Idwal H. Edwards
General Idwal H. Edwards | |
---|---|
Lieutenant general | |
Commands held | United States Air Force in Europe |
Wars/Actions |
|
Awards | (See below) |
Spouse(s) | Katharine (nee Bierman) |
Children | 2 daughters Ann Louise and Katharine |
Other work | (See below) |
Idwal Hubert Edwards
Early life and education
His father was Daniel Edwards, native of Wales, Pennsylvania, a Baptist minister serving churches across Pennsylvania. Idwal Edwards entered Bloomsburg State Normal School in December 1911 to prepare for a teaching career. He graduated from Bloomsburg State College (Bloomsberg State Normal School), class of 24 June 1914. He was honored at commencement for excelling in both scholarship and teaching ability.[3][4]
Before joining the military, Edwards became principal of schools in Sterling, near Scranton, and entered Brown University in fall 1916.[4] According to the Welsh Nation newspaper, Idwal Edwards was a Welsh-speaker, Cymraeg being his family language.[5]
After joining the army and gaining his commission as an officer, Edwards attended the Command and General Staff School before attending the Army War College in 1938.[2]
Military career
He entered the army in 1917 in the infantry, and in February 1918 was transferred to the Army Air Service, a part of the Signal Corps at the time.
Edwards is credited as a force that helped to bring the practice of segregation in the military to an end.
Assignments
- 1917 – Enlisted in the Army[2][4]
- 1918 – Transferred to the Army Air Corps[2]
- Until World War II, assigned in the Philippines, in Hawaii, and at many stations in the continental United States. He attended various service schools, including the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Army War College, Washington, D.C. graduating from the latter in 1938.[2]
- 1941 – Assumed command of basic flying school at San Antonio, Texas.[4]
- 1943 – Served as chief of staff of the European Theater of Operation (ETO)[2]
- 1944 to 1945 – Deputy Commander of the U.S. Air Force in the Mediterranean theater[2]
- March 1946 to August 1947 – General Edwards was commanding general of the
- August 1947 to March 1950 – Designated Deputy Chief of Staff, personnel (organization and training), at Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C.[2][6]
- March 1950 to 23 July 1951 – Deputy Chief of Staff, operations, at Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C.[2]
- 23 July 1951 to 23 February 1953 – Appointed commandant of the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama[2]
- 23 February 1953 – Retired from active duty.[2]
- 3 February 1954 – General Edwards was called back to active duty and returned to Air Force headquarters for duty with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, as President of a special board of officers.[2]
- 9 March 1954 – Retired again from active duty.[2]
Promotions
Insignia | Rank | Date |
---|---|---|
Lieutenant general | in reitrement[2] | |
Major general | 19 February 1948 | |
Brigadier general | 24 May 1942 | |
Colonel | 21 January 1941 | |
Lieutenant colonel | 17 June 1938 | |
Major | 1 August 1935 | |
Captain | 1 July 1920 | |
First lieutenant | 20 June 1918 | |
Second lieutenant | 15 August 1917 |
Awards and decorations
OLC
| |
Legion of Merit |
Foreign awards include:
Commander of the Order of the British Empire[2]
Commander of the French Legion of Honour[2]
Personal life and retirement
In retirement, Edwards was president of the Retired Officers Association, and president of the Army & Navy Club in Washington.[3]
Edwards lived in
See also
References
- ^ Fogerty, Robert P. (1953). "Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Volume 1 – A thru L" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. 528–530. USAF historical studies: no. 91. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Lieutenant General Idwal H. Edwards". AF.mil. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lt. Gen. Idwal H. Edwards, 86". WashingtonPostr.com. The Washington Post. 28 November 1981. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dunkelberger, Robert (10 February 2017). "A Soldier to Remember". BloomU.edu. Bloomsburg University Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Front Page". Welsh Nation. March 1959. p. 1.
- ^ a b MacGregor, Morris J. (6 April 1979). "Integration of the Armed Forces 1940–1965". Gutenberg.org. Department of the Army, Historical Advisory Committee. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ Snyder, Thomas; Shaw, Shelia (28 January 1992). "Profiles In Leadership 1942-1992". Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. 72–79. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
This article incorporates public domain material from Official Biography. United States Air Force.