Ralph Wise Zwicker
Ralph Wise Zwicker | |
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Born | Stoughton, Wisconsin, United States | April 17, 1903
Died | August 9, 1991 Fairfax, Virginia, United States | (aged 88)
Resting Place | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1927–1960 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands held | 38th Infantry Regiment 18th Infantry Regiment 24th Infantry Division 1st Cavalry Division XX Corps |
Battles/wars | World War II
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Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (3) Army Commendation Medal |
Biography
Zwicker was born on April 17, 1903, in
Career
Zwicker graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1927 and was assigned to
During
Due to fortunate circumstances, Colonel Zwicker took command of the
During the Battle for Brest, elements of the 38th Infantry Regiment were the first Americans to enter the city. The port of Brest was captured after 39 days of combat on September 19, 1944. Sometime during the battle of Brest, Colonel Zwicker was awarded his third Bronze Star.
On October 11, 1944, Colonel Zwicker was transferred to Headquarters 2nd Inf Division and promoted to the position of chief of staff (G-3) of the 2nd Infantry Division until the end of the war. Out of the 25 Legion of Merits awarded by the 2nd Infantry Division during the war, Colonel Zwicker was awarded two.
Later, he attended the Naval War College and the National War College. In 1952, he became an instructor at the National War College after serving as the commander of the 18th Infantry Regiment Honor Guard in Germany. In March 1953, he was promoted to brigadier general and became commander of Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. He then was sent to Japan in 1954 and was made commander of the Southwestern Command AFFE until it was deactivated in 1956. He was then promoted to major general in May 1956 and took over command of the 24th Infantry Division in Korea. During his command, the 24th Division was deactivated and was replaced with the 1st Cavalry Division which he commanded until late 1958. Returning to the United States, he was made commander of the XX Corps Fort Hayes, Ohio, until he retired in 1960.
When General of the Army Omar Bradley died in April 1981, Ralph W. Zwicker was named one of the honorary pallbearers at his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.
Among the awards he received were,
Involvement with the McCarthy investigation, 1954
While Zwicker was in command at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, one of his subordinate officers, Major Irving Peress, had been ordered to be discharged from the Army because of his failure to answer questions on a loyalty review form. Having learned of this, the Senate investigating subcommittee of Joseph McCarthy subpoenaed Peress to testify on January 30, 1954. Peress refused to answer questions, citing Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. McCarthy thereupon wrote to Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens to demand Peress's court martial. Peress, on the same day, requested that his pending discharge be acted upon immediately, and Zwicker, his commanding officer, granted him an honorable discharge.[5]
McCarthy then called Zwicker to appear before the subcommittee on February 18, where on advice from Army counsel he refused to answer some of McCarthy's questions. Zwicker's testimony, as to whether he had known of Peress' refusal to testify before the same committee at the time that Zwicker granted his discharge, was apparently inconsistent. McCarthy retorted that Zwicker's intelligence was that of a "five-year-old child", and that he was "not fit to wear that uniform".[6]
Army Secretary Stevens ordered Zwicker not to return to McCarthy's hearing. This abuse of Zwicker, a distinguished officer and highly decorated battlefield hero of World War II, provoked anger against McCarthy from many quarters, including the Army and President Eisenhower,[7] who shortly thereafter initiated the Army–McCarthy hearings that led to McCarthy's downfall and censure.
In considering the censure resolution, a select committee chaired by Senator
Medals and decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Ralph W. Zwicker:[4]
Combat Infantryman Badge | ||||||||||||||||||
1st Row | Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Silver Star | Oak Leaf Cluster
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Oak Leaf Clusters
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2nd Row | Army Commendation Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars and Arrowhead device
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3rd Row | World War II Victory Medal
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Army of Occupation Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Distinguished Service Order (United Kingdom) | ||||||||||||||
4th Row | Legion of Honour, Chevalier (France) | Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm (France )
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Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945 | Soviet Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class | ||||||||||||||
Army Staff Identification Badge |
References
- ^ a b Cullum, George Washington (1930). Donaldson, William H. (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. From Its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890. Vol. VII: 1920–1930. Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. p. 2067. Retrieved January 4, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Daniels, Lee A. (August 12, 1991). "Ralph W. Zwicker, 88, General And Figure in McCarthy Censure". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Burial Detail: Zwicker, Ralph W – ANC Explorer
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Ralph W. Zwicker". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^
Adams, John G. (1983). Without Precedent: The Story of the Death of McCarthyism. W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 120, 126. ISBN 0-393-30230-X.
- ^
Herman, Arthur (1999). Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of America's Most Hated Senator. Free Press. pp. 250. ISBN 0-684-83625-4.
- ^
Fried, Richard M. (1990). Nightmare in Red: The McCarthy Era in Perspective. Oxford University Press. p. 138. ISBN 0-19-504361-8.
- ^
Griffith, Robert (1970). The Politics of Fear: Joseph R. McCarthy and the Senate. ISBN 0-87023-555-9.
- ^
Rovere, Richard H. (1959). Senator Joe McCarthy. University of California Press. pp. 229–230. ISBN 0-520-20472-7.