}|{{USS|Shawmut|CM-4|6}}|{{USS|St. Louis|C-20|6}}|{{USS|Chattanooga|CL-18|6}}|{{USS|Princess Matoika||6}}|{{USS|Dolphin|PG-24|6}}|{{USS|Mariveles|1886|6}}}}
| battles = {{tree list}}
* [[Spanish–American War]]
* [[Philippine–American War]]
* [[Boxer Rebellion]]
* [[World War I]]
* [[United States occupation of Nicaragua|Occupation of Nicaragua]]
* [[United States occupation of Haiti|Occupation of Haiti]]
* [[United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1916–1924)|Occupation of the Dominican Republic]]
* [[World War II]]
{{tree list/end}}
| mawards = {{plainlist|
* [[Navy Cross]]
* [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] (3)
}}
}}
'''William Daniel Leahy''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|(|h|)|i}} {{respell|LAY|(h)ee}}; 6 May 1875 – 20 July 1959) was an American naval officer and was the most senior United States military officer on active duty during [[World War II]]; he held several titles and exercised considerable influence over foreign and military policy. As a [[fleet admiral (United States)|fleet admiral]], he was the first [[flag officer]] ever to hold a [[five-star rank]] in the [[U.S. Armed Forces]].

An 1897 graduate of the [[United States Naval Academy]], Leahy saw active service in the [[Spanish–American War]], the [[Philippine–American War]], the [[Boxer Rebellion]] in China, the [[Banana Wars]] in Central America, and [[World War I]]. He was the first member of his cadet class to reach [[flag rank]], as the Chief of the [[Bureau of Ordnance]] from 1927 to 1931. He subsequently served as Chief of the [[Bureau of Navigation (United States Navy)|Bureau of Navigation]] from 1933 to 1936, and commanded the [[Battle Fleet]] from 1936 to 1937. As [[Chief of Naval Operations]] from 1937 to 1939, he was the senior officer in the [[United States Navy]], overseeing the expansion of the fleet and preparations for war.

After retiring from the Navy, Leahy was appointed the [[governor of Puerto Rico]] in 1939 by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. In his most controversial role, he served as the [[United States Ambassador to France|Ambassador to France]] from 1940 to 1942. American policy was aimed at keeping the government of [[Vichy France]] free of German control, but Leahy had limited success and came to believe the United States should back [[Free France]] instead of Vichy France. He asked to be recalled to the United States after the Japanese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] brought the United States into the Second World War.

Leahy was recalled to active duty and became the Chief of Staff to President Roosevelt in 1942, serving in that position for the rest of the war. As the ''de facto'' first [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]], he oversaw all of the American armed forces and was a major decision-maker during the war. He also presided over the American delegation to the [[Combined Chiefs of Staff]]. In December 1944, he was promoted to the five-star rank of [[Fleet admiral (United States)|fleet admiral]]. In the aftermath of World War II, he served Roosevelt's successor [[Harry S. Truman]], helping shape postwar foreign policy until he retired in 1949. Although he did not oppose the use of the [[nuclear weapon]]s during the war, in the post-war period he rejected [[United States war plans (1945–1950)|war plans]] that overemphasised the [[No first use#United States|first use]] of nuclear weapons.

==Early life and education==
[[File:NH 91537 William D. Leahy as a naval cadet.jpg|thumb|left|upright|As a naval cadet|alt=refer to caption]]
William Daniel Leahy was born in [[Hampton, Iowa]], on 6 May 1875, the first of seven children of Michael Anthony Leahy,{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=5–7}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=469}} a lawyer and [[American Civil War]] veteran,{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=13–14}} who was elected to the [[Iowa Legislature]] in 1872,{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=5–7}}<ref name="Iowa">{{cite web |title=Representative Michael Anthony Leahy |publisher=Iowa Legislature |url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=15 |access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref> and his wife Rose Mary {{nee}} Hamilton.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=5–7}} Both parents were born in the United States but his grandparents were immigrants from Ireland.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=7}} He had five brothers and a sister.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=5–7}} His father was re-elected in 1874,<ref name="Iowa" /> but moved to [[Wausau, Wisconsin]], in 1882. In 1889, the family moved again, this time to [[Ashland, Wisconsin]], where Leahy attended high school. His nose was broken in an [[American football]] match and his family lacked the money to get it fixed, so it remained crooked for the rest of his life.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=5–7}}

Leahy wanted to attend the [[United States Military Academy]] at [[West Point, New York]], but this required a Congressional appointment, and Leahy was unable to secure one. His local [[United States Representative|congressman]], [[Thomas Lynch (congressman)|Thomas Lynch]],{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=10}} offered Leahy an appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] in [[Annapolis, Maryland]], which was much less popular among boys in the landlocked [[Midwest]]. Leahy passed the entrance examinations and was admitted as a [[naval cadet]] in May 1893.{{sfn| Borneman|2012|pp=13–14}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=7–8}} 

Leahy learned how to sail on the {{USS| Constellation|1854|6}} on a summer cruise to Europe, although the vessel only made it as far as the [[Azores]] before breaking down.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=7–8}} He graduated 35th out of 47 in the class of 1897.{{sfn| O'Brien|2019|pp=9–10}}<ref name="history.navy.mil"/>{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=27}} His class was the most successful ever: Five of its members reached [[four-star rank]] while on active duty: Leahy, [[Thomas C. Hart]], [[Arthur J. Hepburn]], [[Orin G. Murfin]], and [[Harry E. Yarnell]]. {{As of|2022}}, no other class has had more than four.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naval Academy Class of '78 Shines with Four 4 Stars |date=19 January 2016 |publisher=United States Naval Academy |url=https://www.usna.edu/NewsCenter/2016/01/naval-academy-class-of-78-shines-with-four-4-stars.php |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref>

==Naval service==
===Spanish–American War===
Until 1912, naval cadets graduating from Annapolis had to complete two years' duty at sea and pass examinations before they could be commissioned as [[ensign (rank)#United States|ensign]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=USNA Timeline :: History of USNA |publisher=United States Naval Academy |url=https://www.usna.edu/USNAHistory/timeline.php |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926194318/https://www.usna.edu/USNAHistory/timeline.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy was assigned to the [[battleship]] {{USS|Oregon|BB-3|6}}, which was then at [[Vancouver, British Columbia]], for celebrations of [[Queen Victoria]]'s [[Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria|Diamond Jubilee]].{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=18}} He was on board when she made a dash through the [[Strait of Magellan]], and around [[South America]] in the spring of 1898 to participate in the [[Spanish–American War]].{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=23–25}} The ''Oregon'' took part in the blockade and bombardment of [[Santiago de Cuba|Santiago]] and shelled the small town of [[Guantánamo]], which Leahy felt was "unnecessary and cruel."{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=44}} In the [[Battle of Santiago de Cuba|Battle of Santiago]] on 3 July,{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=23–25}} Leahy was in command of the ship's forward turret.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=14}} This was the only naval battle Leahy witnessed in person.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=25}}

Seeking further action, Leahy volunteered to serve on the [[gunboat]] {{USS|Castine|PG-6|6}}. The ship was bound for the war in the Pacific, traveling via the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and [[Suez Canal]], but he got only as far as [[Ceylon]] when he received orders to report to Annapolis for his final ensign's examinations. He was left at Ceylon, and had to return to the United States on the {{USS|Buffalo|1893|6}}. He reached Annapolis in June 1899.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=14}} He passed his examinations, and was commissioned as an ensign on 1 July 1899.<ref name="history.navy.mil"/> After a few weeks' leave, spent with his parents in Wisconsin, and a few months' service on the [[cruiser]] {{USS|Philadelphia|C-4|6}} at the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]], he joined the [[monitor (warship)|monitor]] {{USS|Nevada|BM-8|6}} on 12 October 1899. A week later it set sail for the Philippines. It arrived in Manila on 24 November, and Leahy rejoined the crew of the ''Castine'' five days later.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|pp=50–51}}

===China and Philippine–American Wars===
On 17 December 1899, ''Castine'' sailed for [[Nagasaki]], but it developed engine trouble on 12 February 1900 and stopped in [[Shanghai]] to make repairs. While it was there, the [[Boxer Rebellion]] broke out in China; the ship was retained in Shanghai to help British, French and Japanese forces guard the city.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=56}} Leahy did not like their chances if the 4,500 Chinese troops in the vicinity joined the uprising, as they had in the [[Battle of Tientsin]].{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=65}} On 28 August, the ''Castine'' was ordered to [[Amoy]] to protect American interests in fear of a Japanese coup.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|pp=71–73}} After the threat had passed, the ''Castine'' returned to the Philippines, arriving back in Manila on 16 September 1900.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=15–19}}{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=81}}

[[File:NMUSN-P-D-2015-1-1 (23119580534).jpg|thumb|left|With wife Louise and son [[William Harrington Leahy]] at [[Mare Island]], California, in October 1905|alt=William Harrington Leahy is still a baby]]
The [[Philippine–American War]] was still ongoing, and the ''Castine'' supported American operations on [[Marinduque]] and [[Iloilo]].{{sfn|Thomas|1973|pp=87–93}} Leahy was appalled by American brutality and the widespread use of torture.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|pp=87–93}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=20}} Still an ensign, he was given his first command, the gunboat {{USS|Mariveles|1886|6}}, a refitted ex-Spanish vessel. It had a crew of 23. His period in command ended when the ''Mariveles'' lost one of its propellers and had to be laid up for repairs. He was then reassigned to the {{USS|Glacier|AF-4|6}}, a [[stores ship]] which was engaged in bringing supplies from Australia to the Philippines. While in the Philippines he passed the examinations required for promotion to [[lieutenant, junior grade]], and was promoted to that rank on 1 July 1902. He made his final trip to the Philippines in September 1902, and returned to the United States later that year.<ref name="history.navy.mil"/>{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=19–23}}

Sea duty alternated with duty ashore. Leahy was assigned to the training ship {{USS|Pensacola|1859|6}} in [[San Francisco]],{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=66–67}} where he was promoted to [[lieutenant]] on 31 December 1903.<ref name="history.navy.mil" /> He met and courted Louise Tennent Harrington. Leahy married Louise on 3 February 1904.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=66–67}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=24–26}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral .Albert Parker Niblack, U. S. Navy, Deceased |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/bios/niblack-albert/Niblack.pdf |access-date=10 May 2022 |archive-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707223029/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/bios/niblack-albert/Niblack.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Louise subsequently convinced him to convert to [[Episcopalianism]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=26–27}}

Leahy helped [[ship commissioning|commission]] the cruiser {{USS|Tacoma|CL-20|6}} but swapped assignments with an officer on the {{USS|Boston|1884|6}} so that he could remain in San Francisco with Louise, who was pregnant. Over the next two years the ''Boston'' cruised back and forth between San Francisco and Panama, where the [[Panama Canal]] was under construction. He was in [[Acapulco]] when their son and only child, [[William Harrington Leahy]], was born on 27 October 1904, and did not see his son until five months later.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=66–67}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=24–26}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVsZWFoeRIHd2lsbGlhbRoBaA--/ |title=Burial Detail: Leahy, William H. – ANC Explorer |publisher=Arlington National Cemetery |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016165543/https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVsZWFoeRIHd2lsbGlhbRoBaA--/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was present for the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]]. His family had to leave their house in the face of the resulting fires. It survived undamaged, although they had to live in a hotel for several months before they could return.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=26–29}}

[[File:NMUSN-P-D-2015-1-6 (23121096263).jpg|thumb|right|President [[William H. Taft]] reviews a parade in San Francisco, California, 14 October 1911. Left to right: Rear Admiral [[Chauncey Thomas Jr.]], Leahy, [[Lillian Nordica]], [[Archibald Butt]] and President Taft.|alt=refer to caption]]
On 22 February 1907,{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=98}} Leahy returned to Annapolis as instructor in the department of physics and chemistry.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=26}} He also coached the academy rifle team.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=32}} After two years ashore, he received orders on 14 August 1909, to return to San Francisco and sea duty as navigator of the [[armored cruiser]] {{USS|California|ACR-6|6}}, commanded by [[Captain (U.S. Navy)|Captain]] [[Henry T. Mayo]],{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=98}} in whom Leahy found a patron and a role model. In September, the ''California'' was one of eight ships that paid an official visit to Japan, where Leahy saw Admiral [[Heihachirō Tōgō]]. Mayo switched Leahy's assignment from navigator to gunnery officer.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=32–34}}{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=68–69}}

Leahy was promoted to [[lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]] on 15 September 1909,<ref name="history.navy.mil" /> and in January 1911, the commander-in-chief of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]], [[Rear Admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Chauncey Thomas Jr.]], chose him as his fleet gunnery officer.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=98}} In October, the ''California'' returned to San Francisco for a fleet review in honor of [[President of the United States|President]] [[William Howard Taft]], and Leahy served as Taft's temporary naval aide for four days.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|p=99}}{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=68–69}}

===Banana Wars===
Rear Admiral [[William Henry Hudson Southerland|William H. H. Southerland]] succeeded Thomas as commander of the Pacific Fleet on 21 April 1912. The ''California'' sailed to Manila and then to Japan before returning to San Francisco on 15 August. A few weeks later, Southerland received orders to proceed to Nicaragua and be prepared to deploy a landing force for the [[United States occupation of Nicaragua]].{{sfn|Thomas|1973|pp=99–100}} Along with his duties as gunnery officer, Leahy became the chief of staff of the expeditionary force and the commander of the small garrison at [[Corinto, Nicaragua]].{{sfn|Mobley|2019|p=47}} He came under fire while repeatedly escorting reinforcements and supplies over the railroad line to [[León, Nicaragua|León]]. Privately, he thought that the United States was backing the wrong side, propping up a conservative elite who were exploiting the Nicaraguan people.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=36–37}}

In October 1912, Leahy came ashore in [[Washington, D.C.]], as assistant director of gunnery exercises and engineering competitions. Then, in 1913, Mayo had him assigned to the [[Bureau of Navigation (United States Navy)|Bureau of Navigation]] as a detail officer.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=38–39}} Mayo and then his replacement, Rear Admiral [[William Fullam]], were reassigned, leaving Leahy as the acting chief of the bureau. It was one of the Navy's most sensitive offices, as it controlled officer assignments. Leahy's wife Louise enjoyed the social milieu of Washington, and socialized with [[Addie Worth Bagley Daniels|Addie Daniels]], the wife of [[Josephus Daniels]], the [[Secretary of the Navy]]. Leahy established a close friendship with the [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=40–44}}

[[File:NMUSN-P-D-2015-1-12 (23119973174).jpg|thumb|left|upright|With Major C. S. Hill (right) on the deck of the {{USS|California|ACR-6|6}} in August 1912|alt=refer to caption]]
As Leahy's three-year tour of shore duty approached its end in 1915, he hoped to command the new [[destroyer tender]] {{USS|Melville|AD-2|6}} but Daniels had the assignment changed to command of the Secretary of the Navy's dispatch gunboat, the {{USS|Dolphin|PG-24|6}}. Leahy assumed command of the ''Dolphin'' on 18 September 1915. The ship took part in the [[United States occupation of Haiti]], where Leahy again acted as chief of staff, this time to Rear Admiral [[William B. Caperton]]. In May 1916, ''Dolphin'' participated in the [[United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1916–24)|occupation of the Dominican Republic]] too.{{sfn|Thomas|1973|pp=127–128}} During the summer, Roosevelt used it as his family yacht, cruising down the [[Hudson River]] from the Roosevelt family estate in [[Hyde Park, New York]], and along the coast to his holiday house on [[Campobello Island]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=46–48}} Leahy was promoted to [[Commander (United States)|commander]] on 29 August 1916.<ref name="history.navy.mil" />

===World War I===
Following the [[United States declaration of war on Germany (1917)|United States entry]] into [[World War I]] In April 1917, ''Dolphin'' was sent to the [[United States Virgin Islands]] to assert America's control there. There was a rumor that a Danish-flagged freighter in the vicinity, the ''Nordskov'', was a German [[merchant raider]] in disguise, and ''Dolphin'' was sent to investigate. If it had been, Leahy would have been outgunned, but an inspection determined that the rumors were false. In July 1917, Leahy became the [[executive officer]] of {{USS|Nevada|BB-36|6}}. It was the Navy's newest battleship, but it was not sent to Europe due to [[wikt:teething troubles|teething troubles]] with its new design and a shortage of fuel oil in Britain.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=46–48}}

In April 1918 Leahy assumed command of a [[Troopship|troop transport]], the {{USS|Princess Matoika||6}}. Shortly before it was due to depart for France, Leahy was summoned to Washington, D.C., by the [[Chief of Naval Operations]] (CNO), [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[William S. Benson]], who offered him the position of the Navy's director of gunnery. Leahy told him that he wanted to remain on the ''Princess Matoika''. A compromise was reached; Leahy was permitted to cross the Atlantic once before becoming director of gunnery. Traveling in convoy, the ''Princess Matoika'' reached [[Brest, France|Brest]] on 23 May 1918, and disembarked its troops.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=46–48}} Leahy was awarded the [[Navy Cross]] "for distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the USS ''Princess Matoika'', engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy [[submarines]] and [[naval mine|mines]] during World War I."<ref name="Military Times">{{cite web |title=William Leahy – Recipient |publisher=Military Times |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/10322 |access-date=12 May 2022 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120212247/https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/10322 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Leahy returned to the United States,{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=36}} where he was promoted to captain on 1 July 1918,<ref name="history.navy.mil" /> and soon after was on his way back to Europe to confer with representatives of the [[Royal Navy]] and discuss their gunnery practices. He reached London later that month, where he reported to the U.S. Navy commander in Europe, [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[William S. Sims]], who had been a critic of the Navy's gunnery in the Spanish-American War.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=36–37}} Leahy met with his British counterpart, Captain [[Frederic Dreyer]], and the chief gunnery officer of the Anglo-American [[Grand Fleet]], Captain [[Ernle Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield|Ernle Chatfield]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=49–51}}

Leahy was attached to the staff of Rear Admiral [[Hugh Rodman]], the commander of the American division of the Grand Fleet, and was able to view a gunnery exercise from the British battleship {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|1913|6}}.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=36–37}} On the way home he visited Paris, where he was appalled at the German use of a [[Paris Gun|long-range gun]] to bombard the city, which he considered an indiscriminate targeting of civilians and militarily useless. He embarked for home on the {{SS|Leviathan||6}} at Brest on 12 August 1918.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=49–51}}

===Sea duty between the wars===
[[File:Admiral William D. Leahy (right) shakes hands with Admiral Joseph M. Reeves NH 47298.jpg|thumb|right|Leahy shakes hands with Admiral [[Joseph M. Reeves]] (left) on assuming command of the [[Battle Force]] in June 1936.|alt=refer to caption]]
In February 1921, Leahy sailed for Europe, where he assumed command of the cruiser {{USS|Chattanooga|CL-18|6}} on 2 April. In May he was ordered to take command of the cruiser {{USS|St. Louis|C-20|6}}, the flagship of the naval [[Detachment (military)|detachment]] in Turkish waters during the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)|Greco-Turkish War]]. He was able to spend a couple of weeks in the French countryside with Louise, who spoke fluent French, before taking the [[Orient Express]] to [[Constantinople]], where he reported to the American commander there, Rear Admiral [[Mark L. Bristol]], on 30 May.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=40–42}} Leahy had the role of safeguarding American interests in Turkey. He had to play the diplomat, attending parties and receptions, and organizing American events. He reveled in this assignment.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=56–60}}

The next step in a successful naval career would normally have been to attend the [[Naval War College]]. Leahy submitted repeated requests but was never sent.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=45–46}} At the end of 1921, he was given command of the [[minelayer]] {{USS|Shawmut|CM-4|6}} and concurrent command of Mine Squadron One. He then returned to Washington, D.C., where he served as director of Officer Personnel in the Bureau of Navigation from 1923 to 1926.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=107–108}} After three years of shore duty, he was given command of the battleship {{USS|New Mexico|BB-40|6}}. In biennial competitions in gunnery, engineering and battle efficiency, the ''New Mexico'' won all three in 1927–1928.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=67–68}}

===Flag officer===
On 14 October 1927, Leahy reached [[flag rank]], the first member of his cadet class to do so, and returned to Washington as the Chief of the [[Bureau of Ordnance]]. The following year he bought a town house on [[Florida Avenue]] near [[Dupont Circle]] for $20,000 ({{Inflation|US|20000|1928|fmt=eq|r=-4}}).{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=58–61}} He also had assets that he had acquired through his marriage to Louise: stocks in the Colusa County Bank and agricultural land in the [[Sacramento Valley]] in California.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=68–69}} In the wake of the [[Wall Street crash of 1929]], President [[Herbert Hoover]] determined to effect cuts in the Navy's budget, and his representative, Rear Admiral [[William V. Pratt]], negotiated the [[London Naval Treaty]] that limited naval construction. The list of canceled ships included two [[aircraft carrier]]s, three cruisers, a destroyer and six [[submarine]]s. Leahy was in charge of implementing these cuts, and he was appalled at the human toll; some 5,000 workers lost their jobs, many of them highly skilled shipyard workers who faced long-term unemployment during the [[Great Depression]].{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=64–66}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=70–72}}

[[File:Ad. Leahy & Ad. Standley LCCN2016871031.jpg|thumb|left|Leahy and Admiral [[William H. Standley]] shake hands after Leahy is sworn in as the [[Chief of Naval Operations]] in Washington, D.C., in January 1937.|alt=refer to caption]]
Admiral [[Charles F. Hughes]] elected to retire rather than enforce the cuts, and he was replaced by Pratt. Pratt and Leahy soon clashed over cuts to shipbuilding, and Pratt attempted to have Leahy reassigned as chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet. Leahy had the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation block this, but decided that it would be in his best interest to get away from Pratt, and he secured command of the destroyers of the [[Scouting Force]] on the West Coast in 1931.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=64–66}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=70–72}} Leahy's dislike of Hoover was intensified by his dire personal circumstances. He could not find a tenant for the Florida Avenue property at a rent that would pay for its upkeep;{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=73}} the price of food had fallen so much that his land in the Sacramento Valley could not generate a profit, and was seized by the government to recover unpaid taxes;{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=79}} and a [[run on the bank]] in January 1933 caused the Colusa County Bank to close its doors, taking with it Leahy's life savings, and leaving him with a large debt that he would not pay off until 1941.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=82}}

Roosevelt was [[First inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt|inaugurated as president]] on 4 March 1933, and he nominated Leahy as the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=84–87}} On 6 May 1933, Leahy and Louise boarded a train back to Washington, D.C.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=70–71}} As bureau chief, Leahy handled personnel matters with care and consideration. When his successor as the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, Rear Admiral [[Edgar B. Larimer]], suffered a mental breakdown and was hospitalized, Leahy ensured that he was kept on the active list until he reached retirement age, thereby safeguarding his pension. When two [[midshipmen]] at Annapolis, [[John Hyland]] and [[Victor Krulak]], faced expulsion for failing to reach the required minimum height of {{convert|5|ft|6|in|cm}}, Leahy waived the regulations to permit them to graduate with the class of 1934, and both went on to have distinguished careers.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=84–87}}

[[File:Discuss naval expansion with president. Washington, D.C., Jan. 5. High Naval Officials and members of key Congressional Committees conferred with President Roosevelt today in regard to a LCCN2016872807.jpg|thumb|right|Discussing naval expansion with Congressmen and the President in Washington, D.C., on 5 January 1938: (left to right) [[Carl Vinson]], [[Edward T. Taylor]], [[William B. Umstead]], [[Charles Edison]] and Leahy|alt=refer to caption]]
Leahy formed a good working relationship with the new Assistant Secretary of the Navy, [[Henry L. Roosevelt]], an Annapolis graduate and distant cousin of the President whom Leahy considered a close personal friend,{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=84–87}} but he clashed with the new CNO, Admiral [[William H. Standley]], who sought to assert the power of the CNO over the bureau chiefs. In this he was opposed by Leahy and the Chief of the [[Bureau of Aeronautics]], Rear Admiral [[Ernest J. King]], who enlisted the aid of Henry Roosevelt and the Secretary of the Navy, [[Claude A. Swanson]], to block it.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=153–155}} In 1936, the commander-in-chief [[United States Fleet]] (CINCUS), Admiral [[Joseph M. Reeves]] recommended Leahy for the position of Commander [[Battleships Battle Force]], with the rank of vice admiral. Standley was opposed to this,{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=153–155}} but was unable to persuade Swanson or the President, who invited Leahy to a private chat at the [[White House]] before proceeding to take up his new posting.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=93–94}}

Leahy assumed his new command on 13 July 1935.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=83}} In October Roosevelt came out to California for the [[California Pacific International Exposition]]. Leahy treated him to the largest fleet maneuver the U.S. Navy had ever carried out, with 129 warships, including 12 battleships, participating, which the President observed from the deck of the cruiser {{USS|Houston|CA-30|6}}.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=95}} On 30 March 1936, Leahy was promoted to the temporary rank of admiral and hoisted his four-star flag on the battleship {{USS|California|BB-44|6}} as Commander Battle Force.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=156}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=86}}<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |title=Leahy Takes Post Today. Vice-Admiral Will Assume Battle Force Command, Succeeding Laning. |date=30 March 1936 |location=Los Angeles, California |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34083934/leahy-takes-post-today-vice-admiral/ |access-date=14 May 2022 |archive-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515011910/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34083934/leahy-takes-post-today-vice-admiral/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One of his last acts in this post was a symbolic one: he transferred his flag to the aircraft carrier {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|6}} as a sign of his conviction that aircraft were now an integral part of sea power.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=97}}

===Chief of Naval Operations===
In December 1935, Swanson told Leahy in confidence that he would be appointed the next CNO if Roosevelt won the [[1936 United States presidential election|1936 presidential election]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=95}} Roosevelt won the election with a [[landslide victory]],{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=166–167}} and on 10 November 1936, it was announced that Leahy would succeed Standley as CNO on 1 January 1937.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leahy Will Direct Naval Operations |newspaper=The New York Times |date=11 November 1936 |page=53 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/11/11/88083939.html?pageNumber=53 |access-date=14 May 2022}}</ref> As CNO, Leahy was content to let the bureau chiefs function as they always had, acting as a ''[[primus inter pares]]''.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=109}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=90}} Swanson was chronically ill, and Henry Roosevelt died on 22 February 1936.<ref>{{cite news |title=Henry Roosevelt is Dead in Capital |newspaper=The New York Times |date=23 February 1936 |page=1 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/02/23/87914167.html?pageNumber=1 |access-date=14 May 2022}}</ref> [[Charles Edison]] became the new assistant secretary, but he lacked experience in naval affairs.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=100}}

[[File:Before Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Washington, D.C., March 22. Secretary surrounded the meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Executive session today at which Brig. LCCN2016875300.jpg|thumb|left|Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, D.C., on 22 March 1939, in support of military aid to the Latin American republics: (left to right) [[George C. Marshall]], Leahy, [[Key Pittman]] and [[Sumner Welles]] |alt=refer to caption]]
Leahy began representing the Navy in [[Cabinet of the United States|cabinet]] meetings.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=106}} He met with the President frequently; during his tenure as CNO, Roosevelt had 52 meetings with Leahy, compared with twelve with his Army counterpart, [[General (United States)|General]] [[Malin Craig]], and none of the meetings with Craig were private lunches. Meetings between Leahy and Roosevelt were sometimes on matters unrelated to the Navy, and they frequently went on for hours. At one private lunch on 15 April 1937, Leahy and Roosevelt debated whether new battleships should have [[16-inch/50-caliber Mark 7 gun|16-inch]] ({{convert|16|in|mm|disp=out}}) or (cheaper) [[14-inch/45-caliber gun|14-inch]] ({{convert|14|in|mm|disp=out}}) guns. Leahy ultimately persuaded the President that the new {{sclass|North Carolina|battleship|2}}s should have 16-inch guns. On 22 May, Leahy accompanied the President and dignitaries including [[John Nance Garner]], [[Harry Hopkins]], [[James F. Byrnes]], [[Morris Sheppard]], [[Edwin C. Johnson]], [[Claude Pepper]] and [[Sam Rayburn]] on a cruise on the presidential yacht {{USS|Potomac|AG-25|6}} to watch a baseball game between congressmen and the press.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=104–106}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=94–95}}

The most important issue confronting the administration was how to respond to the [[Japanese invasion of China]]. The commander-in-chief of the [[Asiatic Fleet]], Admiral Harry Yarnell, asked for four more cruisers to help evacuate American citizens from the [[Shanghai International Settlement]], but the [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], [[Cordell Hull]], thought this would be too provocative. Leahy went to Hyde Park to take the matter up with Roosevelt. The request was turned down: American [[United States non-interventionism#Isolationism between the World Wars|isolationist sentiment]] was too strong to countenance the risk of being drawn into the conflict; Yarnell could use merchant ships, if he could find them. Leahy accepted this presidential decision, as he always did, even when he strongly disagreed.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=104–106}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=97–98}} Leahy wrote in his diary that a Japanese threat to bomb the civilian population in China was "evidence, and a conclusive one, that the old accepted rules of warfare are no longer in effect."{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=99}}

[[File:FDR presents Leahy with Navy Distinguished Service Medal July 28, 1939.jpg|thumb|upright|Roosevelt presents Leahy with the [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] on 28 July 1939.|alt=refer to caption]]
On 12 December, Leahy was informed of the [[USS Panay incident|USS ''Panay'' incident]], in which an American gunboat on the [[Yangtze River]] had been sunk by Japanese aircraft. He met with Hull to craft a response, and discussed the matter with Roosevelt on 14 December.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=112–114}} Leahy saw the ''Panay'' incident as a test of American resolve. He wanted to answer it with a show of force, economic sanctions and a naval blockade of Japan. But among Roosevelt's advisors, he was the only one willing to countenance such a drastic step. Roosevelt agreed with him, but with uncertain [[1938 United States elections|midterm elections]] coming up in 1938 he felt he could not afford to antagonize the pacifists and isolationists. The Japanese apology therefore was accepted.{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=20–21}}

The ''Panay'' incident did prompt Roosevelt and Leahy to press ahead with plans for an ambitious shipbuilding program. On 5 January, Roosevelt, Leahy and Edison met with Congressman [[Carl Vinson]] to draw up a strategy for obtaining Congressional approval for a 20 percent increase in all classes of warships. The resulting [[Second Vinson Act]] was approved in May 1938, and provided for four more {{sclass|Iowa|battleship|2}}s. Leahy had not thought it worthwhile to build more aircraft carriers, but five were added to what became the [[Two-Ocean Navy Act]], together with five {{sclass|Montana|battleship|2}}s. Leahy pushed for the construction of 24 {{sclass|Cimarron|oiler|4||1939}} oilers, which would be needed to project American sea power across the Pacific.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=114–116}}<ref>{{cite web |first=J. David |last=Rogers |title=Development of the World's Fastest Battleships |publisher=Missouri University of Science and Technology |url=https://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/american%26military_history/World%27s%20Fastest%20Battleships.pdf |access-date=10 June 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714031307/https://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/american%26military_history/World%27s%20Fastest%20Battleships.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Leahy joined Louise when she sponsored the first of these, the {{USS|Cimarron|AO-22|6}}, which was commissioned on 20 March 1939.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cimarron II (AO |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cimarron-ii.html |access-date=14 May 2022 |archive-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515011910/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cimarron-ii.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Roosevelt threw a surprise party for Leahy on 28 July 1939, during which he presented him with the [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=129–130}} According to Leahy, Roosevelt said: "Bill, if we have a war, you're going to be right back here helping me run it."{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=12}} To make this easier, legislation was expedited to keep Leahy on the active list for another two years. On 1 August 1939, Admiral [[Harold Rainsford Stark|Harold Stark]] replaced Leahy as CNO.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=129–130}}

==Government service==
===Governor of Puerto Rico===
[[File:Puerto Rico 1939, Gov. Leahy (8365155978).jpg|thumb|right|As governor of Puerto Rico in 1939|alt=In suit, standing in front of a line of [[PBY Catalina]] seaplanes of patrol squadron [[VP-33|VP-51]] ]]
From September 1939 to November 1940, Leahy served as [[Governor of Puerto Rico]] after Roosevelt removed [[Blanton Winship]] for his role in the [[Ponce massacre]]. Winship had aligned himself with the [[Coalition (Puerto Rico)|Coalición]], a pro-American [[electoral alliance]] that represented the interests of the island's wealthy elite and American sugar corporations. Roosevelt gave Leahy the objectives of developing and upgrading base installations, and of alleviating the extreme poverty and inequality. Leahy was given $10 million (equivalent to ${{inflation|US-GDP|20|1938}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in addition to funds already earmarked for the island and extraordinary latitude in spending it. He was also named as the head of the Puerto Rican office of the [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA), which gave him control over [[New Deal]] funding. In October 1939, he also became the head of the Puerto Rico Cement Corporation to help it secure a $700,000 loan ({{Inflation|US|700000|1938|fmt=eq|r=-6}}) from the Federal government's [[Reconstruction Finance Corporation]] (RFC), and in December he became the head of the Puerto Rican branch of the RFC. His power was enhanced by his direct access to the President and the [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the interior]], [[Harold L. Ickes]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=131–133}}

Although given the unflattering sobriquet ''Almirante Lija'' ("Admiral Sandpaper") by locals, based on his surname,{{sfn|Alexander|2007|p=52}} [[Luis Muñoz Marín]] came to regard Leahy as "by far the best governor that has been sent to Puerto Rico since the beginning of the American Regime."{{sfn|Beruff|2015|p=75}} Leahy took an open stance of not intervening directly in the [[politics of Puerto Rico]], although he remained involved in federal politics, doing what he could to support Roosevelt's 1940 reelection. He attempted to understand and respect local customs, and initiated major public works projects. Although his priority was developing Puerto Rico as a military base, over half the WPA funds were spent on public works such as roads and improving sanitation. He regulated prices and production in the coffee industry, and had ships traveling between the United States and the Panama Canal, where major upgrade works were being undertaken, stop over in Puerto Rico when they needed repairs or supplies. In December 1939 he met with Roosevelt and secured another $100 million in WPA funding (equivalent to ${{inflation|US-GDP|100|1939|r=-2|fmt=c}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) for public works, which allowed him to hire another 20,000 workers. By awarding lucrative government contracts and appointing officials based on Roosevelt's preferences rather than those of the local elite, he soon earned the enmity of the Coalición.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=133–134}}

[[File:Admiral Leahy confers with Puerto Rican Officials.jpg|left|thumb|Conferring with Puerto Rican officials: (front, left to right) [[Rafael Martínez Nadal]], [[Santiago Iglesias]], Leahy, (standing, left to right) [[Fernando Geigel]], [[Alfonso Valdés Cobián|Alfonso Valdez]], [[Bolivar Pagan]], and [[Luis Obergh]]|alt=refer to caption]]

Leahy oversaw the development of military bases and stations across the island.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=139–142}} At the time of his appointment as governor, the only naval installations were a radio station and a hydrographic office. On 30 October 1939, a [[fixed-price contract]] was awarded for construction of the [[Naval Air Station Isla Grande]]. The scope was widened to include the [[Roosevelt Roads Naval Station]]; construction work there commenced in 1941 under another fixed-price contract and the base was commissioned on 15 July 1943.{{sfn|U.S. Navy Department|1947|pp=5–9}}

Between 1 January and 1 November 1940, Leahy met with Roosevelt six times. One of the most important was a lunch on 6 October 1940. Admiral [[James O. Richardson]], the CINCUS, had been ordered to keep the Pacific Fleet at [[Pearl Harbor]] to act as a deterrent to the Japanese. Richardson protested that Pearl Harbor was unsuitable as a base and was too vulnerable to a surprise attack. Leahy agreed, but knew better than to press the matter with Roosevelt when his mind was made up. On 1 February 1941, Richardson was recalled.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=139–142}}{{sfn|McClain|1984|p=35}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=132}}
{{Clear}}

===Ambassador to France===
[[Henry L. Stimson]] and [[McGeorge Bundy]] described the [[Fall of France]] in June 1940 as "the most shocking single event of the war".{{sfn|Stimson|Bundy|1971|p=541}} American security had been underwritten by Britain and France, allowing the United States to have comparatively low defense spending. Planning was based on the assumption that France would be a bulwark against Germany, as it had been in World War I, and the United States would have ample time to mobilize industry and create armies. Now, with France gone, Germany could directly threaten the United States.{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|pp=10–15}} On 18 November 1940, Leahy was appointed [[United States Ambassador to France]].{{sfn|Holmes|1974|p=2}} In his message asking Leahy to accept the position, Roosevelt explained: {{blockquote|We are confronting [the message said] an increasingly serious situation in France because of the possibility that one element in the present French Government may persuade Marshal Petain to enter into agreements with Germany which will facilitate the efforts of the Axis powers against Great Britain. There is even the possibility that France may actually engage in the war against Great Britain and in particular that the French fleet maybe utilized under the control of Germany.We need in France at this time an Ambassador who can gain the confidence of [[Philippe Pétain|Marshal Petain]] who at the present moment is the one powerful element in the French Government who is standing firm against selling out to Germany. I feel that you are the best man available for this mission. You can talk to Marshal Petain in language which he would understand and the position which you have held in our own Navy would undoubtedly give you great influence with the higher officers of the French Navy who are now hostile to Great Britain.{{sfn|Holmes|1974|p=2}} }}

[[File:William D. Leahy and Philippe Pétain, 1942, NH 89478 (25159321993).jpg|thumb|right|Leahy pays a farewell call on French Chief of State Marshal [[Philippe Pétain]] on 27 April 1942.|alt=refer to caption]]
"My major task", Leahy later recalled "was to keep the French on our side in so far as possible".{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=8}} He hoped to convince Pétain and the Commander-in-Chief of the [[French Navy]], Admiral [[François Darlan]], that it was in France's best interest that Germany be defeated.{{sfn|Holmes|1974|p=41}} He departed [[Norfolk, Virginia]], on the cruiser {{USS|Tuscaloosa|CA-37|6}} on 17 December 1940,{{sfn|Holmes|1974|pp=45–46}}{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|p=98}} and presented his [[letter of credence]] to Pétain in [[Vichy]] on 9 January 1941.{{sfn|Holmes|1974|pp=49–50}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Leahy Confers With Petain |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 January 1941 |page=4 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/01/10/85445710.html?pageNumber=4 |access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref>

Leahy had some levers with which to influence the French to moderate [[Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy|collaboration with the Axis Powers]].{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|p=102}}{{sfn|Holmes|1974|pp=53–59}} He advised Roosevelt that shipments of food and medical aid to France would improve America's standing and stiffen Pétain's resolve.{{sfn|Holmes|1974|pp=61–62}} In his opinion, the "British blockade action which prevents the delivery of necessary foodstuffs to the inhabitants of unoccupied France is of the same order of stupidity as many other British policies in the present war."{{sfn|Holmes|1974|pp=95–98}} He suggested that aid to [[French North Africa]] would also strengthen the hand of General [[Maxime Weygand]], the French Delegate-General in North Africa, in resisting Axis demands. Roosevelt compelled the British to accept the shipment of food and medicine for children, along with thousands of tons of fuel intended for their distribution.{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|p=104}}

American aid proved insufficient to buy French support. In May 1941, Darlan agreed to the [[Paris Protocols]], which granted Germany access to French military bases in Syria, Tunisia, and French West Africa,{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|pp=120–122}} and in July the French granted Japan access to bases in [[French Indochina]], which directly threatened the American position in the Philippines.{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|pp=130–131}} Although no German bombers had the range to bomb the United States from bases in Senegal, if they could deploy to Vichy-held [[Martinique]], they could do so from there.{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|pp=136–137}}

Weygand, the main American hope for a change in French policy, was recalled on 18 November 1941,{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=169}} despite Leahy's warnings that this could prompt a cessation of American aid.{{sfn|Holmes|1974|pp=184–188}} On 7 December, Leahy received news of the [[Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]]. This was followed, on 11 December, by the [[German declaration of war against the United States]].{{sfn|Holmes|1974|p=194}} Leahy thought the United States's entry into the war would strengthen his hand with the Vichy government,{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=170–171}} but [[Charles de Gaulle]]'s [[capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] later that month discredited American assurances that French colonies would not be seized.{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|pp=137–139}}

By this time Leahy was convinced that the United States should back [[Free France]] instead of Vichy France, and he unsuccessfully urged Roosevelt to use the capture of Saint Pierre and Miquelon as a pretext for recalling him to the United States.{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|p=147}} After the formation of a new government in Vichy under the pro-Axis [[Pierre Laval]] on 18 April, Leahy again requested he be recalled in order to distance the United States from Laval, and Washington officials agreed.{{sfn|Neiberg|2021|p=151}} Meanwhile, on 9 April, Leahy's wife Louise underwent a [[hysterectomy]]. While recovering from the operation, she suffered an [[embolism]] and died on 21 April. Leahy called on Pétain to say farewell on 27 April. He arrived back in New York on the Swedish-registered [[ocean liner]] {{SS|Drottningholm||6}} on 1 June. He arranged for a funeral service for Louise at the [[St. Thomas' Parish (Washington, D.C.)|St. Thomas Episcopal Church]], where they had been members for many years, and watched her burial in [[Arlington National Cemetery]] on 3 June 1942.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|pp=111–116}}{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=267–269}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=177}} Reflecting on her loss, Leahy would write that Louise's death had "left me not only crushed with sorrow, but permanently less than half efficient for any work the future may have in store for me and completely uninterested in the remaining future."{{sfn|Borneman|2012|pp=268}}

==Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief==
===Organization and role===
Waging a two-ocean war as part of a coalition revealed serious deficiencies in the organization of the American high command when it came to formulating [[grand strategy]]: meetings of the senior officers of the Army and Navy with each other and with the President were irregular and infrequent, and there was no joint planning staff or secretariat to record decisions taken.{{sfn|Miles|1999|pp=60–63}} Under the [[Constitution of the United States]], the President was the [[Powers of the president of the United States#Commander-in-chief|Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy]].{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=118}} At a meeting with Roosevelt on 24 February 1942, the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]], General [[George C. Marshall]], urged Roosevelt to appoint a chief of staff of the armed forces to provide [[unity of command]], and he suggested Leahy for the role.{{sfn|Miles|1999|pp=66–67}} Leahy had lunch with Roosevelt on 7 July, during which this was discussed.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|pp=119–120}} On 21 July, Leahy was recalled to active duty. He resigned as Ambassador to France and was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.<ref>{{cite news |title=President Praises Leahy's Vichy Role |first=Thomas J. |last=Hamilton |newspaper=The New York Times |date=26 July 1942 |page=17 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/07/26/223789252.html?pageNumber=17 |access-date=18 May 2022 |archive-date=10 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810003839/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/07/26/223789252.html?pageNumber=17 |url-status=live }}</ref> In announcing the appointment, Roosevelt described Leahy's role as an advisory one rather than that of a supreme commander.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leahy's Role in the War: Real Importance of Admiral's Task as Aide to the President May Appear Later |first=Frank L. |last=Kluckhohn |newspaper=The New York Times |date=26 July 1942 |page=84 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/07/26/223793432.html?pageNumber=84 |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>

[[File:80-G-K-14010 (25667487234).jpg|thumb|left|Joint Chiefs of Staff lunches were held every Wednesday. Left to right: General [[Henry H. Arnold]], Chief of [[U.S. Army Air Forces]]; Leahy; Admiral [[Ernest J. King]], Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet; and General [[George C. Marshall]], Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army|alt=A the lunch table]]
Leahy attended his first meeting of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (JCS) on 28 July 1942. The other members were Marshall; King,{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=191}} who was now both CNO and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (now abbreviated as COMINCH);{{sfn|Miles|1999|pp=67–68}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=182}} and [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Henry H. Arnold]], the Chief of [[U.S. Army Air Forces]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=191–192}} Henceforth, the JCS held regular meetings at noon on Wednesdays, which usually commenced with a light lunch.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=191–192}} Leahy served as the de facto chairman. He drew up the agenda for the JCS meetings, presided over them, and signed off on all the major papers and decisions.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=126}} He considered that this was due to his seniority and not by virtue of his position.{{sfn|Miles|1999|p=168}} He had a small personal staff of two military [[aide-de-camp|aides-de-camp]] and two or three secretaries.{{sfn|Miles|1999|p=140}} JCS meetings were held in the [[United States Public Health Service Building|Public Health Service Building]], where Leahy had an office.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|pp=121–122}} After some renovations were made, he was also given an office in the [[East Wing]] of the White House on 7 September 1942;{{sfn|Miles|1999|p=140}} the other two main offices there were occupied by Harry Hopkins and James F. Byrnes.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=187}} Roosevelt had the [[Map Room (White House)|Map Room]] constructed in the White House where large maps showed the progress of the war. Only Leahy and Hopkins had unrestricted access to the Map Room; everyone else had to be accompanied by Leahy or Hopkins or given special permission to enter.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=181}}

Two days after his first JCS meeting, there was a meeting of the [[Combined Chiefs of Staff]] (CCS), which Leahy also chaired.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=191–192}}{{sfn|Miles|1999|pp=90–92}} In these meetings the JCS met with the leaders of the [[British Joint Staff Mission]]: [[Field Marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] Sir [[John Dill]], Admiral Sir [[Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope|Andrew Cunningham]], [[Air Marshal]] [[Douglas Evill]] and Lieutenant General [[Gordon Macready]]. CCS meetings were held every Friday.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=126}} The main agendum item at his first JCS and CCS meetings was [[Operation Gymnast]], a proposed invasion of French North Africa. Marshall and King were opposed to it on the grounds that it would divert resources necessary for [[Operation Roundup (1942)|Operation Roundup]], a landing in northern France, but after listening to their arguments, Leahy informed them Roosevelt was adamant that it was vital American forces take the field against Germany in 1942, and that Gymnast was to proceed.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=191–192}}{{sfn|Miles|1999|pp=90–92}} Roosevelt gave his formal assent on 25 July. Marshall and King considered this to be tentative, but Leahy informed them that the decision was final.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=191–192}}{{sfn|Miles|1999|pp=90–92}}

Leahy usually arrived at his White House office sometime between 08:30 and 08:45 and went over copies of dispatches and reports. For convenience, the documents were color coded: pink for incoming dispatches from the theater; yellow for outgoing ones; green for JCS papers; white for CCS ones; and blue for papers from the Joint Staff Planners. Leahy would select the papers to be brought to the President's attention, and would meet with him each morning in the [[Oval Office]] or the Map Room.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|pp=121–123}} This included high-grade [[Ultra (cryptography)|Ultra]] intelligence. Control of the flow of information gave Leahy a further source of power and influence beyond his personal relationship with the President.{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=73–78}}

=== Grand strategy ===
When Roosevelt travelled overseas, Leahy went with him.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|pp=121–123}} Leahy missed the [[Casablanca Conference]] in January 1943; after setting out with Roosevelt, Hopkins and Rear Admiral [[Ross McIntire]], Leahy developed [[bronchitis]] and had to remain in [[Trinidad]]. But he was present at all the other inter-Allied conferences that the President attended.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=201}} Leahy's support of Roosevelt's decision to invade French North Africa did not mean that he bought into the British Mediterranean strategy. He joined Marshall and King in their advocacy of a cross-Channel operation in 1944. At the first conference he attended, the [[Third Washington Conference]], in May 1943 he clashed with the British chiefs of staff over their reluctance to undertake operations to reopen the overland route to China, which Leahy considered vital to both the war against Japan and the postwar era. Leahy eventually extracted a promise from the British to undertake [[Operation Anakim]], an offensive to recapture [[British rule in Burma|Burma]], in 1943.{{sfn|Hayes|1982|pp=261–263}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=222–229}}{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=115–118}} Leahy sided with Hopkins and Major General [[Claire Chennault]] in supporting a bombing offensive against Japan from bases in China despite Marshall's prescient warnings that this could not be sustained without adequate ground troops to protect the air bases. Marshall was proven correct when a [[Operation Ichi-Go|Japanese offensive]] overran Chennault's bases.{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=113–115}}

[[File:80-G-K-13824 U.S.-British Combined Chiefs of Staff.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Combined Chiefs of Staff]] meet in the [[U.S. Public Health Service Building]] in Washington, D.C., in October 1943; British officers, on the left side of the table, are (front to back): [[Wilfrid Patterson]], [[John Dill]], [[Vivian Dykes]], [[Gordon Macready]] and [[Douglas Evill]]; U.S. officers, at the right side and head of the table, are (front to back): [[Ernest J. King]], Leahy, [[John R. Deane]], [[George C. Marshall]], [[Joseph T. McNarney]] and an unidentified colonel. |alt=At a large conference table]]
On 12 November 1943, Roosevelt, Hopkins, Leahy, King and Marshall set off together from Hampton Roads on the battleship {{USS|Iowa|BB-61|6}}. Roosevelt occupied the captain's cabin, and Leahy the one for an embarked admiral. They reached [[Mers-el-Kebir]] on 20 November, from whence they flew to [[Tunis]] and then [[Cairo]].{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=224–227}} Roosevelt stayed at the American Ambassador's compound in Cairo. Space was limited, so he took only Leahy and Hopkins with him. Discussions with the British were mainly concerned with Burma and China, about which they had much less interest than the Americans.{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=122–125}}

They then flew on to [[Tehran]], Iran, for talks with [[Stalin]].{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=122–125}} Roosevelt was slated to stay at the American legation there, but Stalin offered to put him up at the Soviet compound. He was allowed to bring two people with him, so he chose Leahy and Hopkins.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=257}} The conference reached agreement with the Soviets on the cross-Channel operation ([[Operation Overlord]]) and an invasion of Southern France ([[Operation Dragoon|Operation Anvil]]). When General Sir [[Alan Brooke]] began to back away from the commitment, Leahy lost his patience and demanded to know under what circumstances Brooke would be willing to undertake Overlord. The British, as Leahy put it, "fell into line".{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=129–130}}

Although the conservative Leahy regarded Hopkins as a "pinko",{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=138}} the two men worked well together, and Leahy became quite fond of Hopkins. Both were completely devoted to the President, and Leahy saw something of himself in the idealistic Hopkins.{{sfn|McClain|1984|p=73}}{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=246}} Over time, Leahy emerged as one of Roosevelt's most trusted advisors thereby becoming, in the words of historian [[Phillips O'Brien]], "the second most powerful man in the world".{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=220}} The main reason for this was Hopkins' precarious health, as he had [[stomach cancer]].{{sfn|Costigliola|2008|pp=695–696}} Hopkins married Louise Gill Macy in the [[Yellow Oval Room]] on 30 July 1942,<ref>{{cite news |title=Hopkins Marries in White House – He Weds Mrs. Louise G. Macy Before Fireplace in Oval Study |newspaper=The New York Times |date=30 July 1942 |page=17 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/07/31/85047535.html |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> they moved out of the White House in December 1943. He was therefore no longer at Roosevelt's beck and call.{{sfn|Costigliola|2008|pp=695–696}}

Leahy spent [[D-Day]], 6 June 1944, in his home town of Hampton, Iowa. This well-publicized "sentimental journey" was part of the deception efforts surrounding the Allied invasion of Europe. The idea was to lull any German agents in the United States into believing that the operation would not take place while such an important officer was out of the capital.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=277}} The following month, he accompanied Roosevelt to the Pacific Strategy Conference in [[Territory of Hawaii|Hawaii]] at which they met with Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]], the commander in chief of the [[Pacific Ocean Areas]], and General [[Douglas MacArthur]], the commander in chief of the [[Southwest Pacific Area]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=287–290}}

[[File:Yalta Conference 1945 Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt.jpg|thumb|left|[[Winston Churchill]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Joseph Stalin]] meet at the [[Yalta conference]] in February 1945. Behind them are (left to right): [[Anthony Eden]], [[Vyacheslav Molotov]], unidentified, [[Alan Brooke]], [[Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope|Andrew Cunningham]], [[Charles Portal]], [[Ernest King]], Leahy, [[George Marshall]], [[Laurence Kuter]], [[Aleksei Antonov]] and [[Nikolai Kuznetsov (admiral)|Nikolay Kuznetsov]]. |alt=refer to caption]]
Roosevelt, Leahy and presidential speech writer [[Samuel Rosenman]] (instead of Hopkins) set out from Washington in Roosevelt's personal railcar, the ''[[Ferdinand Magellan (railcar)|Ferdinand Magellan]]'', on 13 July. They went to Hyde Park, where Roosevelt showed Leahy around his [[Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum|Presidential Library]], then to Chicago, where Roosevelt conferred with leaders of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] over the choice of [[Harry S. Truman]] as his vice presidential running mate in the [[1944 United States presidential election|1944 election]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=287–290}} In [[San Diego]] they boarded the cruiser {{USS|Baltimore|CA-68|6}}, which took them to Hawaii, where Nimitz briefed them on a proposed invasion of the island of [[Formosa]], King's preferred target, but also spoke favorably of MacArthur's alternative of liberating the Philippines. Leahy hoped that this would facilitate a naval and air blockade that would make an invasion of Japan unnecessary.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=287–290}} No decision was taken at this time, and the JCS continued debating the issue for months before authorizing the liberation of Luzon on 3 October.{{sfn|Hayes|1982|pp=621–624}}

Hopkins was not present at the [[Second Quebec Conference]] in September 1944 either, continuing Leahy's transformation into a White House advisor. Leahy did not attend the political sessions at Quebec, but at this level political and military issues were indistinguishable. For example, the JCS examined a proposal for a British fleet to participate in the [[Pacific War]], a military proposal with a political objective.{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=180–181}} King was unenthusiastic about the idea; the U.S. Navy was performing well against the Japanese, and the addition of British forces would complicate command and logistics arrangements. Leahy and Marshall pressed for the British offer to be accepted, and in the end it was, with the proviso that the [[British Pacific Fleet]] would be self-supporting.{{sfn|Hayes|1982|pp=630–638}}

Another debate concerned the [[American occupation zone]] in Germany. The United States was allocated the southern part of Germany, which meant that its [[lines of communications]] would run through France, where Leahy was concerned about the prospect of a postwar Communist takeover. Roosevelt and Churchill reached a compromise, whereby the ports of [[Bremen]] and [[Bremerhaven]] would be given to the Americans, along with the right of transit through the [[British Occupation zone in Germany|British Zone]].{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=182–185}}

Leahy was advanced to the newly created rank of [[Fleet admiral (United States)|Fleet Admiral]] on 15 December 1944, making him the most senior of the seven men who received [[five-star rank]] that month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Five Star Officers |publisher=Arlington National Cemetery |url=https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Prominent-Military-Figures/Five-Star-Officers |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|McClain|1984|pp=204–205}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=265}} He accompanied President Roosevelt to the [[Yalta Conference]] in February 1945. The cruiser {{USS|Quincy|CA-71|6}} took them to Malta, where Leahy chaired a CCS meeting to discuss the war against Germany, and then the President's [[Air Force One|personal aircraft]], the [[Douglas C-54 Skymaster|''Sacred Cow'']], flew them to Yalta.{{sfn|Adams|1985|pp=267–271}} At Yalta, Roosevelt met Churchill and Stalin to decide how Europe was to be reorganized after the impending surrender of Germany.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|pp=374–379}}

On 12 April 1945, Roosevelt died. Leahy attended the ceremonies and the memorial service for his friend, which was held in the [[East Room]] of the White House.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|pp=400–403}}

===Atomic bomb===
On 13 April 1945, Leahy gave the regular morning briefing on the progress of the war to Truman, who had become president on Roosevelt's death. This was followed by a short meeting with the Joint Chiefs, the [[Secretary of War]], [[Henry Stimson]], and the Secretary of the Navy, [[James Forrestal]]. Afterwards, Leahy offered to resign, but Truman decided to retain him as chief of staff.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=329–331}} On 18 June, the Joint Chiefs, along with Stimson and Forrestal, met with Truman at the White House to discuss [[Operation Olympic]], the planned invasion of [[Kyushu]]. Truman chaired the meeting. Marshall and King strongly favored the operation, and all the others voiced their support except Leahy, who feared that it would result in high casualties. He questioned Marshall's casualty estimates, which were based on the [[Luzon campaign]], which took place on a large land mass where there was ample room for maneuver, rather than the [[Okinawa campaign]], which took place on an island where lack of maneuver room resulted in frontal assaults and high casualties.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=341–345}}

According to Truman's ''Memoirs: Year of Decisions'', Leahy was skeptical about the [[atomic bomb]], saying: "That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done. The bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives."{{sfn|Truman|1955||p=11}} After the [[Trinity (nuclear test)|bomb was tested]] and did explode, Truman consulted with Byrnes, Stimson, Leahy, Marshall, Arnold and [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], the commander of [[European Theater of Operations, United States Army|United States Forces, European Theater]]. The consensus was that the atomic bomb should be used.{{sfn|Bernstein|1987|p=378}} Although Leahy later wrote in his memoirs that his "own feeling was that in being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to the [[barbarians]] of the [[Dark Ages (historiography)|Dark Ages]]",{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=513}} historian [[Barton J. Bernstein]] noted that Leahy did not oppose its use at the time:{{blockquote|Nor is there solid evidence that any high-ranking American military leader, other than General George C. Marshall on {{em|one}} occasion, expressed moral objections before Hiroshima to the use of the atomic bomb on Japanese cities. Nor, before Hiroshima, did any other top military leader – Admiral William Leahy, Admiral Ernest King, or General Henry Arnold – ever raise a political or military objection to the use of the A-bomb on Japanese cities or argue explicitly that it would be unnecessary. Only after the war would Leahy utter moral and political objections...{{sfn|Bernstein|1987|pp=386–387}} }}

===Truman administration===
In July 1945, Leahy accompanied Truman to the [[Potsdam Conference]] where Truman met with Stalin and the new British Prime Minister [[Clement Attlee]] to make decisions about the governance of [[Allied-occupied Germany|occupied Germany]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=348–350}} Hopkins was too ill to make the journey.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=447}} Leahy was disappointed in the outcome of these conferences. He considered that both Truman and Stalin had suffered defeats, with proposals that would have ensured a lasting peace in Europe being watered down or turned down. He recognized that the Soviet Union was a dominant power in Europe, and that the [[British Empire]] was in terminal decline, underscored by the mid-conference replacement of Churchill by Attlee.{{sfn|Leahy|1950|p=497}}

[[File:USA C-1860 (26246410746).jpg|thumb|left| [[Clement Attlee]], [[Harry S. Truman]] and [[Joseph Stalin]] meet at the [[Potsdam Conference]] in July 1945; behind them are (left to right) Leahy, [[Ernest Bevin]], [[James F. Byrnes]] and [[Vyacheslav Molotov]]. |alt=refer to caption]]
On 24 January 1946, Leahy was appointed to the interim [[National Intelligence Authority]] (NIA), which oversaw activities of the nascent [[Central Intelligence Group]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=376–377, 390–391}} The following year the [[National Security Act of 1947]] replaced these organizations with the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] respectively, ending Leahy's involvement.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=418}} He continued to chair meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and he rejected [[United States war plans (1945–1950)|war plans]] that he felt placed too much emphasis on the [[No first use#United States|first use]] of nuclear weapons.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=424–426}}

Like many naval officers, he was opposed to the unification of the War and Navy departments into the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], fearing that the Navy would lose its [[naval aviation]] and the [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]. Nor did he agree with formalizing the role of [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]], which he felt would place too much power in the hands of one individual.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=391–392}} The position was created by amendments to the National Security Act that Truman signed into law on 10 August 1949, but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs was not the single chief of staff the Army and [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] wanted.{{sfn|Barlow|2001|p=173}}

Leahy was involved in the preparation of two speeches that marked the onset of the [[Cold War]]: Truman's Navy Day address on 27 October 1945,{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=367–371}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Text of President's Navy Day Speech in Central Park on the Aims of U.S. Foreign Policy |newspaper=The New York Times |date=28 October 1945 |page=33 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1945/10/28/305890832.html?pageNumber=33 |access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref> and Churchill's "[[Iron Curtain]]" speech on 5 March 1946.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=371–374}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech—5 March 1946 |date=5 March 2021 |publisher=The National WWII Museum – New Orleans |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/winston-churchills-iron-curtain-speech-march-5-1946 |access-date=20 May 2022 |archive-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520011953/https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/winston-churchills-iron-curtain-speech-march-5-1946 |url-status=live }}</ref> The former was written by Leahy and Rosenman, and reflected Leahy's ideas about the fundamental goals of U.S. foreign policy;{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=367–371}} the latter was written by Churchill, but in consultation with Leahy, who was the only one of the "American military men" referred to in the speech with whom Churchill discussed the speech.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=371–374}} But Leahy's [[United States non-interventionism|non-interventionist]] stance on U.S. involvement in the [[Greek Civil War]] and the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] were increasingly out of step with the policies of the Truman administration.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=407–408, 419–420}} On 20 September 1948, columnist Constantine Brown published allegations that White House advisors [[Clark Clifford]] and [[David K. Niles]] were urging Truman to get rid of Leahy, whom they regarded, Brown said, as an "old-fashioned reactionary".{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=432}}

On the day after Truman won the [[1948 United States presidential election|presidential election on 2 November 1948]], Leahy asked to be retired in January. In December, doctors diagnosed Leahy with a partial blockage of the kidneys. On 28 December, he met with Truman as chief of staff for the last time.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|pp=434–436}} Truman officially accepted his resignation as his chief of staff on 2 March 1949, although as an officer with five-star rank, Leahy technically remained on active service as an advisor to the Secretary of the Navy.{{sfn|Naval History and Heritage Command|2015|p=19}}

The following year, Leahy published his war memoirs, ''I Was There''. His unemotional, unexciting and unenlightening style did his publisher no favors.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=441}} [[Orville Prescott]] the [[book reviewer]] for ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote: "As the personal confidant of President Roosevelt and President Truman, Admiral Leahy ought to have a good story to tell. Unfortunately, he hasn't... its stiff official manner, its elaborate discretion, its desperate need of editing and its lack of any exciting new information make it dull and dusty fare... writes in a prose style as rigid as a naval cadet standing at attention in his review."<ref>{{cite news |first=Orville |last=Prescott |author-link=Orville Prescott |title=Books of the Times |newspaper=The New York Times |date=20 March 1950 |page=19 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1950/03/20/issue.html |access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref> The book sold poorly, and when Leahy subsequently proposed a book about his time in Puerto Rico, the publisher turned it down.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=441}}

==Death and legacy==
[[File:Fleet Admiral William Daniel Leahy (18555451643).jpg|thumb|Leahy's grave at [[Arlington National Cemetery]]|alt=The stone has five stars and an inscription that reads: Fleat Admiral William D. Leahy Fleet Admiral United States Navy 1875–1959 his wife Louise Harrington Leahy 1876–1942 ]]
Leahy died at the [[National Naval Medical Center|U.S. Naval Hospital]] in [[Bethesda, Maryland]], on 20 July 1959, at the age of 84. At the time of his death, he was the oldest officer on active duty in the history of the U.S. Navy. He was given an [[Military funerals in the United States|Armed Forces military funeral]]. His body was viewed at the Bethlehem Chapel at the [[Washington National Cathedral]] from noon on 22 July until noon the following day. A funeral service was then held in the cathedral at 14:00, followed by the burial in Arlington National Cemetery. Honorary [[pallbearer]]s were Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Admiral [[Charles P. Snyder (admiral)|Charles P. Snyder]], Admiral [[Louis E. Denfeld]], Admiral [[Arthur W. Radford]], Vice Admiral [[Edward L. Cochrane]], and Rear Admiral Henry Williams, all retired from service. Active military servicemen who were honorary pallbearers were Admiral [[Jerauld Wright]], Admiral [[Robert Dennison (United States Navy officer)|Robert L. Dennison]], Rear Admiral Joseph H. Wellings, and close friend, William D. Hassett.{{sfn|Mossman|Stark|1971|pp=143–148}}

[[File:USS Leahy (CG-16) underway in the Pacific Ocean on 1 June 1986 (6417014).jpg|thumb|left|{{USS|Leahy|CG-16|6}} underway in the Pacific Ocean in June 1986]]
Leahy's papers are in the [[Naval History and Heritage Command]] and the [[Library of Congress]] in Washington, D.C.; some personal correspondence is held by the [[Wisconsin Historical Society]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Leahy, William D. Papers |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/archives/Collections/personal-donated-collections/pd-l/leahy-william-d.html |access-date=11 May 2022 |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430140601/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/archives/Collections/personal-donated-collections/pd-l/leahy-william-d.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=William D. Leahy papers |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/mm78029678/ |access-date=11 May 2022 |archive-date=11 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511235459/https://www.loc.gov/item/mm78029678/ |url-status=live }}</ref> {{USS|Leahy|CG-16}}, the [[lead ship]] of the {{sclass|Leahy|cruiser}}s, was named in his honor.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=491}} In 2014, Quarters BB at the [[Old Naval Observatory]] was renamed Leahy House. The order from Leahy to King and Marshall that ended hostilities in World War II was used to decorate the house's mantelpiece.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jim |date=21 July 2014 |last=Garamone |title=D.C. Quarters Renamed to Honor Fleet Admiral William Leahy |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/602911/dc-quarters-re-named-to-honor-fleet-admiral-william-leahy/ |access-date=6 April 2023 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406224242/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/602911/dc-quarters-re-named-to-honor-fleet-admiral-william-leahy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Dates of rank==
[[File:Navyacademylogo.jpg|50px]] [[United States Naval Academy]] [[naval cadet]] – Class of 1897, 35th of class of 47
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
![[Ensign (rank)#United States|Ensign]]
![[Lieutenant, Junior Grade|Lieutenant Junior Grade]]
![[Lieutenant]]
![[Lieutenant Commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]]
![[Commander (United States)|Commander]]
|-
!O-1
!O-2
!O-3
!O-4
!O-5
|-
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O1 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O2 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O3 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O4 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O5 insignia.svg|60px]]
|-
!1 July 1899<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
!1 July 1902<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
!31 December 1903<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
!15 September 1909<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
!29 August 1916<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
|}
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
![[Captain (U.S. Navy)|Captain]]
![[Rear Admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]]
![[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]]
![[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]]
![[Fleet Admiral (United States)|Fleet Admiral]]
|-
!O-6
!O-8
!O-9
!O-10
!Special Grade
|-
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O6 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O8 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O9 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O10 insignia.svg|60px]]
| align="center" width="20%"| [[File:US Navy O11 insignia.svg|60px]]
|-
!1 July 1918<ref name="history.navy.mil">{{cite web |title=Leahy, William Daniel |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-l/leahy-william-d/fleet-admiral-leahy.html |publisher=Naval History & Heritage Command |access-date=8 May 2022 |archive-date=11 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511233957/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-l/leahy-william-d/fleet-admiral-leahy.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
!14 October 1927<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
!13 July 1935<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
!2 January 1937<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
!15 December 1944<ref name="history.navy.mil" />
|}

==Decorations and awards==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Sampson Medal ribbon.JPG|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Spanish Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Philippine Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Nicaraguan Campaign ribbon 1912.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Mexican Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Dominican Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=U.S. Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon.svg|width=106px}}

|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|[[Navy Cross]]
|-
|[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] with two gold stars
|[[Sampson Medal]]
|[[Spanish Campaign Medal]]
|-
|[[Philippine Campaign Medal]]
|[[Nicaraguan Campaign Medal]] (1912)
|[[Mexican Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Dominican Campaign Medal]]
|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] with "TRANSPORT" clasp
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
|[[Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal]]
|[[European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]]
|[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|[[Navy Occupation Service Medal]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|[[Marksmanship Ribbon|Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon]]

|}

{{center|{{small|Source:<ref name="history.navy.mil"/>}}}}
* Leahy was invested as an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Most Honorable [[Order of the Bath]] on 21 November 1945.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/99-476 |title=Photo of the Earl of Halifax, British Ambassador to the U.S., and various U. S. Military leaders |publisher=Harry S. Truman Library and Museum |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Leahy |first=William D. |title=I Was There: The Personal Story of the Chief of Staff to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman: Based on His Notes and Diaries Made at the Time |year=1950 |publisher=Whittlesey House |location=New York |oclc=702607509 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.2304/mode/2up |access-date=11 May 2022}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last=Adams |first=Henry H. |title=Witness to Power: The Life of Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-87021-338-0 |oclc=464550175}}
* {{cite book |last=Alexander |first=David |title=The Building: A Biography of the Pentagon |date=2007 |publisher=MBI |location=St. Paul, Minnesota |isbn=978-0-7603-2087-7 |oclc=701237862}}
* {{cite book |last=Barlow |first=Jeffrey G. |title=Revolt of the Admirals: The Fight for Naval Aviation, 1945–1950 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Naval Historical Center |date=2001 |isbn=1-931641-13-7 |oclc=317410844}}
* {{cite book |last1=Beruff |first1=Jorge Rodríguez |author-link1=Jorge Rodriguez Beruff |editor-last1=Beruff |editor-first1=Jorge Rodríguez |editor-last2=Bolívar |editor-first2=José L. |contribution=War and Political Transition in Puerto Rico |title=Island at War: Puerto Rico in the Crucible of the Second World War |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |location=Jackson, Mississippi |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-62674-567-4 |oclc=894032951}}
* {{cite journal |last=Bernstein |first=Barton J. |author-link=Barton Bernstein |year=1987 |title=Ike and Hiroshima: Did he oppose it? |journal=The Journal of Strategic Studies |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=377–389 |doi=10.1080/01402398708437307}}
* {{cite book |last=Borneman |first=Walter |author-link=Walter R. Borneman |title=The Admirals: The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea |publisher=Little, Brown |year=2012 |location=Boston |isbn=978-0-316-09783-3 |oclc=805654962}}
* {{cite journal |last=Costigliola |first=Frank |title=Broken Circle: The Isolation of Franklin D. Roosevelt in World War II |journal=Diplomatic History |volume=32 |issue=5 |date=2008 |pages=677–718 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-7709.2008.00725.x |jstor=24915955}}
* {{cite book |last=Hayes |first=Grace P. |title=The History of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in World War II |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-87021-269-7 |oclc=7795125}}
* {{cite thesis |last=Holmes |first=Janes Houghton |title=Admiral Leahy in Vichy France |publisher=The George Washington University |location=Washington, D.C. |degree=PhD |date=18 February 1974 |id={{ProQuest| }}}}
* {{cite thesis |last=McClain |first=Linda |title=The Role of Admiral W. D. Leahy in U.S. Foreign Policy |date=August 1984 |degree=PhD |publisher=University of Virginia |location=Charlottesville, Virginia |id={{ProQuest| }}}}
* {{cite thesis |last=Miles |first=Paul L. Jr. |title=American Strategy in World War II: The Role of William D. Leahy |date=June 1999 |degree=PhD |publisher=Princeton University |location=Princeton, New Jersey |id={{ProQuest| }}}}
* {{cite journal |last=Mobley |first=Scott |title=By the Force of Our Arms: William D. Leahy and the U.S. Intervention in Nicaragua, 1912 |journal=Federal History |issn=2163-8144 |issue=11 |year=2019 |pages=39–59 |url=http://www.shfg.org/resources/Documents/4-Mobley.pdf |access-date=8 May 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107223008/http://www.shfg.org/resources/Documents/4-Mobley.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last1=Mossman |first1=B. |last2=Stark |first2=M. W. |title=The Last Salute: Civil and Military Funeral, 1921–1969 |date=1971 |publisher=United States Department of the Army |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=11 May 2022 |url=https://history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-1/CMH_Pub_90-1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120749/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-1/CMH_Pub_90-1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 September 2015 |oclc=596887 }}
* {{cite book |author=Naval History and Heritage Command |author-link=Naval History and Heritage Command |title=United States Navy Office of the Chief of Naval Operations: 100th Anniversary |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-16-092779-9 |oclc=920468160 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/browse-by-topic/commemorations/commemorations-toolkits/cno-and-opnav-centennial/CNO%20and%20OPNAV%20100th%20Book%20151007.pdf |access-date=12 May 2022 |archive-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321021043/http://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/browse-by-topic/commemorations/commemorations-toolkits/cno-and-opnav-centennial/CNO%20and%20OPNAV%20100th%20Book%20151007.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last=Neiberg |first=Michael S. |author-link=Michael S. Neiberg |title=When France Fell: The Vichy Crisis and the Fate of the Anglo-American Alliance |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-0-674-25856-3 |oclc=1288343540}}
* {{cite book |last=O'Brien |first=Phillips |author-link=Phillips O'Brien |title=The Second Most Powerful Man in the World: The Life of Admiral William D. Leahy, Roosevelt's Chief of Staff |year=2019 |location=New York |publisher=Dutton Caliber, an imprint of Penguin Random House |isbn=978-0-399-58482-4 |oclc=1260671230}}
* {{cite book |last1=Stimson |first1=Henry L. |author-link1=Henry L. Stimson |last2=Bundy |first2=McGeorge |author-link2=McGeorge Bundy |title=On Active Service in Peace and War |year=1971 |location=New York |publisher=Octagon Books |isbn=978-0-374-97627-9 |oclc=833688612}}
* {{cite thesis |last=Thomas |first=Gerald E. |author-link=Gerald Eustis Thomas |title=William D. Leahy and America's Imperial Years, 1893–1917 |year=1973 |degree=PhD |publisher=Yale University |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36710113.pdf |access-date=10 May 2022 |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510215517/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36710113.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last1=Truman |first1=Harry S. |author-link=Harry S. Truman |title=Memoirs of Harry S. Truman |volume=I: Year of Decisions |date=1955 |publisher=Doubleday & Company |location=Garden City, New York |oclc=20899832}}
* {{cite book |author=U.S. Navy Department |title=Building the Navy's Bases in World War II |volume=II |series=History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940–1946 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |year=1947 |oclc=1023942}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|William D. Leahy}}

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Beruff |first=Jorge Rodríguez |title=Las memorias de Leahy: los relatos del almirante William D. Leahy sobre su gobernación de Puerto Rico (1939–1940) |trans-title=Leahy's Memoirs: Admiral William D. Leahy's Account of His Governorship of Puerto Rico (1939–1940) |language=Spanish, English |location=San Juan, Puerto Rico |publisher=Autor |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-881730-09-5 |oclc=253353884 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Hall |first=George M. |title=The Fifth Star: High Command in an Era of Global War |location=Westport |publisher=Praeger Publishers |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-275-94802-3 |oclc=28891203 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Langer |first=William L. |title=Our Vichy Gamble |location=New York |publisher=Knopf |year=1947 |oclc=906119423 |ref=none}}

{{refend}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William H. Standley]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Naval Operations]]|years=1937–1939}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Harold R. Stark]]}}
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief]]|years=1942–1949}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Omar Bradley]]|as=Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[José E. Colón]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of Puerto Rico]]|years=11 September 1939 – 28 November 1940}}
{{s-aft|after=[[José Miguel Gallardo]]}}
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William C. Bullitt]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Ambassador to France]]|years=1941–1942}}
{{s-vac|reason=[[German military administration in occupied France during World War II|German occupation of France]]|next=[[Jefferson Caffery]] in 1944}}
{{s-end}}

{{US Ambassadors to France}}
{{Puerto Rico Governors}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|France|Nuclear technology|Politics|Puerto Rico|United States}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leahy, William}}
[[Category:1875 births]]
[[Category:1959 deaths]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to France]]
[[Category:American five-star officers]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Banana Wars]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Philippine–American War]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Spanish–American War]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Naval Operations]]
[[Category:Governors of Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Military aides to the president of the United States]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Iowa]]
[[Category:People from Hampton, Iowa]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy admirals]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Navy World War II admirals]]
[[Category:Writers from Iowa]]

Robert McFarlane (American government official)

2025-10-16T02:55:44Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Awards and decorations */

{{Short description|American Marine Corps officer and National Security Advisor (1937–2022)}}
{{Other people||Robert MacFarlane (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bud McFarlane
| image = Robert McFarlane, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs ME278-2 (cropped)(2).jpg
| office = 12th [[National Security Advisor (United States)|United States National Security Advisor]]
| president = [[Ronald Reagan]]
| term_start = October 17, 1983
| term_end = December 4, 1985
| predecessor = [[William P. Clark Jr.]]
| successor = [[John Poindexter]]
| office1 = 12th [[Deputy National Security Advisor (United States)|United States Deputy National Security Advisor]]
| president1 = Ronald Reagan
| term_start1 = April 4, 1982
| term_end1 = October 17, 1983
| predecessor1 = [[James W. Nance|James Nance]]
| successor1 = [[John Poindexter]]
| office2 = 20th [[Counselor of the United States Department of State|Counselor of the Department of State]]
| president2 = Ronald Reagan
| term_start2 = February 28, 1981
| term_end2 = April 4, 1982
| predecessor2 = [[Rozanne L. Ridgway]]
| successor2 = [[James L. Buckley]]
| birth_name = Robert Carl McFarlane
| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|7|12}}
| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|5|12|1937|7|12}}
| death_place = [[Lansing, Michigan]], U.S.
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = Jonda Riley<ref name="nyt-obit"/>
| education = {{ubl|[[United States Naval Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])|[[Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies|Geneva Graduate Institute]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])|[[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]]}}
| allegiance = 
| branch = [[United States Marine Corps]]
| serviceyears = 1959–1979
| rank = {{Dodseal|US O-5|18px}} [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]]
| battles = [[Vietnam War]]
| mawards = {{ubl|[[Distinguished Service Medal (United States Navy)|Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] (with [["V" Device|valor]])|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]|[[Commendation Medal|Navy Commendation Medal]] (with [["V" Device|valor]])|[[Secretary's Distinguished Service Award]]|[[Navy Distinguished Public Service Award]]}}
}}
'''Robert Carl''' "'''Bud'''" '''McFarlane''' (July 12, 1937 – May 12, 2022) was an [[United States of America|American]] [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] officer who served as [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] to President [[Ronald Reagan]] from 1983 to 1985. Within the [[Reagan administration]], McFarlane was a leading architect of the [[Strategic Defense Initiative]], a project intended to defend the US from [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] ballistic missile attacks.<ref>Smith, R. "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121105141837/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1278872.html McFarlane Calls SDI Pitch Misleading]}}", Washington Post (1988-09-15) (via HighBeam.com): "Robert C. McFarlane, a key architect of President Reagan's 'Star Wars' plan to develop sophisticated defenses against Soviet ballistic missiles, said he has concluded 'There is no current basis for confidence that a survivable defensive shield is within reach' and that Reagan's announcement of it was misleading and simplistic."</ref> He resigned as National Security Adviser in late 1985 because of disagreements with other administration figures but remained involved in negotiations with Iran and with [[Hezbollah]].

McFarlane was a central figure in the [[Iran–Contra affair]], an operation in which the Reagan administration funneled weapons to Iran and diverted the profits to illegally fund [[Contras|right-wing rebels in Nicaragua]]. When the scheme came to light, administration officials implemented a plan to insulate Reagan and senior officials by focusing blame on McFarlane.<ref name="wapo-obit">{{cite news | newspaper = Washington Post | title = Robert 'Bud' McFarlane, Reagan national security adviser, dies at 84 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/05/13/robert-bud-mcfarlane-iran-contra-dead/ | date = May 13, 2022 | first = Jerrold | last = Schechter | access-date = May 13, 2022 | archive-date = May 13, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220513170103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/05/13/robert-bud-mcfarlane-iran-contra-dead/ | url-status = live }}</ref> He ultimately pleaded guilty to four [[misdemeanor]] counts and admitted that he had hidden information about the Reagan administration's support of the Contras from Congress. Suffering from guilt over his role in the scheme and feeling betrayed by Reagan, who, McFarlane later wrote, "approved every single action I ever took" but "lacked the moral conviction and intellectual courage to stand up in our defense and in defense of his policy." McFarlane attempted suicide in 1987.<ref name="wapo-obit"/><ref name="nyt-obit"/> He was later [[Federal pardons in the United States|pardoned]], along with several other figures in the Iran-Contra scandal, by President [[George H. W. Bush]] shortly before he left office.

After his pardon, McFarlane operated a consulting business. He was investigated by the [[FBI]] in 2009 over concerns that he was illegally lobbying on behalf of the [[Sudan]]ese government of [[Omar al-Bashir]] but was not charged with any crime.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = Washington Post | title = Probe of former national security adviser's relationship with Sudan ends without charges | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/probe-of-former-national-security-advisers-relationship-with-sudan-ends-without-charges/2013/11/27/fc279458-5799-11e3-ba82-16ed03681809_story.html | first = Matt | last = Zapotosky | date = November 27, 2013 | access-date = September 10, 2017 | archive-date = January 6, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180106030337/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/probe-of-former-national-security-advisers-relationship-with-sudan-ends-without-charges/2013/11/27/fc279458-5799-11e3-ba82-16ed03681809_story.html | url-status = live }}</ref> McFarlane died in [[Lansing, Michigan]], on May 12, 2022, from a lung condition.<ref name="nyt-obit">{{cite news | work = New York Times | title = Robert C. McFarlane, Top Reagan Aide in Iran-Contra Affair, Dies at 84 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/13/us/robert-c-mcfarlane-dead.html | first = Neil | last = Lewis | date = May 13, 2022 | access-date = May 16, 2022 | archive-date = May 16, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220516060946/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/13/us/robert-c-mcfarlane-dead.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
McFarlane was the son of Texas Democratic Congressman [[William D. McFarlane|William McFarlane]]. After graduating high school, McFarlane entered the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]] in 1955, where he graduated in 1959. He was the third member of his family to attend the Academy, after his uncle Robert McFarlane (1925) and his brother Bill (1949). At the academy he graduated in the top 15 percent of the class and [[Letterman (sports)|lettered]] twice in [[gymnastics]]. He received an honorary doctorate from the [[Institute of World Politics]] in Washington, D.C., in 2014. He sang in the Chapel Choir, and was a Brigade Administrative Officer and 14th Company Commander. He married his high school sweetheart, Jonda Riley.<ref name="nyt-obit"/>

==Marine Corps service==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2023}}
Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1959, McFarlane was commissioned a [[second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] in the Marine Corps, where he served as a field artillery officer.

As a Marine Corps officer, McFarlane commanded [[platoon]]s, a battery of field artillery [[howitzer]]s and was the Operations Officer for an artillery regiment. He taught [[Artillery|Gunnery]] at the Army Advanced Artillery Course. He was the executive assistant to the Marine Corps' Operations Deputy from 1968–1971, preparing the deputy for meetings with the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. During this assignment he was also the Action Officer in the Marine Corps Operations Division for Europe/[[NATO]], the Middle East, and Latin America.

McFarlane served two combat tours in the [[Vietnam War]]. In March 1965, he commanded an artillery battery in the first landing of U.S. combat forces in Vietnam. While deployed during his first tour, McFarlane was selected for graduate studies as an [[The Olmsted Scholar Program|Olmsted Scholar]]. McFarlane received a master's degree (License) in [[strategic studies]] with highest honors from the [[Graduate Institute of International Studies]] (''Institut de Hautes Etudes Internationales'', HEI) in [[Geneva, Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert McFarlane |url=https://www.londoncenter.org/fellows/5F7336F4-3ED7-11EA-8423-A9FC50FABE79/profile |website=London Center for Policy Research |access-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501203623/https://www.londoncenter.org/fellows/5F7336F4-3ED7-11EA-8423-A9FC50FABE79/profile?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com |url-status=live }}</ref>

After attending the Graduate Institute of International Studies, McFarlane returned to Vietnam for a second tour in 1967–1968 as a Regimental Fire Support Coordinator for the [[3rd Marine Division (United States)|3rd Marine Division]] deployed along the [[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone]] during the [[Tet Offensive]]. He organized all fire support ([[B-52 Stratofortress|B-52s]], naval gunfire from the [[USS New Jersey (BB-62)|USS ''New Jersey'' (BB-62)]], and artillery) for forces deployed at [[Con Thien]], [[Cam Lộ Combat Base|Cam Lộ]], [[Đông Hà Combat Base|Đông Hà]], [[The Rockpile]], [[Khe Sanh Combat Base|Khe Sanh]], and points between. McFarlane received a [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] and a [[Navy Commendation Medal]], both with [[Valor device]].

Following his second tour in Vietnam and a tour at [[Headquarters Marine Corps]], in 1971 he was named a [[White House Fellow]]. He was the first Marine Corps officer selected for the program.

McFarlane was assigned to the [[White House Office of Legislative Affairs]] and at the conclusion of that assignment was selected as the Military Assistant to [[Henry Kissinger]] at the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]]. In this post, McFarlane dealt with intelligence exchanges with the People's Republic of China from 1973 to 1976, giving detailed intelligence briefings to the PRC at the time of the [[Sino-Soviet split]]. He also accompanied Kissinger on his [[1972 Nixon visit to China|visits to the PRC]]. In addition, McFarlane dealt with other aspects of foreign policy, including the Middle East, [[Soviet Union–United States relations|relations with the Soviet Union]], and [[arms control]]. McFarlane was appointed by President [[Gerald Ford]] as his Special Assistant for National Security Affairs while a Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] in 1976.

Upon leaving the White House, McFarlane was assigned to the [[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]], where he co-authored a book on crisis management while concurrently receiving a diploma from the [[National War College]].

He ended his Marine Corps career on [[United States Forces Japan|Okinawa]] as Operations Officer for the 12th Marine Regiment. McFarlane retired in 1979 as a lieutenant colonel.

==Civilian posts==
In 1979, McFarlane was appointed by U.S. Senator [[John Tower]] to the staff of the [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Senate Armed Services Committee]], where he was responsible for staffing Senate consideration of the [[Strategic Arms Limitation Talks#SALT II Treaty|SALT II Treaty]] from 1979 to 1981. He also authored much of [[Ronald Reagan]]'s foreign policy platform during the [[1980 United States presidential election|1980 presidential campaign]].

In 1981, President Reagan appointed and the Senate confirmed McFarlane as Counselor at the Department of State.<ref name=ReaganCounselor1981>{{cite web
|access-date=March 23, 2009
|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=43990
|format=Press Release
|author=The White House
|title=Nomination of Robert C. McFarlane To Be' Counselor of the Department of State
|date=January 29, 1981
|work=The American Presidency Project
|archive-date=May 20, 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520130118/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=43990
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In this post he assisted Secretary of State [[Alexander Haig]].

In 1982, Reagan appointed McFarlane as Deputy National Security Advisor responsible for the integration of the policy recommendations of the Departments of State, [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury]], and [[United States Department of Defense|Defense]]. In 1983, he was appointed by the president as his Special Representative in the Middle East responsible for [[Arab–Israeli conflict|Israeli-Arab negotiations]].<ref name=ReaganMiddleEast1983>{{cite web
|access-date=March 23, 2009
|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=41628&st=McFarlane&st1=
|format=Press Release
|author=The White House
|title=Appointment of Robert C. McFarlane as the President's Personal Representative in the Middle East
|date=July 22, 1983
|work=The American Presidency Project
|archive-date=May 20, 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520130113/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=41628&st=McFarlane&st1=
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

McFarlane was criticized for having involved the United States armed forces in the [[Lebanon Civil War]] with [[gunship]] bombardment of Lebanese opposition forces which may have led to the [[1983 Beirut barracks bombing]] where 241 American servicemen were killed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/29/lesson_unlearned |title=Lesson Unlearned |first=Nir |last=Rosen |date=October 29, 2009 |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |access-date=December 24, 2009 |archive-date=January 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107034943/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/29/lesson_unlearned |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following that assignment, he returned to the White House and was appointed President Reagan's [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]].<ref name=ReaganNSA1983>{{cite web
|access-date=March 23, 2009
|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=40655&st=McFarlane&st1=
|format=Press Release
|title=Appointment of Robert C. McFarlane as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
|date=October 17, 1983
|author=The White House
|work=The American Presidency Project
|archive-date=May 20, 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520130108/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=40655&st=McFarlane&st1=
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In that post, he was responsible for the development of U.S
foreign and defense policy. He was a supporter of the [[Strategic Defense Initiative]] (SDI or "Star Wars").

==Iran-Contra affair and resignation==
[[File:Robert McFarlane 1987.jpg|thumb|left|McFarlane in 1987]]
The [[Iran-Contra affair]] involved secretly selling arms to Iran and funneling the money to support the [[Contras]] in Nicaragua. As National Security Adviser, McFarlane urged Reagan to negotiate the arms deal with Iranian intermediaries, but McFarlane said that by late December 1985 he was urging Reagan to end the arms shipments.<ref>Shenon, Philip. "[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0715FC38590C708EDDA80894D1484D81 Ex-Official Says Bush Urged End to Iran Arms Shipments]", New York Times (1989-01-23): "Robert C. McFarlane, the former adviser, said in a telephone interview that although Vice President Bush rarely expressed an opinion at such meetings, he supported Mr. McFarlane in urging that the shipments be stopped....At the December 1985 meeting, Mr. McFarlane recalled, he advised Mr. Reagan to end the arms operation....Mr. Bush, he said, made a similar brief statement at a White House meeting after Mr. McFarlane went to Teheran in May 1986."</ref> McFarlane resigned on December 4, 1985,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Letter Accepting the Resignation of Robert C. McFarlane as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs|url=http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1985/120485d.htm|access-date=2012-12-04|archive-date=March 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320212108/http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1985/120485d.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=United States v. Robert C. McFarlane|publisher=Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters|year=1993|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/1993/walsh/chap_01.htm|access-date=June 7, 2008|archive-date=December 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208210354/http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/1993/walsh/chap_01.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> citing that he wanted to spend more time with his family;<ref>*{{Cite book|author=Reagan, Ronald|author-link=Ronald Reagan|year=1990|location=New York|publisher=Simon & Schuster|page=509|title=An American Life}}</ref> he was replaced by Admiral [[John Poindexter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/profile-poindexter.php|title=Understanding the Iran-Contra Affairs – The Legal Aftermath|website=brown.edu|access-date=May 17, 2022|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517095623/https://www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/profile-poindexter.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Iran-Contra affair came to light in November 1986 and a political scandal ensued. Disheartened, feeling abused by his former colleagues, and in depression over the embarrassment for the president that his actions had contributed to, McFarlane attempted suicide with an overdose of 25 to 30 [[valium]] tablets and was admitted into the hospital just two hours before his scheduled testimony before the Blue Ribbon panel appointed by President Reagan to investigate Iran-Contra known as the Tower Commission on February 9, 1987, saying he had failed his country.<ref name=WashingtonPost_Okie-Spolar_19870210>
{{cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1305409.html
|title=McFarlane Takes Drug Overdose; Iran Probe Figure Hospitalized Shortly Before Testimony Due|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195917/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1305409.html |archive-date=October 8, 2016
|newspaper=The Washington Post | date=February 10, 1987|author1=Okie, Susan |first2=Chris |last2=Spolar |name-list-style=amp |via=HighBeam.com }}</ref>

In 1988, he pleaded guilty to four [[misdemeanor]] counts of withholding information from [[United States Congress|Congress]] as part of the Iran-Contra cover-up.<ref name=WashingtonPost_Pichirallo_19880312>
{{cite news
|title=McFarlane Enters Guilty Plea Arising From Iran-Contra Affair; Former Reagan Adviser Withheld Information From Congress
|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 12, 1988| first=Joe |last=Pichirallo}}</ref> He was sentenced to two years' probation and a $20,000 fine but was pardoned by President [[George H. W. Bush]] on Christmas Eve 1992.

==Other activities==
[[File:Former Reagan National Security Advisor Robert "Bud" McFarlane in his Washington Office (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|200px|McFarlane in 1994]]
McFarlane co-founded and served as CEO of McFarlane Associates Inc., an international consulting company.
[[File:Robert Mcfarlane IAGS.jpg|thumb|200px|right|McFarlane in 2011]]
He was also a Co-founder and Director<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ip3international.com/team/|title=Our Team – IP3 Int'l|work=IP3 International |date=2019-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731185611/http://ip3international.com/team/|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref> of [http://ip3international.com/ IP3 International] (short for "International Peace Power & Prosperity"<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/flynn-backed-plan-transfer-nuclear-tech-saudis-may-have-broken-n973021|title=Whistleblowers: Flynn backed plan to transfer nuclear tech to Saudis|date=February 19, 2019|publisher=NBC News|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220024045/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/flynn-backed-plan-transfer-nuclear-tech-saudis-may-have-broken-n973021|url-status=live}}</ref>), a consortium of firms wanting to build nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia that is led by retired U.S. military commanders and former White House officials.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-saudi-nuclearscheme-idUSL2N24T07M|title=Trump billionaire friend aimed to profit from Mideast nuclear deal...|date=2019-07-29|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-07-31|language=en|archive-date=July 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731201514/https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-saudi-nuclearscheme-idUSL2N24T07M|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/07/trump-barrack-saudi-nuclear-deal-ip3|title=Report Accuses Trump Allies of Conspiring to Profit Off Saudi Nuclear Deal|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=July 30, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923110024/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/07/trump-barrack-saudi-nuclear-deal-ip3|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Michael Flynn]] has described himself as an adviser to IP3, which the company denies.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190219006081/en/Statement-Nuclear-Energy-IP3-International|title=Statement on Nuclear Energy from IP3 International {{!}} Business Wire|date=2019-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220050608/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190219006081/en/Statement-Nuclear-Energy-IP3-International|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> In May 2019, McFarlane wrote an [[op-ed]] in ''[[The Washington Times]]'' advocating for developing nuclear power generation in the Middle East titled "The New Imperialism".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/may/23/with-focus-and-good-will-the-obstacles-to-nuclear-/|title=The New Imperialism|publisher=The Washington Times|language=en-US|access-date=2022-05-21|archive-date=July 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731193641/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/may/23/with-focus-and-good-will-the-obstacles-to-nuclear-/|url-status=live}}</ref> This proposal, dubbed "Middle East Marshall Plan" by its backers,<ref name="auto"/> was detailed in a March 2017 White Paper written by [[Tom Barrack]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/Appendix%20A.pdf|title=Whistleblowers Raise Grave Concerns with Trump Administration's Efforts to Transfer Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia Prepared for Chairman Elijah E. Cummings Interim Staff Report Committee on Oversight and Reform U.S. House of Representatives Appendix A|access-date=July 31, 2019|archive-date=August 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810071255/https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/Appendix%20A.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> the chairman of [[Donald Trump]]'s 2017 Presidential [[first inauguration of Donald Trump|Inaugural]] Committee, a senior adviser to Trump's presidential campaign, and a long-time close friend of and fundraiser for Donald Trump. In 2021, McFarlane co-wrote with David Gattie a piece for ''The National Interest'', titled, "China and the Importance of Civil Nuclear Energy," which extended his ideas on nuclear energy to the geopolitical outlook for China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robert McFarlane |first=David Gattie |date=2021-10-15 |title=China and the Importance of Civil Nuclear Energy |url=https://nationalinterest.org/feature/china-and-importance-civil-nuclear-energy-195100 |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=The National Interest |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520194023/https://nationalinterest.org/feature/china-and-importance-civil-nuclear-energy-195100 |url-status=live }}</ref>

McFarlane was a member of the [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]] (WINEP) Board of Advisors, was president of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, was on the Board of Advisors, and was a founding member of the [[Set America Free Coalition]]. He was also an Advisory Board member for the [[Partnership for a Secure America]], a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recreating the bipartisan center in American national security and foreign policy.

McFarlane served on a number of boards including:
* [[Aegis Defence Services]] – [[Non-executive director]]
* [[Partnership for a Secure America]] – Advisory Board
* [[Fuel Freedom Foundation]] – Advisory Board
* Myriant Incorporated – Advisory Board
* Member of the [[Committee on the Present Danger]]
* [[Alphabet Energy]] – advisory board<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alphabetenergy.com/company/about-us/ |title=About Us | Alphabet Energy |access-date=2014-07-26 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727214848/http://www.alphabetenergy.com/company/about-us/ |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

He was an advisor to [[John McCain 2008 presidential campaign|John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign]].
From 2009 on, McFarlane worked in the southern region of [[Sudan]] and [[Darfur]] on intertribal relations and development projects. On September 30, 2009, the ''[[Washington Post]]'' published a story suggesting that McFarlane's contract for this work, which was supported by the [[government of Qatar]], was the result of a request by Sudanese officials. McFarlane denied any improper contact with Sudanese officials or efforts to avoid disclosure of his work. The ''Washington Post'' article reported that some persons involved in peacemaking efforts in the [[Geography of Sudan|southern Sudan]] region questioned the source and helpfulness of McFarlane's activities.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092903840.html?nav=emailpage | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Former Reagan Aide Robert McFarlane's Dealings With Sudan Raise Questions | first=Dan | last=Eggen | date=September 30, 2009 | access-date=September 10, 2017 | archive-date=May 19, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519102458/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092903840.html?nav=emailpage | url-status=live }}</ref> That article prompted FBI investigators to review McFarlane's activities in the Sudan. After an exhaustive probe that lasted three years and included search of his trash, email, and personal belongings, investigators concluded their search and did not file any criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/probe-of-former-national-security-advisers-relationship-with-sudan-ends-without-charges/2013/11/27/fc279458-5799-11e3-ba82-16ed03681809_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Probe of former national security adviser's relationship with Sudan ends without charges | first=Matt | last=Zapotosky | date=November 27, 2013 | access-date=September 10, 2017 | archive-date=January 6, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106030337/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/probe-of-former-national-security-advisers-relationship-with-sudan-ends-without-charges/2013/11/27/fc279458-5799-11e3-ba82-16ed03681809_story.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2011, McFarlane, in cooperation with former [[CIA director]] [[Jim Woolsey]], co-founded the United States Energy Security Council,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usesc.org/energy_security/index.php|title=United States Energy Security Council – Home|website=usesc.org|access-date=July 28, 2011|archive-date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717142013/http://www.usesc.org/energy_security/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref> sponsored by the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security.

==Death==
McFarlane died on May 12, 2022, at a hospital in [[Lansing, Michigan]], from complications of a lung condition at the age of 84. He lived in Washington, D.C., but was visiting family in Michigan at the time of his death.<ref name="wapo-obit"/> On July 27, 2022, the Congressional Record published, "Remembering the Honorable Robert C. "Bud" McFarlane," commemorating the respect he commanded around the world for his diverse leadership roles.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Remembering the Honorable Robert C. 'Bud' McFarlane |url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-168/issue-125/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E788-2 |journal=[[Congressional Record]] |volume=168 |issue=125 |access-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019135833/https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-168/issue-125/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E788-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
{|
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon with "V" device, 1st award.svg|width=80}}
|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with [[Valor device]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon with "V" device, 1st award.svg|width=80}}
|[[Navy Commendation Medal]] with Valor device
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Army Commendation Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=USA - DOS Distinguished Service Award.png|width=80}}
|Secretary of State [[Secretary's Distinguished Service Award|Distinguished Service Award]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Navy Distinguished Public Service Award Ribbon-vector.svg|width=80}}
|[[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] [[Navy Distinguished Public Service Award|Medal for Distinguished Public Service]]
|-
|[[File:US - Presidential Service Badge.png|75px]]
|[[Presidential Service Badge]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=noribbon.svg|width=80}}
|[[Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement]] (1979)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=noribbon.svg|width=80}}
|American-Swiss Friendship "Man of the Year" Award (1985)
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[Iran–United States relations]]
* [[List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States]]

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== General and cited references ==
* "Complaint That Donald Regan May Be Placing Blame for the Iran Initiative on Robert McFarlane," Secret PROFS email (November 7, 1986). Original source: US National Security Council.
* Kornbluh, Peter and Malcolm Byrne, eds. ''The Iran-Contra Affair: The Making of a Scandal, 1983–1988 (Document collection)''. Alexandria, VA: Chadwyck-Healey; Washington, D.C.: National Security Archive, 1990.
* Kornbluh, Peter and Malcolm Byrne, eds. ''The Iran-Contra Scandal: The Declassified History''. New York: New Press, Distributed by W. W. Norton, 1993.
* Walsh, Lawrence E. ''Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up''. New York: Norton, 1997.
* [[Robert Timberg|Timberg, Robert]], ''[[The Nightingale's Song]]''. New York: Free Press, 1996.
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.brook.edu/fp/research/projects/nsc/transcripts/20010418.pdf
|title=Assessing the Bush Foreign Policy Transition
|publisher=American Enterprise Institute
|location=Washington, D.C.
|date=April 18, 2001
|author1=Ivo H. Daalder
|author2=James M. Lindsay
|author3=Robert C. "Bud" McFarlane
|author4=Carla Anne Robbins (panelists)
|access-date=August 23, 2006
|archive-date=July 8, 2004
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040708171911/http://www.brook.edu/fp/research/projects/nsc/transcripts/20010418.pdf
|url-status=dead
}}
* McFarlane, Robert C.; Smardz, Zofia (1994). ''Special Trust: Pride, Principle and Politics Inside the White House''. New York: Cadell & Davies.

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/nightingalessong00timb
|url-access=registration
|title=The Nightingale's Song
|first=Robert |last=Timberg
|publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=1996 |isbn=0-684-82673-9}} Tells the stories of John McCain, James Webb, Oliver North, Robert McFarlane, and John Poindexter; the impact of the Vietnam War.
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_kFA6DGrlG8C
|title=Sleepwalking Through History: America in the Reagan Years
|first=Haynes Bonner |last=Johnson
|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |year=2003 |isbn=0-393-32434-6}} Discussion of Iran-Contra and McFarlane's role in the Reagan administration.

==External links==
{{Commons Category}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081227112613/http://psaonline.org/userdata_display.php?modin=51&uid=20 Official Web Site of the Partnership for a Secure America]}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150813124828/http://committeeonthepresentdanger.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1744&Itemid=89 Official Web Site of the Committee on the Present Danger]}}
* [http://www.iwp.edu Institute of World Politics]
* {{C-SPAN|2194}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Rozanne L. Ridgway]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Counselor of the United States Department of State|Counselor of the Department of State]]|years=1981–1982}}
{{s-aft|after=[[James L. Buckley]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[James W. Nance|James Nance]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy National Security Advisor (United States)|Deputy National Security Advisor]]|years=1982–1983}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[John Poindexter]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[William P. Clark Jr.|William Clark]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]]|years=1983–1985}}
{{s-end}}

{{NSAA}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McFarlane, Robert}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Foreign Policy Research Institute]]
[[Category:Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies alumni]]
[[Category:Iran–Contra affair]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Texas]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Reagan administration controversies]]
[[Category:People pardoned by George H. W. Bush]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Texas Republicans]]
[[Category:The Washington Institute for Near East Policy]]
[[Category:United States deputy national security advisors]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps officers]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:United States national security advisors]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:White House Fellows]]

William A. Moffett

2025-10-16T02:39:52Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Decorations */

{{Short description|US Navy admiral and Medal of Honor recipient (1869–1933)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{for|the American librarian|William Andrew Moffett}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=October 2010}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = William Adger Moffett
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1869|10|31|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1933|4|4|1869|10|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Charleston, South Carolina]], U.S.
| death_place = off the coast of [[New Jersey]], U.S.
| placeofburial = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| image = William Adger Moffett.jpg
| caption = Rear Admiral William A. Moffett
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flagu|United States|1912}}
| branch = {{Naval|United States|navy-1864}}
| serviceyears = 1890–1933
| rank = [[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|15px]] [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]]
| commands = {{USS|Chester|CL-1}} [[Great Lakes Naval Training Center]] {{USS|Mississippi|BB-41}} [[Bureau of Aeronautics]]
| unit =
| battles = [[Spanish–American War]] *[[Capture of Guam]] *[[Battle of Manila (1898)]] [[Mexican Revolution]] *[[United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914|Battle of Veracruz]] [[World War I]]
| awards = [[Medal of Honor]] [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] 
[[Lifesaving Medal|Silver Lifesaving Medal]]
| laterwork =
}}
'''William Adger Moffett''' (31 October 1869 – 4 April 1933) was an American [[admiral]] and [[Medal of Honor]] recipient known as the architect of [[naval aviation]] in the [[United States Navy]].

==Biography==
[[File:ZR-1 ConCar.jpg|thumb|left|Admiral Moffett meets the airship {{USS|Shenandoah|ZR-1|2}} and crew, during flight test landing at St. Louis Flying Field, on 2 October 1923]]
Born 31 October 1869, in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], he graduated from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in 1890. He was the son of George Hall Moffett (1829–1875), who enlisted in the Confederate States army as a private, and was promoted for bravery on the field of battle, eventually attaining the rank of Captain and adjutant-general, Hagood's Brigade, Twenty-fifth South Carolina Volunteers.
[[File:William A. Moffett Arlington National Cemetery.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Grave at Arlington National Cemetery]]

Moffett was on {{USS|Charleston|C-2}} when she sailed across the Pacific and [[Capture of Guam|captured Guam]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and | date=1899 | url=https://archive.org/details/registercommiss11deptgoog/page/n32/mode/2up?q=moffett }}</ref> Ultimately ending up in the [[Philippines]], a month after the [[Battle of Manila Bay|US victory at Manila Bay]], the ''Charleston'' then shelled enemy positions in support of American and Filipino troops at the [[Battle of Manila (1898)]].

Commander Moffett was the captain of the [[USS Chester (CL-1)|''Chester'']] during the [[Tampico Affair]].<ref> name="Quirk">{{cite book |last1=Quirk |first1=Robert |title=An Affair of Honor: Woodrow Wilson and the Occupation of Veracruz |date=1962 |publisher=University of Kentucky Press |isbn=9780393003901 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/affairofhonorwoo0000quir/page/26 26] |url=https://archive.org/details/affairofhonorwoo0000quir/page/26 }}</ref> In December 1915 Moffett received the [[Medal of Honor]] for his captaincy of the {{USS|Chester|CL-1|6}} in a daring and dangerous night landing in 1914 at [[Veracruz, Veracruz]], [[Mexico]]. (See also [[United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914]]). (See text of the Citation set forth below.)

In World War I, he was commander of the [[Great Lakes Naval Training Center]] near [[Chicago]], where he established an aviator training program. While commanding the [[battleship]] {{USS|Mississippi|BB-41|6}} (1918–1921) he supported the creation of a [[scout plane]] unit on the ship.

Although not himself a [[Naval aviator|flyer]], Moffett became known as the "Air Admiral" for his leadership of the Navy's [[Bureau of Aeronautics]] from its creation in 1921 with Captain [[Henry C. Mustin (1874–1923)|Henry C. Mustin]] as its first Assistant Chief. In this role, he oversaw the development of tactics for naval aircraft, the introduction of the [[aircraft carrier]],<ref>Regarding the "Flying Deck Cruiser": See Youtube video "Military Innovations: Naval Innovation in the Interwar Period". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz7DcC3Brp8 It's a lecture by Dr. Kuehn at the Dole Institute of Politics. At roughly 41 minutes into (the 1:05 total length), there is a discussion of how Moffett promoted the angle decked "Flying Deck Cruiser" in circa 1932 (until ~1939), but failed due to budget restraints.</ref> and relations with the civilian aircraft industry. A master politician, he maintained official support for [[naval aviation]] against [[Billy Mitchell]], who favored putting all military aircraft into a separate [[air force]]. In that regard, Moffett benefited from his longstanding friendship with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], who had been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy by [[Woodrow Wilson]] in 1913.

Moffett was a strong advocate of the development of lighter-than-air craft, and lost his life when the {{USS|Akron|ZRS-4|6}}, then the largest [[dirigible]] in the world, crashed in the Atlantic Ocean during a storm off the coast of New Jersey on 4 April 1933.

He is buried in [[Arlington National Cemetery]], alongside his wife Jeanette Whitton Moffett (1885–1958),<ref>[https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/Cgdtb2ZmZXR0Egd3aWxsaWFtGgFh/ Burial Detail: Moffett, William A (section 3, grave 1655-A)] – ANC Explorer</ref> and one of their three sons, William Adger Moffett, Jr. (1910–2001), who was also a Navy admiral.

In 2008, Moffett was inducted into the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] in Dayton, Ohio.<ref>{{cite web |title=Enshrinee William Moffett |url=https://nationalaviation.org/enshrinee/william-adger-moffett/ |website=nationalaviation.org |publisher=National Aviation Hall of Fame |access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref>

==Decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Flightmetor.jpg|width=256|alt=}}
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Lifesaving Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Spanish Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Philippine Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Mexican Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|}
* Top – [[Observer Badge#United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard|Naval Aviation Observer wings]].
* 1st row – [[Medal of Honor]]
* 2nd row – [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]], [[Lifesaving Medal|Silver Lifesaving Medal]], [[Spanish Campaign Medal|Navy Spanish Campaign Medal]]
* 3rd row – [[Philippine Campaign Medal]], [[Mexican Service Medal]], [[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]]

===Medal of Honor citation===
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Entered service at: Charleston, South Carolina Born: 31 October 1869, Charleston, South Carolina G.O. No.: 177, 4 December 1915. Other Navy award: Distinguished Service Medal.

'''Citation:'''

<blockquote>For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Comdr. Moffett brought his ship into the inner harbor during the nights of the 21st and 22d without the assistance of a pilot or navigational lights, and was in a position on the morning of the 22d to use his guns at a critical time with telling effect. His skill in mooring his ship at night was especially noticeable. He placed her nearest to the enemy and did most of the firing and received most of the hits.<ref>{{cite web |title=Medal of Honor Citation: William Moffett |url=https://mohmuseum.org/medal_of_honor/william-moffett/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Medal of Honor Museum}}</ref></blockquote>

==Namesake==
* The {{USS|Moffett|DD-362}} was named for him.
* The naval air station that he helped establish in [[Sunnyvale, California]] was renamed [[Moffett Federal Airfield|Moffett Field]] in his memory soon after his death.
* [[Mount Moffett]], a mountain in Alaska.
* [[John Philip Sousa]]'s march, "The Aviators" is dedicated to William A. Moffett, the man responsible for Sousa's enlistment and commission in the American Navy during World War I.<ref name="sousa">{{cite web |url=http://www.medinacommunityband.org/july-4--2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616010834/http://www.medinacommunityband.org/july-4--2009 |archive-date=2010-06-16 |title=Medina Community Band: July 4, 2009 (1927-1943)}}</ref>
* In May 1999, [[NAVAIR]] dedicated its headquarters building to William A. Moffett.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz)]]
* [[Bureau of Aeronautics]]
* [[Naval aviation]]
* [[U.S. Occupation of Veracruz, Mexico, 1914]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Edward Arpee, ''From Frigates to Flat-tops: The story of the life and achievements of Rear Admiral William Adger Moffett, U.S.N. "The Father of Naval Aviation" 31 October 1869 – 4 April 1933.'' (Published and distributed by the author, 1953).
* William F. Trimble, ''Admiral William A. Moffett: Architect of Naval Aviation'' (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994)

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Citation |url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wamoffet.htm |title=William Adger Moffett|date=7 November 2022 |publisher= ArlingtonCemetery.net|id=an unofficial website}}
* [https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/man-findingaids/MS_198.EAD.xml William Adger Moffett Papers, 1920–1948 MS 198] and [https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/man-findingaids/MS_234.EAD.xml William Adger Moffett Collection, 1887–1976 MS 234] held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moffett, William A.}}
[[Category:1869 births]]
[[Category:1933 deaths]]
[[Category:United States naval aviation]]
[[Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Spanish–American War]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy rear admirals (upper half)]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Battle of Veracruz (1914) recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1933]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]

Wendell Cushing Neville

2025-10-15T23:12:49Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Awards and honors */

{{Short description|US Marine Corps general and Medal of Honor recipient (1870–1930)}}
{{Infobox military person
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1870|5|12}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1930|7|8|1870|5|12}}
| birth_place = [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]], [[Virginia]], U.S.
| death_place = Edgewater Beach, [[Maryland]], U.S.
| placeofburial = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| placeofburial_label =
| image = Wendell C. Neville.jpg
| medal = US Navy Medal of Honor (1913 to 1942).png
| caption = 14th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1929–1930)
| allegiance = {{flag|United States|1912}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps|1914|name=Marine Corps}}
| serviceyears = 1890–1930
| rank = [[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|26px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major general]]
| commands = [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]] [[Department of the Pacific (USMC)|Department of the Pacific]]
| battles = '''[[Spanish–American War]]'''
*[[1898 invasion of Guantanamo Bay|Battle of Guantanamo Bay]]
'''[[Boxer Rebellion]]'''
*[[China Relief Expedition]]
'''[[Mexican Revolution]]'''
*[[United States occupation of Veracruz|Battle of Veracruz]]
'''[[Banana Wars]]'''
*[[United States occupation of Nicaragua|Occupation of Nicaragua]]
'''[[World War I]]'''
*[[Battle of Belleau Wood]]
| nickname = "Buck"{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=140}}
| awards = [[Medal of Honor]] [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Marine Corps Brevet Medal|Brevet Medal]] [[Legion of Honor]] [[Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]]
| laterwork =
}}
'''Wendell Cushing Neville''' (May 12, 1870 – July 8, 1930) was a [[Major general (United States)|major general]] of the [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] as well as a [[Medal of Honor]] recipient and the 14th [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]] between 1929 and 1930.

==Military career==
[[File:Wcneville-usna-photo-01.jpg|95px|left|thumb|Midshipman Wendell C. Neville, U.S. Naval Academy]]

Neville was born in [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]], [[Virginia]] and later entered the [[United States Naval Academy|Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]], [[Maryland]], in 1886 chiefly because no one else in his district desired an appointment to Annapolis that year. After graduating in 1890 and following a two-year cruise aboard a warship, which was the practice of the era, was commissioned a Marine Corps [[second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]].{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=141−142}}

At the outbreak of the [[Spanish–American War]], 2nd Lt. Neville was assigned to the 1st Battalion, hurriedly organized under [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] Robert W. Huntington for service in [[Cuba]]. The battalion staged a daring attack under heavy gunfire at [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Guantanamo Bay]], established a beachhead and routed enemy forces in that area. For outstanding valor and leadership in that action, Lt. Neville was [[Brevet (military)|brevetted]] a [[Captain (U.S. Marine Corps)|captain]] in the Marine Corps on June 13, 1898.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Callahan|editor1-first=Edward L.|title=List of officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps, from 1775 to 1900 : comprising a complete register of all present and former commissioned, warranted, and appointed officers of the United States Navy, and of the Marine Corps, regular and volunteer|date=1901|publisher=L.R. Hamersly & Co.|location=New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/listofofficersof00unit/page/719 719]|url=https://archive.org/details/listofofficersof00unit}}</ref> He was later awarded the [[Brevet Medal]], following its creation in 1921.{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=143}}

Promoted to the permanent rank of captain a few months after the war, Neville was assigned to a battalion of Marines ordered to [[China]] to relieve the hard-pressed garrison at [[Peking]] during the [[Boxer Rebellion]]. He took part in four battles in that area and was again commended for his gallantry.{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=143}}

[[File:butlerveracruz.jpg|right|thumb|The senior officers of the 1st Marine Brigade photographed at Veracruz in 1914. Front row, left to right: Lt. Col. [[Wendell C. Neville]]; Col. [[John A. Lejeune]]; Col. [[Littleton W. T. Waller]], Commanding; and Maj. [[Smedley Butler]].]]
In the [[Philippine Islands]] not long afterwards, he was appointed military governor of [[Basilan Province]]. Following that assignment he served in Cuba, [[Nicaragua]], [[Panama]] and [[Hawaii]].

During the [[United States occupation of Veracruz]], he was in command of the [[Advanced Base Force|2nd Advance Base Regiment]]. While in command of Marines landing at [[Veracruz, Veracruz|Veracruz]], [[Mexico]], on April 21, 1914, he displayed conspicuous gallantry. Lieutenant Colonel Neville was awarded the Medal of Honor for his distinguished conduct during the [[United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914|Vera Cruz intervention]]. He, Major General [[Smedley D. Butler]] and Major General [[David Dixon Porter (Medal of Honor)|David Dixon Porter]] were the only individuals to be awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Brevet Medal.{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=144−145}}

In 1915, Neville returned to China where he was chosen to command the combined Allied guard at Peking, serving in that position until 1917. He was promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] in August 1916.{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=145}}

[[File:111-SC-22410 - NARA - 55204520 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Neville, together with members of his brigade staff, France, August 1918.]]

On January 1, 1918, almost nine months after the [[American entry into World War I]], he was placed in command of the [[5th Marine Regiment]] in France, succeeding [[Hiram I. Bearss]]. The 5th Marines, together with the [[6th Marine Regiment]], formed part of the [[4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade|4th Marine Brigade]]. In May he moved his regiment into action at [[Battle of Belleau Wood|Belleau Wood]] where [[Germany]]'s big drive was decisively halted. In July, after handing over the 5th Marines to [[Logan Feland]], Neville's command was enlarged to include the 4th Marine Brigade, taking over from [[James Harbord]], which he directed during the remaining days of the war and during its occupation service in Germany. He was promoted to [[brigadier general]] in 1918.{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=145−148}}

[[File:Time-magazine-cover-wendell-neville.jpg|thumb|right|110px|On the cover of ''Time'' in 1929]]

After service with the [[US Army|Army of Occupation]] in Germany, Brig. Gen. Neville and his brigade returned to the United States in July 1919. Promoted to [[major general]] in August 1920, he served as assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps and later became commanding general, [[Fleet Marine Force]] with headquarters in [[San Francisco]]. He also commanded the Marine Barracks, [[Quantico, Virginia|Quantico]], [[Virginia]].{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=148−149}}

Maj. Gen. Neville succeeded Maj. Gen. [[John A. Lejeune]] as Commandant of the Marine Corps on March 5, 1929. {{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=149}} Maj. Gen. Neville's sudden death on July 8, 1930, at [[Edgewater Beach, Maryland|Edgewater Beach]], Maryland, while in office as commandant, closed one of the most brilliant military careers of his day. General Butler lamented the death of "my dear old friend," labeling Lejeune, Neville, and himself "the three musketeers of the Marines."<ref>[[Lowell Thomas]] (as told to), ''Old Gimlet Eye: The Adventures of Smedley D. Butler'' (New York: [[Farrar & Rinehart]], 1933), 303.</ref>{{sfn|Zabecki|Mastriano|2020|p=149−150}}

He was buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]], in [[Arlington, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgduZXZpbGxlEgd3ZW5kZWxs/ |title=Burial Detail: Neville, Wendell C. (Section 6, Grave 8409) |work= ANC Explorer|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery |id=(Official website)}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
During the 38 years he spent as a U.S. Marine, Major General Neville received five citations, as well as:
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="2" align="right" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars}}
|colspan="2" align="left" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Brevet Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|rowspan="4" align="center" |[[File:Fourragère CG.png|45px]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=China Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Spanish Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Spanish War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Philippine Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Nicaraguan Campaign ribbon 1912.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Mexican Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|other_device=bss|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with palm.jpg|width=106}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|
|[[Medal of Honor]]
|[[Marine Corps Brevet Medal]]
|
|rowspan="4" align="center" |French [[Fourragère]]
|-
|[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]
|[[China Relief Expedition Medal]]
|[[Spanish Campaign Medal]]
|-
|[[Spanish War Service Medal]]{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}
|[[Philippine Campaign Medal]]
|[[Nicaraguan Campaign Medal|Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1912)]]
|[[Mexican Service Medal]]
|-
|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] w/ 5 stars
|[[Army of Occupation of Germany Medal]]
|[[Légion d'honneur]], Grand Cross
|[[Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] w/ 3 palms and 2 stars
|-
|}

{{USS|Neville|APA-9}}, a {{sclass|Heywood|attack transport|0}} [[United States Navy]] [[Attack transport|transport]], was named in honor of Major General Neville.

===Medal of Honor citation===
[[File:Headstone of U.S. Marine Corps Major General Wendell Neville, Medal of Honor recipient, in Section 6 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Jan. 27, 2020.jpg|thumb|Grave at Arlington National Cemetery]]
NEVILLE, Wendell Cushing 
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps 
G.O. Navy Department, No. 177 
December 4, 1915

'''Citation:'''

<blockquote>For distinguished conduct in battle engagements of Vera Cruz 21 and April 22, 1914. In command of the Second Regiment Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Neville was in both days' fighting and almost continually under fire from soon after landing, about noon on the 21st, until we were in possession of the city, about noon of the 22d. His duties required him to be at points of great danger in directing his officers and men, and he exhibited conspicuous courage, coolness and skill in his conduct of the fighting. Upon his courage and skill depended, in great measure, success or failure. His responsibilities were great and he met them in a manner worthy of commendation.</blockquote>

==See also==
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz)]]

==References==
{{Marine Corps}}
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Commons category|Wendell Cushing Neville}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Neville_WC.htm|title=Major General Wendell C. Neville|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|author=United States Marine Corps History Division|author-link=United States Marine Corps History Division|publisher=[[United States Marine Corps]]|access-date=2009-02-07|archive-date=2011-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615085923/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Neville_WC.htm|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qns8bW_SESYC|title=Commandants of the Marine Corps|editor1=Allan Reed Millett|editor2=Jack Shulimson|pages=214–223|publisher=[[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Press]]|location=[[Annapolis, Maryland]]|year=2004|isbn=978-0-87021-012-9}}
*{{cite book|title=Pershing's Lieutenants: American Military Leadership in World War I|date=2020|editor1-last=Zabecki|editor1-first=David T.|editor-link1=David T. Zabecki|editor2-last=Mastriano|editor2-first=Douglas V.|editor2-link=Doug Mastriano|location=New York, NY|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-4728-3863-6}}
*{{Cite book|first=SgtMaj John E.|last=Lelle|title= The Brevet Medal|publisher=Quest Publishing Co|year=1988|isbn=0-915779-02-1}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usmc.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623174322/http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usmc.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 23, 2006|title=Marine Corps Officers: 1798 to 1900|access-date=2007-11-04|date=2006-04-06|publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]]}}
*{{cite journal|title=The United States Marine Corps Brevet Medal and Its Recipients|author=Edward S. Haynes|journal=The Collector|date=May 1972|volume=23|issue=5}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa400589c5a?OpenDocument|title=LtCol Wendell Cushing Neville, Medal of Honor, 1914, 2d Reg Marines, Vera Cruz|work=Medal of Honor recipient|publisher=United States Marine Corps}}
{{refend}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-mil}}
{{Succession box |before = Maj. Gen. [[John A. Lejeune]] |title = [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps]] |years = 1929–1930 |after = Maj. Gen. [[Ben Hebard Fuller]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{US Marine Corps navbox}}
{{CMC}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neville, Wendell Cushing}}
[[Category:1870 births]]
[[Category:1930 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps World War I generals]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Banana Wars]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps Commandants]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps generals]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Spanish–American War]]
[[Category:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Portsmouth, Virginia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Battle of Veracruz (1914) recipients of the Medal of Honor]]

Charles W. Ryder

2025-10-15T23:04:11Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:85C6:C239:A015:15F3: /* Awards and decorations */

{{Short description|United States Army general (1892–1960)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Charles W. Ryder
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1892|01|16}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1960|08|17|1892|01|16}}
|birth_place=[[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]], Kansas, United States
|death_place=[[Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts|Oak Bluffs]], Massachusetts, United States
|placeofburial=
|placeofburial_label=
|image=Charles W. Ryder.jpg
|caption=
|nickname="Doc"
|allegiance= {{flag|United States}}
|branch={{army|United States}}
|serviceyears=1917–1950
|servicenumber=O-3802
|rank=[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
|unit=[[File:USA - Army Infantry Insignia.png|25px]] [[Infantry Branch (United States)|Infantry Branch]]
|commands=1st Battalion, [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|16th Infantry Regiment]] [[34th Infantry Division (United States)|34th Infantry Division]] [[IX Corps (United States)|IX Corps]]
|battles=[[World War I]] [[World War II]]
|awards=[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (2) [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Silver Star]] (2) [[Legion of Merit]] (2) [[Purple Heart]] [[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] [[American Campaign Medal]] [[European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] [[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]] [[Army of Occupation Medal]] [[Order of the Bath]]
|relations=[[Charles Wolcott Ryder Jr.|Charles W. Ryder Jr.]] (Son)
|laterwork=
}}
[[Major general (United States)|Major General]] '''Charles Wolcott Ryder''' (January 16, 1892 – August 17, 1960) was a senior [[United States Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who served with distinction in both [[World War I]] and [[World War II]].

==Early life and military career==
[[File:Charles Wolcott Ryder (1892–1960) at West Point in 1915.png|thumb|left|150px|At West Point in 1915]]

Charles W. Ryder was born in [[Topeka, Kansas]] in mid-January 1892 and graduated from Topeka High School. In 1911 he entered the [[United States Military Academy]] (USMA), at [[West Point, New York]]. Four years later, he graduated thirty-ninth in a class of 164 as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Infantry Branch (United States)|Infantry Branch]] of the [[United States Army]] as part of the West Point class of 1915, also known as "[[the class the stars fell on]]". Among those he graduated with were [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Omar Bradley]], [[James Van Fleet]], [[Joseph T. McNarney]] and many others who, like Ryder, would also attain [[general officer]] rank.

Ryder's first assignment was with the [[30th Infantry Regiment (United States)|30th Infantry Regiment]] and, later, was on border duty near [[Fort Sam Houston]], [[Texas]]. He then served with the [[Reserve Officer's Training Corps|Reserve Officers Training Corps]] (ROTC) in [[New York (state)|New York]] and, by the time of the [[American entry into World War I]] he was a [[company commander]] in the [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|16th Infantry Regiment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westpointaog.org/memorials|title=West Point Association of Graduates|website=www.westpointaog.org|accessdate=22 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref>

Ryder, together with the rest of his regiment, which was now part of the [[1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Brigade]] of the newly created [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Division]], was sent to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] and arrived there in June 1917, one of the first units of the [[American Expeditionary Forces]] (AEF) to be sent overseas in World War I. Promoted to [[Captain (United States)|captain]] in May,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref> commanding Company 'B' of the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, Ryder and his regiment, not immediately engaged in combat, spent almost a year being trained in [[trench warfare]] tactics from the [[French Army]]. He was promoted to [[Major (United States)|major]] on June 17, 1918, and assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref>

A month later, he led the battalion in the [[Battle of Soissons (1918)|Battle of Soissons]], suffering heavy casualties, including Ryder himself, who was wounded by German artillery but continued to lead his men. Of the 1,100 men of Ryder's battalion who went "over the top" on July 18, 1918, there were less than 50 remaining five days later. However, Ryder, in his first battle, had performed well and was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]], the nation's second highest award for valor in the face of the enemy, the [[Silver Citation Star]] and the [[Purple Heart]].<ref name="militarytimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/15639|title=Charles Ryder - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor|website=valor.militarytimes.com|accessdate=22 May 2019}}</ref>

Wounded in the heart (which would affect him for the rest of his life), he spent the next few weeks recovering in the hospital and soon returned to the command of his battalion. He again led the battalion in the [[Meuse-Argonne Offensive]] in early October 1918, where it captured Hill 272, a dominant terrain feature in the 1st Division's sector which had brought the division to a standstill for three days. After personally observing his battalion's objective, he gave verbal orders to his company commanders and outlined his plan of attack. On October 8 the division artillery concentrated fire on the hill and Ryder's battalion, with Ryder, as at Soissons, again leading from the front, attacked the hill at 8:30am the next day, under cover of a thick fog and supported by machine guns and a huge artillery barrage. Working in small units to outflank the enemy machine guns and mortars, capturing or destroying enemy positions, the battalion had, by 11:00am, secured all its objectives and captured more than 50 machine guns and began to consolidate its position. For his personal leadership in the battle Ryder was awarded with a second Distinguished Service Cross, two of twenty five to be awarded to men of the 1st Division.<ref name="militarytimes.com"/> World War I came to an end just over a month later with the signing of the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice with Germany]] coming into effect on November 11, 1918, at 11:00am. Ryder's war was over and the personal lessons he learned would remain with him and serve him well in the future.

==Between the wars==
After the end of the conflict Ryder remained in the army, served on occupation duties in France and Germany. Ryder had been decorated with two Distinguished Service Crosses, a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for his service in the war.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Atkinson|first1=Rick|title=The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (The Liberation Trilogy Book 2)|date=2 October 2007|publisher=Henry Holt and Co|location=8013}}</ref>

[[Interwar period|Between the wars]], Ryder served in various posts, including the [[Command and General Staff School]], [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]]; the [[15th Infantry Regiment (United States)|15th Infantry]] in [[Tianjin]], [[China]]; Assistant Instructor of Tactics, Commanding Company of Cadets at West Point (1923-1924) and as Commandant of Cadets at West Point (1937–1941).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref>

==World War II==
[[File:Secretary of War, Mr. Henry L. Stimson and Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, commanding general of Fifth Army, and Maj. Gen. Charles W. Ryder, CG 34th Division, passing line of the division soldiers (49617210441) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Secretary of War [[Henry L. Stimson]] and Lieutenant General [[Mark W. Clark]], commanding the [[United States Army North|U.S. Fifth Army]], and Major General Charles W. Ryder, commander of the 34th Division, passing by elements of Ryder's 34th Division.]]

In 1941–1942, during [[World War II]], he was [[chief of staff]] of the [[VI Corps (United States)|VI Corps]]. From May 1942 to July 1944, Ryder, promoted to [[Major general (United States)|major general]], was [[Commanding officer|Commanding General]] (CG) of the [[34th Infantry Division (United States)|34th Infantry Division]], the first U.S. division deployed to [[Europe]] in World War II.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref> He led the division through the [[Tunisian campaign]] and the [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]], including the [[Operation Torch]] landings in [[French North Africa]] in November 1942 and many battles in Italy.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref>

==Postwar==
From September 2, 1944, to December 6, 1948, Ryder served as commanding general of the [[IX Corps (United States)|IX Corps]], preparing for the [[Operation Downfall|invasion of Japan]]. After the [[surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]], he continued to serve as commanding general of the IX Corps during the [[occupation of Japan]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref>

Ryder retired from the Army in 1950 and died at [[Martha's Vineyard Hospital]] on August 17, 1960, at the age of 68.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114003436/army-general-former-west-point-head/ |title=Army General, Former West Point Head, Dies at 68 |newspaper=[[Holyoke Transcript-Telegram]] |location=Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts |agency=AP |page=9 |date=1960-08-19 |access-date=2022-12-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/5351*.html | title=Charles W. Ryder • Cullum's Register • 5351 }}</ref>

==Family==
His son, [[Charles Wolcott Ryder Jr.]] was a USMA graduate in the Class of 1941 who served with the [[90th Infantry Division (United States)|90th Infantry Division]], had an equally distinguished career and, like his father, also rose to the rank of major general.

==Awards and decorations==
{|
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (with [[oak leaf cluster]])
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Silver Star]] (with oak leaf cluster)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Legion of Merit]] (with oak leaf cluster)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Purple Heart]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|other_device=sas|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] (with [[Citation Star|Silver Citation Star]])
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with 4 [[campaign star]]s
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Army of Occupation Medal]] (with [[Army of Occupation Medal#Japan Clasp|Japan Clasp]])
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Order of the Bath|Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7402769|title=Catalogue description Recommendation for Award for Ryder, Charles W Rank: Major General Service.|publisher=|accessdate=22 May 2019|via=National Archive of the UK}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/R.html Papers of Charles W. Ryder, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101225014422/http://westpointaog.org/netcommunity/document.doc?id=2061 Past USMA & WPAOG Leadership]
*[https://www.100thbattalion.org/archives/puka-puka-parades/club-100/honorary-members/general-charles-w-ryder/ 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans]
*[http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=15639 Hall of Valor awards]
*[https://generals.dk/general/Ryder/Charles_Wolcott/USA.html Generals of World War II]
*[https://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_R01.html#Ryder_CW United States Army Officers 1939–1945]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Russell P. Hartle]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[34th Infantry Division (United States)|Commanding General 34th Infantry Division]]|years=1942–1944}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Charles L. Bolte]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Emil F. Reinhardt]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[IX Corps (United States)|Commanding General IX Corps]]|years=1944–1948}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Leland Hobbs]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryder, Charles W.}}
[[Category:United States Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1960 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army Infantry Branch personnel]]
[[Category:Commandants of the Corps of Cadets of the United States Military Academy]]
[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Graduates of the United States Military Academy Class of 1915]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy faculty]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Kansas]]
[[Category:Topeka High School alumni]]