Wilds P. Richardson
Wilds Preston Richardson | |
---|---|
United States of America | |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1884–1920 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Commands held | 5th Infantry Division American North Russian Expeditionary Forces 78th Infantry Brigade Alaska Road Commission |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Wilds Preston Richardson (20 March 1861 in Hunt County, Texas – 20 May 1929) was an officer of the
Early life and education
Richardson was born on 20 March 1861 to Oliver P. and Hester F. (Wingo) Richardson in Hunt County, Texas. After attending schools in that county, the younger Richardson received an appointment to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1880.[1]
Career
After graduation in 1884, Richardson was commissioned as a
In 1897, Richardson was sent to Alaska to begin what would be a twenty-year stay. Initially in charge of scouting locations and supervising construction of military installations, in 1905 Richardson was appointed head of the War Department's Alaska Road Commission, which oversaw federal road construction projects in the territory.[2] His major project was the completion of a 380-mile (610 km) road from Valdez to Fairbanks, later named the Richardson Highway in his honor.
After the entry of the United States into
Awards
He received the Army Distinguished Service Medal which was awarded for his actions during the Russian Civil War. The citation reads:
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 Brigadier General Wilds Preston Richardson, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Commanding General of the American Expeditionary Forces in North Russia, by his skillful handling of the many difficult situations which arose, General Richardson rendered a signal service to the United States Government.[6]
Retirement, death, and legacy
Richardson lived the remainder of his years at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C.; he died at Walter Reed Hospital on 20 May 1929 and was buried at West Point. He was posthumously promoted to brigadier general by a June 1930 act of Congress.[5]
The U.S. Army post established near
References
- ^ OCLC 40298151.
- ^ OCLC 40298151.
- ^ House, John M.; Curzon, Daniel P. (2019). "The Russian Expeditions 1917–1920" (PDF). The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War I. Washington, D.C.: Center for Military History, United States Army. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
- ^ "General say Reds killed 82 Yankees in Russia". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1919-10-16. p. 7.
- ^ a b Cullum's Register
- ^ "Valor awards for Wilds Preston Richardson".
- ^ "Valdez Trail - Richardson Highway - Valdez Museum & Historical Archive". 30 July 2013.
- Wilds Preston Richardson from the Handbook of Texas Online