Cornelius W. Wickersham
Cornelius Wendell Wickersham | |
---|---|
Born | Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. | June 25, 1885
Died | January 31, 1968 Mineola, New York, U.S. | (aged 82)
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1915–1948 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held | 42nd Infantry Division U.S. Group Control Council for Germany School of Military Government 153rd Infantry Brigade 306th Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I
|
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit |
Relations | George W. Wickersham (father) |
Other work | Lawyer Governor of the Collectors Club |
Cornelius Wendell Wickersham (June 25, 1885 – January 31, 1968) was a decorated United States Army officer with the rank of Lieutenant general; a lawyer and an award-winning author of philatelic literature. He studied at the Harvard University and practiced law for several years, before embarked for France during World War I. Wickersham served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of IV Corps during Battle of Saint-Mihiel and received Army Distinguished Service Medal.[1][2]
Following the War, Wickersham remained in the
Early life
Cornelius Wendell Wickersham was born on June 25, 1885, in Greenwich, Connecticut. His parents were George W. Wickersham, an American lawyer and future United States Attorney General under President William Howard Taft, and Mildred (Wendell) Wickersham.[4]
In 1906 Wickersham graduated from Harvard University and was admitted to the New York Bar two years later. He obtained his professional degree from Harvard Law School in 1909 and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1912. He also served as Editor of the Law review during that period. Wickersham joined the Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in 1914, a law firm in New York City, in which his father was a partner.[3][4]
World War I
Wickersham enlisted the Squadron A of New York Cavalry in 1915 and participated as Private in the guarding of the
In the spring of 1918, the division began its movement toward embarkation camps and sailed for Brest, France by the beginning of May 1918. Upon arrival to France, Wickersham was promoted to Major and assigned to the staff of IV Corps as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations under Major general Joseph T. Dickman. While in this capacity, he participated in the preparation and execution of the IV Corps attack during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918 and was decorated with Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service.[2][4]
Wickersham was subsequently promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and transferred to the General Staff of the newly created Second United States Army under Lieutenant General Robert Lee Bullard. While in this assignment, he participated in Meuse–Argonne offensive in the final weeks of the war. The Armistice with Germany brought an end to the war on November 11, 1918. Wickersham returned to the United States five months later, in April 1919, almost a year after he left for overseas.[2][4]
Interwar period
In the inter-war era, Wickersham commanded 306th Infantry Regiment and the 153rd Infantry Brigade, units of the
World War II
Wickersham was recalled to active duty in November 1940 and joined to the
Following the Japanese
He was transferred to the
Wickersham was appointed Commander of
Postwar career
New York National Guard
Following the
Wickersham was transferred to the inactive list and succeeded Collins in early 1946, when division was deactivated and reorganized as a New York Army National Guard formation. He was promoted to major general in the National Guard and as an experienced infantry officer, he urged universal military training in short periods that would not break up schooling of young recruits in order to keep his division prepared for national emergency.[11][4]
Law practice
By the end of June 1948, Wickersham requested to be relieved of all National Guard duties because of the increasing demand of his private business and was succeeded as division commander by Brendan A. Burns.[12] He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on the state's reserve list.[4][6][13]
Wickersham then resumed the practice of law in firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and also served as counsel for Grand Jury Association of New York county and member emeritus of the American Law Institute. He was a founder of the American Legion and was its first department commander for New York. In February 1953, Wickersham was elected a member of the State Board of Regents, the governing body of the University of the State of New York. He resigned in 1955, because of the statutory age limit of 70 years for board membership.[4][14]
He was meanwhile appointed again the President of the Joint Conference on Legal Education in the state of New York in 1954 and served in this capacity until 1958.[4]
Philately
Wickersham was an avid collector of
He also served as Governor of the Collectors Club, and was its president in 1956. Wickersham presided the Jury of the 1956 New York City international exhibition.[10]
Death
Wickersham died on January 31, 1968, aged 82, following a lengthy illness in
Honors and awards
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Wickersham:[1][6]
1st Row |
Oak Leaf Cluster
| |||||||||||||||
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2nd Row |
Legion of Merit | Mexican Border Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal with two battle clasps |
American Defense Service Medal | ||||||||||||
3rd Row |
American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars |
World War II Victory Medal
|
Army of Occupation Medal | ||||||||||||
4th Row |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom)[10] |
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France) |
Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland) |
Verdun commemorative Medal |
For his work in the field of philately, Wickersham was provided the following award:
- The Lichtenstein Medal in 1959.[15]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Cornelius W. Wickersham". The Wall of Valor Project. Sightline Media Group.
- ^ a b c "MAJOR WICKERSHAM CITED". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. June 14, 1919. p. 15. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Note for Cornelius W. Wickersham Papers, Syracuse University Library ; retrieved 21 February 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Gen. Cornelius Wickersham, 83, Lawyer and Guard Leader, Dies". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. February 1, 1968. p. 37. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "Biography of BG Cornelius Wendell Wickersham, USA". generals.dk. generals.dk Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "State Guard Loses gen. Wickersham". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. September 4, 1948. p. 28. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Intelligence Officer Now Brigadier General". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. January 30, 1942. p. 4. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "New School to Teach Liaison". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. March 14, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "GENERAL WICKERSHAM GETS BRITISH ORDER". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. July 20, 1948. p. 6. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Arthur Ronald Butler, History of the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists, The British Philatelic Federation, December 1990, page 137.
- ^ Associated Press, Mount Vernon Daily Argus, "National Guard Activates 27th, 42nd Divisions", February 15, 1947
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Commander Retired". Kingston Daily Freeman. Kingston, NY. Associated Press. September 4, 1948. p. 12.
- ^ "WICKERSHAM SET FOR REGENTS POST". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. February 10, 1953. p. 20. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b List of the Lichtenstein Award recipients Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Collectors Club of New York ; retrieved 21 February 2010.