Karl Truesdell

Karl Truesdell (August 27, 1882 – July 16, 1955) was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of major general and was a veteran of both World War I and World War II. He was most notable for his leadership assignments as commander of the 1st Infantry Division and VI Corps, and commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

A native of

Following his World War I service, Truesdell returned to the Infantry branch and continued to rise through the ranks in command and staff positions, including command of the 16th Infantry Regiment, 12th Infantry Brigade, and 1st Infantry Division. During World War II, he commanded the VI Corps and the United States Army Command and General Staff College, for which he received a second award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Order of the British Empire (Honorary Commander). He retired at the end of 1945.

In retirement, Truesdell was a resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and maintained a summer home in Silver Lake, New York. He died in Silver Lake on July 16, 1955, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life

Karl Truesdell was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, on August 27, 1882, a son of Julius A. Truesdell and Cornelia (Riggs) Truesdell.^[1] His maternal grandfather was Stephen Return Riggs^[2] and his siblings included Stephen Return Truesdell, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and civil engineer with the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company,^[3][4] and Horace Warner Truesdell, a U.S. government agricultural scientist, socialist political activist, and U.S. Army captain who grew apples on a farm in Bluemont, Virginia.^[5][6]

Julius Truesdell was a newspaper reporter and editor; he relocated to

After serving with Field Company A, Truesdell departed Fort Omaha in November 1912 to assume command of USAMP Cyrus W. Field, an army cable laying ship that carried out installation and maintenance of military telegraph and telephone cables along the Atlantic coast.^[21] In May 1913, Truesdell relinquished command and was assigned as assistant to the chief signal officer on the staff of the army's Eastern Department, which was based at Fort Jay on Governors Island.^[22] In February 1914, was assigned to duty with Field Company I, Signal Corps, at Fort Bliss, Texas.^[23] In April 1914, he was reassigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas for duty with Field Company H, Signal Corps.^[24][25]

In February 1915, Truesdell was assigned to the 25th Infantry Regiment with duty at Texas City, Texas.^[26][27] In July 1915, he returned to Plattsburgh Barracks as inspector of training for an army instruction encampment.^[28] In December 1915, Truesdell rejoined the 25th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.^[29] He was promoted to captain in November 1916^[30] and assigned as commander of the regiment's Company I.^[31]

World War I

In the summer of 1917, Truesdell was promoted to temporary major and assigned to signal duty with the 33rd Division.^[32][33] In the fall of 1917, Truesdell was with the 33rd Division as it completed organization and training at Camp Logan, Texas prior to departing for service in France.^[34]

After arrival in France, Truesdell served as signal officer for first the

Upon returning to the United States in late summer 1919, Truesdell was assigned as assistant commandant of the Signal School.[36] In June 1920, now returned to his permanent rank of captain, Truesdell was assigned to the Fort Leavenworth School of the Line as a student.^[37] Now a major, he completed the course in June 1921 and attained distinction as an honor graduate.^[38] After graduating, Truesdell remained at Fort Leavenworth to attend the United States Army Command and General Staff College.^[39] While attending the staff college, Truesdell served concurrently as an instructor.^[40] He graduated in 1922, and remained at the school as a faculty member.^[41] In 1926, he graduated from the United States Army War College.^[42]

In December 1926, Truesdell was assigned to duty at the War Department as a member of the Army General Staff.^[43] In 1927, he completed the course at the Naval War College.^[8] Now a lieutenant colonel, in October 1931 Truesdell began attendance at a refresher course for Infantry officers which was offered at the Fort Benning Infantry School.^[44] From 1932 to 1935, Truesdell was executive officer of the 15th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in Tianjin, China.^[45] After returning to the United States, Truesdell was promoted to colonel and assigned to command the 16th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jay on Governors Island.^[8]

Truesdell was promoted to brigadier general in April 1938.^[46] After his promotion, Truesdell was assigned to command the 6th Infantry Division's 12th Infantry Brigade at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.^[47] From October 1939 to December 1940, Truesdell served as commander of the 1st Infantry Division, first at Fort Benning, and later on Governors Island and at Fort Hamilton.^[48] During his command, Truesdell oversaw the division's individual and collective training in anticipation of U.S. entry into World War II.^[49] He was promoted to major general in October 1940.^[50]

World War II

In January 1941, Truesdell was assigned to command VI Corps with headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island.^[51] While in this position, Truesdell oversaw the training of units in New York and New England, including the 1st Infantry Division and the 26th Infantry Division, as they prepared to travel overseas for combat.^[52]

In January 1942, Truesdell was assigned to the

In retirement, Truesdell was a resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and maintained a summer home in Silver Lake, a hamlet in the village of Perry, which is in the town of Castile.^[61] He died at his summer home on July 16, 1955.^[61] Truesdell was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[62]

Family

In April 1907, Truesdell married Mary Maurice Smith (1886–1960).^[63] They were the parents of a son, Karl Truesdell Jr. (1908–1978) and a daughter, Cecile Olive (1910–1997).^[64] The younger Karl Truesdell was a career officer in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, and attained the rank of major general.^[65] Cecile Truesdell was the wife of army Brigadier General Edgar Thomas Conley Jr.^[66] Conley was the son of Major General Edgar Thomas Conley.^[66]

References