Rapp Brush
Rapp Brush | |
---|---|
Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming, US | |
Died | March 6, 1958 San Francisco, California, US | (aged 68)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1911–1945 |
Rank | Major General |
Service number | O-3031 |
Unit | Infantry Branch |
Commands held | 40th Infantry Division 22nd Infantry Brigade 21st Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | |
Relations | BG Daniel H. Brush Jr. (father) Isaac Rapp (uncle) BG Clarence Deems Jr. (brother-in-law) |
Isaac Rapp Brush (November 7, 1889 – March 6, 1958) was a decorated officer in United States Army with the rank of Major General. Brush commanded the 40th Infantry Division from 1942 to 1945 during its World War II involvement in the United States armed forces' liberation of the Philippines.[1][2]
Early career
Isaac Rapp Brush was born on November 7, 1889, at
Young Rapp grew up on the stations over the United States as his father changed assignments during his career, including the
He was commissioned second lieutenant of Infantry on February 11, 1911, and ordered to Fort Sheridan for basic training. Brush completed the training few months later and embarked for the Philippines, where he joined Company "K", 8th Infantry Regiment at Pettit Barracks, Mindanao. He remained in that assignment for three years and took part in the Battle of Bud Bagsak under General John J. Pershing against Moro rebels on June 11–15, 1913.[3][5]
Following the return stateside in early January 1915, Brush joined the Company "H", 11th Infantry Regiment at Texas City, Texas. After three months with that outfit, he was transferred to the Company "C", 26th Infantry Regiment and took part in the patrols along the Mexican border during Pancho Villa Expedition.
In July 1915, Brush was transferred to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and joined First Company of local Guard Battalion. He was promoted to first lieutenant in July 1916 and assumed duty as Adjutant of 1st Disciplinary Battalion at Fort Leavenworth under Major Dwight W. Ryther.
Upon the American entry into World War I in April 1917, Brush was promoted to captain in May 1917 and assumed duty as Barracks Adjutant, United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Major in June 1918 and joined the 53rd Infantry Regiment at Camp Forrest, Georgia. Brush participated in the training of new recruits and formation of new units at Camps Pike and Wadsworth, South Carolina, and did not deployed overseas during World War I.
Interwar period
Following the
He was transferred to the Training Center of
In September 1925, Brush was ordered to the Army War College in Washington, D.C., and upon graduation following June, he assumed duty as Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He was later transferred to the Fort Strong, Massachusetts and served as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion his regiment until August 1927, when returned to Washington, D.C.
Brush was subsequently assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3) and served consecutively under Brigadier generals Frank Parker and Edward L. King until May 1931, when he was transferred to Vancouver Barracks, Washington for duty with 7th Infantry Regiment. While in this capacity, he served again under Colonel Dwight W. Ryther, a decorated veteran of Spanish-American War whom he met during World War I and also with Charles H. Corlett future general officer in the Pacific War.
One year later, Brush assumed command of the 1st Battalion of his regiment and following establishing of the
In January 1935, Brush was ordered back to Washington, D.C., where he joined the Office of Chief of Infantry under Major general
Following the opening of
Upon his promotion to Colonel, Brush was ordered to Hawaii in July 1940 and assumed command of 21st Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Brigadier general in April 1941 and moved to Fort Shafter, Hawaii, for command of 22nd Infantry Brigade, a part of the Hawaiian Division under Major general Maxwell Murray.[1]
The Hawaiian Division's assets were reorganized to form division under the new
World War II
Early years
Brush was stationed at Schofield Barracks at the time of the Japanese air attack on 7 December 1941, which brought the United States into World War II, and began organizing the 25th Infantry Division for moving to beach positions for the defense of Honolulu and Ewa Point. He then participated in the intensive training of the division's personnel, most of whom were from the Hawaii National Guard, until April 1942, when he was ordered to the continental states.
On May 20, Brush was promoted to the rank of
Brush was tasked with the transformation of the Division into combat effective force and after several months of intensive training in California, he departed with his division to Hawaii in September 1942. The 40th Division was tasked with the defense of outer islands of Hawaii while Brush assumed additional duty as Commanding general, Kauai District. The training continued as defensive positions were improved and maintained and Brush supervised division's intensive amphibious and jungle training in late 1943.[9]
The 40th Division moved to the staging area on Guadalcanal in late December 1943 and then arrived to New Britain in April 1944. The Division took positions at Talasea on the northern side of the island, at Arawe on the southern side and conducted jungle patrols during which met only occasional resistance. However no major battle was fought and heavy rain and mud were constant problems for divisional personnel. For his service during the training of the 40th Division, Brush received Legion of Merit.[9]
Philippines
Brush and his division departed for
After several weeks of fighting, Brush and his division captured the
In order to
The capture of Negros Island was completed on June 2, 1945, and Lieutenant General
The Fortieth Division then returned under command of
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 Major General Rapp Brush (ASN: 0-3031), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during the period from April 1944 to June 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Brush reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Brush received some revenge on Krueger after his arrival to the United States, when he visited Chief of the General Staff, General George C. Marshall and reported all his experiences with Krueger during a long meeting. He retired after 34 years of commissioned service on December 31, 1945.[10]
Retirement
After retirement from the Army, Brush settled in Menlo Park, California, and became the President of the Society of the 40th Infantry Division. He died on March 6, 1958, aged 68, in San Francisco, California. General Brush is buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery beside his wife Alice Josephine Hall Brush. They have a one son Isaac Rapp Brush Jr. who served in the United States Army and retired as Major.[3][15]
Decorations
Here is the list of Brush's decorations with ribbon bar:[14][3]
1st Row |
Army Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star | Legion of Merit | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Row |
Bronze Star Medal | Air Medal | Philippine Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | ||||||||||||||
3rd Row |
World War I Victory Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with four 3/16 inch service stars | ||||||||||||||
4th Row |
World War II Victory Medal
|
Norwegian Order of St. Olav, Commander | Philippine Legion of Honor, Commander | Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars | ||||||||||||||
Presidential Unit Citation |
References
- ^ a b c "Biography of Major-General Rapp Brush". Generals.dk. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
- ^ "The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia - Rapp Brush (1889-1958)". pwencycl.kgbudge.com. The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0-8379-0214-2. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
apples.
- ^ "21 MEN FROM RANKS AND CIVIL LIFE GAIN STRAPS - Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXXIII, Number 134, 12 February 1911". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Northern Area Heroes cited - The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California), 13 Sep 1944, Wednesday". newspapers.com. newspapers.com archive Websites. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "ARMY PRISONERS : IN ESCAPE FROM PRESIDIO JAIL - San Francisco Call, Volume 108, Number 101, 2 November 1920". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Troops Set to Block Invasion' of Calif. - San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 12, Number 269, 15 January 1940". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Harbor Sub-Sector Command Change - San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 15, Number 31, 10 April 1942". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ a b c d e f "The 40th Infantry Division in the Philippines" (PDF). militarymuseum.org. California State Military History and Museums Program Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7006-1812-5. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
apples.
- ^ "SIXTH ARMY DRIVE NEARS CLARK FIELD; The New York Times, January 23, 1945, page 8". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Big Japanese Airfields fall on Mindanao - News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida) 14 May 1945, Mon". newspapers.com. newspapers.com archive Websites. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "General's Nickname Rapp Brush Called 'Speed' After Quick Routing of Japs on Negros - San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 18, Number 97, 26 June 1945". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Rapp Brush". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "Reserve Round Up - Los Angeles Evening Citizen News (Hollywood, California) 29 Dec 1953, Tuesday". newspapers.com. newspapers.com archive Websites. Retrieved June 19, 2018.