Russell W. Volckmann
Russell William Volckmann | |
---|---|
Born | Clinton, Iowa | October 23, 1911
Died | June 30, 1982 Iowa City, Iowa | (aged 70)
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1934–1957 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Battles/wars | World War II
Army Commendation Medal[1] |
Russell William Volckmann (October 23, 1911 – June 30, 1982) was a graduate of the
Pre-war
Russell Volckmann was born 23 October 1911, in Clinton, Iowa, to Hattie May (Dodds) and William J. C. Volckmann. He attended high school at Shattuck Military Academy, Fairbault, Minnesota.[3]
In 1930, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and was commissioned a
In the summer of 1940, 29-year-old Captain Volckmann loaded himself, his wife Nancy and their young son aboard a ship for duty in the Far East. Upon arrival in the Philippines, he became the commander of Company H,
In August 1941, Volckmann's wife and son, along with all other U.S. military dependents, were sent back to the United States due to war concerns.[9] On 8 December 1941, the Japanese attacked the Philippines.
World War II
The 11th fought a delaying retreat from Lingayen Gulf to Bataan.[10] At the fall of Bataan in 1942, Volckmann refused to surrender and, accompanied by Donald Blackburn, began a trek to northern Luzon before the fall of Corregidor. Sometimes in the company of other fleeing American and Filipino soldiers, Volckmann and Blackburn headed to the cordillera in Northern Luzon. Once there, they hoped to assist in establishing an organized resistance against the Japanese.[11] Volckmann strongly credits the assistance of Filipino civilians in making their journey a success, especially during their periods of illness, and time recovering at the American Fassoth Camp.[12] On 20 August 1942, they reached Colonel Thorp's camp west of Fort Stotsenburg in the Zambales Mountains. Thorp had been sent out from Bataan in January to organize guerrillas.[13] On 24 August, they were guided to Hukbalahap headquarters on Mount Arayat, which then had them guided north to La Paz, Tarlac.[14] They made their way north to Robert Lapham's camp, who then guided them further north to Charlie Cushing's camp, where Herb Swick joined them.[15] On 9 September, they met Colonels Noble and Moses, Captain Parker Calvert, and Lieutenant Arthur P. Murphy in North Luzon.[16]
Colonel Moses assumed command of guerrilla forces in North Luzon on 1 October 1942, and ordered coordinated attacks on Japanese forces starting on 15 October.
On 24 November 1943, Volckmann organized his army into seven districts: 1st District under Major Parker Calvert, 2nd and 3rd Districts under Major George Barnett, 4th District under Major Ralph Praeger, 5th District under Major Romulo Manriquez, 6th District under Major
After the start of the Battle of Leyte, Volckmann's forces eliminated those Philippine Constabulary units created by the Japanese who did not surrender.[27] Volckmann organized the Commonwealth military and guerrilla resistance among the Ifugao's 11th Infantry Battalion; they were led by 1st Lieutenants: Francisco Balanban, Alpha Company; Guinid Tuguinay, Bravo Company; Pedro Dulnuan Sr., Administration. Volckmann's forces operated in the western and northern coasts of Luzon, launching attacks against the Japanese occupiers. During the U.S. and Filipino invasion of the Philippines in January 1945, Volckmann's guerrillas cut key communication lines, bridges, and isolated enemy barracks. Once the invasion forces had landed, he led attacks against the retreating Japanese forces far behind the lines, capturing bases and air fields, thereby allowing the American advance to proceed at a much quicker pace.[28]
Volckmann's guerrillas numbered about 8,000 men at the start of the
Post-World War II
During December 1945, Colonel Volckmann briefly returned to the United States to reunite with his family. After two months of leave and medical treatment due to his exposure to various diseases in the Philippines, he returned to the Philippines to assist in unfinished business related to his command as the guerrilla leader of North Luzon. This included investigation of war crimes, payments to civilians of vouchers issued during the war, and confirmation of pay to local soldiers and guerrilla fighters. He did not return again to the United States until July 1946.[30] Due to his illnesses and the stress of continual combat, Volckmann would not be released as a medical patient until early 1948.[31]
After his official release as a patient, General
Upon his return, Volckmann began a new writing assignment, and, in 1951, FM 31-21 Organization and Conduct of Guerrilla Warfare was released. Brigadier General Robert A. McClure, director of the Office of the Chief of Psychological Warfare (OCPW), asked Volckmann to become OCPW's Chief of Plans—Special Operations Division. Joining Volckman were Colonel Aaron Bank, a former OSS operative who served with the Jedburghs in Europe; Colonel Wendell Fertig, another major leader of guerrilla resistance in the Philippines; and Colonel Melvin Blair, a veteran of "Merrill's Marauders".[35]
After attending the National War College, in Washington, D.C., during 1953–1954, Volckmann served as Chief of Special Operations Division, U.S. European Command, from 1954–1956.[5]
In 1956, Volckmann completed the
Due to his service with irregular troops in the Philippines and loss of contact with the U.S. Army, Volckmann's promotions were also irregular. Though only a first lieutenant at the outbreak of hostilities, he had been made a temporary captain on 9 September 1940 and temporary major on 19 December 1941. Volckmann received a permanent promotion to captain on 12 June 1944 before receiving temporary promotions to lieutenant colonel on 9 October 1944 and colonel on 4 February 1945.[36] However, he reverted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1947, receiving his permanent promotions to major on 15 July 1948 and lieutenant colonel on 14 May 1951. Volckmann became a temporary colonel again on 29 June 1951.[37][38] He received his final temporary promotion to brigadier general on 30 December 1956.[33]
In July 1957, Volckmann retired from the Army after 27 years of military service, including his four years as a cadet at West Point.[5]
The Special Forces Association lists Volckmann one of three men who "used their wartime experience to formulate the doctrine of unconventional warfare that became the cornerstone of SF [Special Forces],"[39] Bank often receives credit for being the true founder,[40] but this is because he created the Table of Organization for the Special Forces and commanded the first units. In a letter dated 23 February 1969, Bank gives credit to Volckmann for "the development of position, planning and policy papers that helped see the establishment of Special Forces units in the active Army".[41] Volckmann and Fertig both commanded corps-sized guerrilla units in World War II and organized them from the ground up. They had developed the doctrine of U.S. military guerrilla insurgency that guides the Special Forces today.[42]
Later life
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Volckmann was president of Volckmann Furniture Manufacturing Company in Morrison, Illinois. He was also president of Zeffyr Industries and president of Volckmann Division of Ethan Allen Inc., from 1970 until his retirement in 1977.[43]
Volckmann remained active in military matters following his retirement. For example, in 1962, he was asked by the U.S. Air Force to lead a Rand Corporation study panel on the feasibility of air support in counterinsurgency operations.[44]
Volckmann moved to
Family
After graduating from West Point, Volckmann married Nancy Sorley in 1934. In 1936, a son, Russell Jr., was born. Although both accompanied him to the Philippines in 1940, they were forced to return to the United States with other military dependents in August 1941. In March 1942, his wife received a letter from him before the surrender of Bataan, It would be the last his family would hear from him until January 1945.[9]
Upon Volckmann's second return to the United States in July 1946, his wife Nancy requested a divorce, which was finalized in August 1947.[45]
On 28 August 1948, he married Helen Rich, and they had two sons. They remained married until Volckmann's death in 1982.[46]
Awards and decorations
His decorations include:
Combat Infantryman Badge | ||
Distinguished Service Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster | ||
Distinguished Service Medal
|
Silver Star | Legion of Merit |
Bronze Star with bronze oak leaf cluster | American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star | American Campaign Medal |
campaign stars
|
World War II Victory Medal | National Defense Service Medal |
Korean Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars | Philippine Defense Medal | Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze service star |
Philippine Independence Medal | United Nations Korea Medal
|
Korean War Service Medal |
Army Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze oak leaf clusters | Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (Army Version) | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (Army Version)
|
See also
References
- ^ Guardia 2010, p. 14.
- ^ Harkins 1956.
- ^ a b c Stevens, BG John DuVal "Johnny" (April 1988). "Russell William Volckmann". Assembly. Vol. XLVII, no. 1. pp. 148–149. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 17–18.
- ^ a b c d e Guardia 2010, p. 193.
- ^ Guardia 2010, p. 18.
- ^ Guardia 2010, p. 20.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 20–22.
- ^ a b Guardia 2010, p. 23.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 16–24.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 41–56.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 57, 60, 62–66.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, p. 68.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 71–74.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 77–79.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, p. 82.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, p. 88.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, p. 89.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 119–121.
- ^ Bagamaspad & Hamada-Pawid 1985, p. 292.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 120–121.
- ^ Harkins 1956, pp. 182–183.
- ^ Hogan 1995, p. 76.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 156–157.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 160–161.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, p. 168.
- ^ Volckmann 1954, pp. 175–176.
- ^ Hogan 1995.
- ^ Smith 2005, p. 466.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 149–152.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 156–157.
- ^ a b Guardia 2010, pp. 160–163.
- ^ a b U.S. Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired Lists. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1 January 1957. p. 887. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 165–168.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 170–173.
- ^ Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York since its establishment in 1802: Supplement, 1940–1950. Vol. IX. The Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy. December 1955. p. 813. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Official Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired Lists. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1 January 1949. p. 550. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Official Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired Lists. Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1 January 1952. p. 766. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ "The Origin of Special Forces". Special Forces Association. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "Early Cold War - Army Special Operations". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 173–177.
- ^ Brooks 2003, p. 37.
- ^ Guardia 2010, p. 194.
- ^ Guardia 2010, p. 187.
- ^ Guardia 2010, pp. 152–153.
- ^ Guardia 2010, p. 153.
Sources
- Volckmann, Russell (1954). We Remained: Three Years Behind Enemy Lines in the Philippines. W. W. Norton & Company. OCLC 1535784.
- Guardia, Mike (2010). American Guerrilla: The Forgotten Heroics of Russell W. Volckmann. OCLC 528429065.
- Harkins, Philip (1956). Blackburn's Headhunters. OCLC 1827222.
- Hogan, David W. Jr. (1995). U.S. Army Special Operations in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, Department of the Army. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- Smith, Robert Ross (2005). Triumph in the Philippines. Honolulu, HI: University Press of the Pacific. OCLC 668251410.
- Brooks, M. Evan (2003). Military History's Top 10 Lists: Great Commanders, Improbable Victories, Unlikely Heroes, and Other Martial Oddities. New York: Gramercy Books. OCLC 51770253.
- Bagamaspad, Anavic; Hamada-Pawid, Zenaida (1985). A People's History of Benguet. Baguio Printing & Publishing Company, Inc. OCLC 29914614.