George Grunert
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2018) |
George Grunert | |
---|---|
George Grunert (July 21, 1881 – January 12, 1971) was a United States Army cavalry officer who worked his way up through the ranks from private to retirement as a lieutenant general. His 47-year career extended from the Spanish–American War to the end of World War II.
Education and early career
George Grunert was born in
World War I and the inter-war years
Grunert was sent to France as an observer with British forces in 1917 during
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry) George Grunert, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. With remarkable skill, constantly displaying zeal and high military attainments, Lieutenant Colonel Grunert performed his exacting duties as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, of the 1st Corps, during the successive operations at Chateau-Thierry, on the Ourcq and Vesle, and in the St. Mihiel and Argonne-Meuse offensives. By his untiring and painstaking efforts and unusual ability he performed the most difficult tasks, rendering services of great value to the Government.[2]
In 1919, Grunert attended the Army War College then at
After a second tour of duty in the office of the Army Chief of Staff, Grunert attended the
In 1936, Grunert was posted to the Philippines as commanding officer of the
In November 1938 Grunert succeeded George C. Marshall in command of 5th Brigade at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. Grunert was promoted to major general in 1939 and, in October, returned to the Philippines to command the Philippine Division. From May 1940 to November 1941 Grunert commanded the Philippine Department, directing the United States Army supervision and control over the Philippine defense force until Douglas MacArthur came out of retirement to assume command in July 1941. MacArthur abolished the Philippine Department as a redundant command echelon in November 1941 and Grunert returned to the United States.
World War II
The
In August 1943, Grunert was appointed deputy commander for both the
Grunert held interim command over First Army until January 1944 while Lieutenant General
Pearl Harbor investigation
In June 1944, Grunert was appointed by Secretary of War
Retirement
Grunert died at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, on January 12, 1971, at age 89 and was buried at
Decorations
Ribbon bar with the list of General George Grunert's decorations:[3]
1st row | Oak Leaf Cluster
|
Silver Star | Legion of Merit | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd row | Purple Heart | Spanish Campaign Medal | Army of Cuban Occupation Medal | Philippine Campaign Medal | ||||||||
3rd row | Army of Cuban Pacification Medal
|
Mexican Border Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal | Army of Occupation of Germany Medal | ||||||||
4th row | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal
|
Knight of the Legion of Honour |
Dates of rank
Various | Enlisted, United States Army: September 29, 1898 |
No pin insignia in 1901 | Regular Army : February 2, 1901 (Appointment accepted on April 29, 1901.) |
First lieutenant , United States Army: April 16, 1908
| |
Captain , Regular Army: July 1, 1916
| |
National Army : August 5, 1917
| |
Lieutenant colonel, National Army: July 30, 1918 | |
Colonel, National Army: April 27, 1919 | |
Captain, Regular Army: August 31, 1919 (Reverted to permanent rank.) | |
Major, Regular Army : July 1, 1920 | |
Lieutenant colonel, Regular Army: April 27, 1921 | |
Colonel, Regular Army: August 1, 1932 | |
Brigadier general, Regular Army: November 1, 1936 (Accepted December 24, 1936.) | |
Major general, Regular Army: December 1, 1939 | |
Lieutenant general, Temporary: October 8, 1943 | |
Lieutenant general, Army of the United States: January 29, 1944 | |
Lieutenant general, Retired List: August 1, 1945 |
Citations
- ^ a b c d e U.S. Army Adjutant General (1902). Register of the Army of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1902 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Valor awards for George Grunert".
- ^ Official Register of Commissioned Officers of the United States Army. 1948. Vol. 2. pg. 2220.
References
- "Who Was to Blame? [Pearl Harbor Inquiry]", Time, vol. XLVI, no. 11, September 10, 1945, archived from the original on March 22, 2007
- "The Judges [Pearl Harbor Inquiry]", Time, vol. XLVI, no. 11, September 10, 1945, archived from the original on December 22, 2011
- Biography of Sofia Adamson, Civilian, War Department, Fort Santiago, Philippines
- "Army Orders and Assignments", The New York Times, p. 54, April 11, 1930
- "Promotes 2 Generals and Seven Colonels", The New York Times, p. 14, December 23, 1936
- "Roosevelt Appoints Six New Generals", The New York Times, p. 7, August 3, 1939
- "Gen. Drum Gets Washington Post In Addition to Command Here", The New York Times, p. 1, August 24, 1943
- "Grunert Takes Command", The New York Times, p. 12, October 19, 1943
- "Army Leader in East Retires After 47 Years", The New York Times, p. 8, August 1, 1945
- "Gen. George Grunert, 91, Dies; Led Inquiry on Pearl Harbor", The New York Times, p. 40, January 14, 1971
- Ray, Max (1980), The History of the First United States Army from 1918 to 1980, Fort Meade MD: First United States Army
- A Patch of Pride: A History of the First Army, The New York, New York: First United States Army, 1950, pp. 11–12