jacob september october general united_states_army commanded 6th world war involved development adoption numerous weapons including tanks amphibious truck bell helicopter rifle graduate commissioned field artillery world war instructor oklahoma serve france november armistice ended fighting attended french artillery school world wars staunch advocate time idea horses met strong resistance conservative gunners world war broke europe stationed panama promoted major general october took command newly formed north_carolina base construction oversaw appointed chief august supervised expansion armored divisions sixteen articulate proponent emerging tactical doctrine combined arms rejected american doctrine held tanks exploitation fighting tanks pressed american industry produce powerful engines views superiors pushed development medium tank gun satisfied called heavily armed armored tanks wanted new tanks operation overlord overruled united_states_army commander principal tasks overseeing preparation detailed plans buildup men overlord supporting clashed general diversion resources succeeded january went mediterranean commander united_states_army deputy supreme allied commander british general sir involved organization planning leadership operation invasion southern france august led france germany advance rhine german counterattack operation operations reduce pocket western allied invasion germany war commanded early life education born september york pennsylvania small industrial town southeastern corner state parents partner jewellery store kate couple children younger brothers frank younger sister catherine known irish german ancestry strict religious family belonged believe smoking drinking providing comfortable middle class life children couple taught value integrity growing heart country young called family enjoyed outdoors camping fishing hunting played usual sports friends easily engaging smile cheerful personality addition household odd jobs neighborhood worked maternal grandfather farm initially educated york entered september popular student elected class president excellent academic record earning high marks mathematics science competitive slightly built pound inch captained basketball team played defensive quarterback football starred baseball graduated applied accepted intention studying engineering congressman offered appointment west_point new_york entered academy june class classmates star generals world war star general studies excelled sports playing shortstop army baseball team guard army black knights basketball squad played polo graduated west_point june ranking 39th class commissioned second lieutenant chosen branch field artillery positions available higher ranking cadets chose branches secure preference world war posting 4th mountain artillery based vancouver barracks washington state pack artillery unit meaning ammunition equipment carried equipped inch mountain gun months joined unit moved fort wyoming rejoined returning philippines post hosted african american 9th cavalry assigned lieutenant battery commander october married arlington virginia visiting niece major battalion commander ceremony parents home arlington virginia assignment december sent west_point teach mathematics managed baseball program coached cadet basketball team included april promoted lieutenant august transferred newly activated 9th field artillery barracks territory hawaii child daughter born july 9th field artillery battalion inch guns guns medium artillery new united_states_army 9th artillery tractor drawn regiment given command entered world war germany april promoted captain major august action posted oklahoma december instructor received promotions lieutenant colonel july colonel october executive officer 9th field artillery regiment unit hawaii fort october september nominated command 60th field artillery orders western france took post armistice november ended fighting orders cancelled disappointed instead commanding officer 1st field artillery fort march sent month temporary duty assignment europe attended french artillery school study guns ammunition equipment tactics allies germans war wars returning united_states began second tour duty west_point serving senior field commander field artillery detachment reverted colonel substantive rank captain taking appointment august promoted major july time superintendent brigadier general fought unpopular battle bring curriculum date defended methods department unaffected years west_point selected attend command kansas began studies september finished distinguished graduate june ranked 42nd class topped posted time director august officers worked captain tour credited making number innovative artillery tactical technical improvements including advanced fire support techniques later successfully world war remained staunch advocate inter war period idea horses met strong resistance conservative gunners september ordered washington serve staff chief field artillery chosen attend washington began studies august graduated june followed year assignment maryland executive officer 1st commander 6th field artillery years major promoted lieutenant colonel february june sent virginia near district_of_columbia commander 16th field artillery young regimental officers like second lieutenant surprised fire guns graham married daughter july impressed opportunity returned time time graduate manager athletics superintendent officer renowned sharp tongue later recalled lot people afraid called week responsibility grown considerably days cadet varsity team sports eighteen despite great depression ran accumulated considerable funds major task construction new playing fields appear available land came plan right way found railroad welcoming plan shorter route saved money new fields completed december promoted colonel july world war emergency august wife boarded army transport bound panama canal zone time genuine fear hostile nation strike united_states attack panama canal preventing movement ships outbreak world war europe september led fears reinforcements including 5th 13th infantry sent panama chief staff major general replaced stone december supervised construction projects improvements panama canal zone defenses recommendation new chief staff army general approval secretary war henry advanced rank brigadier general promotion age youngest brigadier general army july recalled washington panama canal zone assume command district_of_columbia area september marshall approval new secretary war named representative tasked surveying bases caribbean newfoundland leased british destroyers bases agreement said use officer marshall told outside door happened lieutenant colonel promoted major general october sent command newly formed north_carolina replacing brigadier general killed air crash supervise training 9th managing huge base expansion program directed basic advanced infantry training thousands troops command regular army national guard patch commander tour strength grew soldiers time pushed forward immense construction projects base housing training facilities roads post working closely engineers local contractors staff cutting red tape months oversaw completion buildings miles roads armored force august general marshall named headquartered kentucky replaced cavalry legend ill major general appointed chief year earlier reported directly marshall responsible organizing training army armored divisions separate non divisional tank battalions including non tank personnel assigned tactical charge ground forces specifically control semi autonomous considered quasi arm complete control training doctrine organization major reorganization march named commander new component replaced relations distant lines authority responsibility unclear prefer leaving time took command operational armored divisions fort louisiana fort independent tank battalion maryland divisions participated large scale war games august september november despite successes maneuvers revealed armored unit equipment operational deficiencies plus general lack combat readiness attributed poor performance poorly trained junior staff officers saw deficiencies hampered coordination tanks infantry artillery particular post maneuver reports emphasized vulnerability tanks fire bolstered pro philosophy strongly held differed number tank kills credited gunners unrealistic biased feeling set rules continued push independent tank destroyer force argued weapon best tank better tank november marshall authorized creation tank destroyer force created ordered activation tank destroyer battalions battlefield experience prove right combat tanks knocked tanks tank destroyers mainly mobile artillery support tank destroyer program scaled tank destroyer battalions end war tank destroyer quasi arm disbanded arrival armored force doctrine emphasized light tanks weighing short tons american doctrine held tanks exploitation fighting tanks rejected heavy tank recommended cancelled citing tremendous weight concerns mobility reliability seen support position wanted medium tank mounting like appalled find tanks armed heavier gun new medium tank beginning come production line lee observed testing days taking command unimpressed american industry unable cast turret large hold gun carried gun gave limited traverse rendering difficult engage moving targets matters worse designers shortened barrel improve mobility realized reduced gun muzzle velocity effectiveness armor practice crews attempted engage german armor ineffective found penetrate frontal armor german tanks yards german tanks destroyed yards pronounced overweight armed views superiors lobbied heavily armored better armed medium tank played important role design development manufacturing particularly engine armament tour chief worked closely manufacturers fort research testing tanks guns armored vehicles ammunition biggest obstacle engines pre war tanks rated horsepower insufficient short tons medium tank wanted horsepower engine ability american automotive industry produce extraordinary efforts resulted development number horsepower engines rejected general motors diesel engine favor gasoline engines battlefield experience demonstrate diesel engine superior quest better engine eventually settled ford engine persistent shortage tank engines reliable versatile low cost variants produced army expected period training fix problems japanese attack pearl harbor december shattered expectations fully prepared united_states war beginning armored divisions operational training activated february followed march recommended division armored division meant armored divisions end increased pressure promoted lieutenant general equal rank september push armored units pipeline faster training neglected pressing need units ready overseas deployment initially trained components armored division march restricted tank personnel personnel coming branch training centers sent commander set desert training center california arizona desert soldiers train desert warfare time closed infantry armored divisions trained fought desert sent pacific articulate proponent army emerging tactical doctrine combined arms infantry artillery armor close air support carried translation german manual components division general embrace combined arms solution problem best employ tanks placed act direction updated comprehensive pages manual tactics technique written published distributed march german manual tank platoon tactics foreword translated english issued publication march saw reorganization armored divisions wake maneuvers added artillery headquarters armored division reorganized artillery component battalions batteries self propelled guns division trains headquarters added coordinate logistical activities insistence flight light aircraft artillery spotting reconnaissance included new division strong early supporter development amphibious truck bush later recalled early stages development man army fully appreciated possibilities value demonstrated allied invasion sicily july december january went inspection tour north_africa taking brigadier generals spoke key british generals including american commanders including defensive suspicious marshall sent replace nervous critical comments handling 1st armored division party received great deal feedback positive negative american equipment noted superior lee 1st armored division equipped urged development powerful gun took axe armored division organization dramatically 2nd 3rd armored divisions number armored battalions reduced favored older larger organization surplus armored battalions utilized separate armored battalions end armored battalions armored divisions non divisional battalions time planned number divisions dramatically cut considered armored divisions required suggested sixteen armored divisions active broken proposal accepted number armored divisions frozen sixteen united_states_army aerial inspection tour lieutenant general united_states_army commander replacing february killed aircraft crash iceland marshall appointed command place arrived england principal tasks overseeing preparation detailed plans buildup men supporting end troops united_kingdom ground forces air forces services supply end year numbers grown ground forces air forces services supply preparing plans overlord worked closely chief staff commander british lieutenant general good working relationship main objection plan want american units smaller corps directly british command based called principle clashed diversion resources july lieutenant general asked groups bombers sent help support allied invasion italy planned assault area extreme range allied fighters based sicily long range bombers needed battlefield felt theater priority groups represented heavy bombers departure greatly impact combined bomber offensive turned request commander brigadier general spoke agreed appealed washington marshall general chief supported august asked permission retain groups bombers turned request marshall arnold supported september came severe pressure german readily request return groups later noted accustomed having requests marshall turned found difficult accept september representatives met discuss needs asked new tanks later redesignated produced shipped matter urgency concurred added series tanks advanced design handicapped problems reliability electric transmission disapproved request writing tank particularly widely hailed best tank battlefield today particular request represents british view theater tank gun appears fear forces tiger tank basis tank conception tank versus tank duel believed unnecessary indication gun inadequate mark tiger tank united_states_army november president roosevelt named supreme allied commander overlord hoped appointed commander instead sent mediterranean commander united_states_army primarily logistical administrative organization american formations theater included lieutenant general led major general commanded headed lieutenant general went commander chief arrived january deputy supreme allied commander british general sir wilson worked despite administrative nature position spent time wilson deal difficult cases like french poles later decorated polish government exile allowing poles captured german uniform join polish italy beginning allied ground forces fighting italian south rome german line chain strong defensive positions mountainous terrain anchored middle clark plan surprise end run german winter line called allied landings italy west coast thirty miles south rome january days wilson deputy attended conference discuss attendance winston_churchill general wilson general alexander admiral fleet sir wondered high level conference required saw simple military decision noted diary individuals present favored amphibious operation clashed smith attempt obtain officers command tried release number officers including major general declined including brigadier general particular wanted command corps assault operation overlord southern france appealed marshall supported protested lead ashore days time wanting key subordinate eve battle marshall backed soon landing flew dismayed find advance halted clark orders major general achieve desired result clark attempted crossing disaster historic abbey overlooked allied positions ground commanders sure monastery germans observation post lieutenant general commander preparing new assault mountain repeatedly requested abbey bombed taking advantage german practice giving away positions firing small planes flew low monastery saw believed radio aerial enemy soldiers moving wilson reluctantly agreed bombing february watched waves american bombers level monastery alexander clark follow attacks day days failed position break visited february agreed alexander lucas relieved clark february continuing failure advance italy prompted postpone proposal allied landings coast southern france coinciding overlord clark told attack line mounted withdrawn succeeded planning begun mid january continued initially clark lead assault lucas taking faith lucas relief later recalled staff feared relieve clark time met marshall insisted required experienced commander gone clark theater received cable headquarters way theater commanded distinguished combat record leading soldiers marines pacific marshall appointed patch replace commander force march patch staff planned operation ensured supplies accumulated dissipated successful allied offensive finally broke rome fell clark army june june ordered shift priority supplies italy days later wilson ordered withdrawn line preparation virtually material needed assault hand way promised thanks efforts preserve stores supplies operation doubt command assault created special headquarters called advanced detachment command sent cable marshall july proposing army group formed commander concurred july easy add bradley meant deal french experience preferred let marshall appointment july wore hats operation deputy supreme allied commander commanding general commander advanced detachment activated july activated august france germany crushing success short weeks french american forces drove germans southeastern france captured major ports including august september 6th operational assuming control general september largest french force amassed foreign military leader assumed operational control retained logistical system mediterranean campaign cost concurrent combat normandy italy created shortage replacements especially infantry left men short remained command sent clark message october suggesting units rested order casualties written february noting divisions left line days fatigue exposure resulted increased casualty sickness rates clark replied radio indicates lack appreciation tactical situation terrain enemy resistance mission noted diary clark response shows lack judgment indicate definitely team player recommended marshall clark successor mediterranean marshall chose appoint lieutenant general october activation left corps asked transferred italy wilson argued adversely affect operations italy combined chiefs agreed instead proposed september major general wade transferred army severe logistical difficulties argued better supported line communications mediterranean agreed ordered divisions scheduled join bradley northern france unlikely supply transport situation improved diverted join 6th good choice spoke french having fought france world war attended french got commander french 2nd armored division shocked informed men wanted serve considered dominated benefits southern line communications captured harbor entrance blocked sunken ships harbor basin naval mines cranes demolished surrounding area mined trapped navy cleared harbor undertook rehabilitation port ships able discharge stream september liberty ship docked september port numerous rail network bridges railroad working turned brigadier general commander 1st military railway service september railroad reached capacity short tons day pressed gray short tons october promised support divisions rail sufficient supplies arriving rest supported road week october needs including met conceded able supply short tons day november increased resolve priority opening port antwerp north ordered clear germans west bank rhine sector offensive went french reached rhine november captured november inflicted crushing defeat general nearly destroying divisions large german presence remained west rhine came called bradley visited november find patch planning crossing rhine early december bradley drew attention formidable defenses far bank told spoken patrols found strategy remained destroy german forces west bank attempting crossing official historians described decision difficult understand attempt reduce pocket december called bradley hit brigadier general felt avoided entirely allowed proceed rhine crossing response crisis ordered cease offensive operations assume responsibility allowing army turn north left holding mile infantry armored divisions ordered effect major withdrawal shorter line violent french reaction prospect abandoning december struck january major german attacks 6th suffered casualties germans break held brooks commander fought great defensive battles times little turned attention expected germans withdraw thought able eliminate pocket later admitted german determination hold strength regarded sore sent additional american divisions help clean regarded petty bradley additional divisions french american troops finally eliminated february preference promoted general march ahead bradley remained second highest ranking american officer europe crossed rhine march began final advance germany general surrendered patch american generals present representative caused final diplomatic french status general fourth army insisted surrender refused hand days later accepted general surrender german armed forces headquarters transferred 12th reverted national control leaving little acted commander 12th bradley absence june appointed chief succession general left command tenth united states army controlled schools training centers united_states focus coordinating units europe pacific war japan continued surrendered august hired civilian secretary widow husband pilot listed missing action new_guinea presumed dead body found abolished recommendation remained november testimony board urged retained given control armies united_states gathered pace strength army dramatically faced unpleasant task informing officers demoted reform achieve reduce number combat branches infantry armor artillery established headquarters campus lived moved headquarters pentagon new chief staff army decided headquarters located moved virginia far field opened headquarters october reorganization occurred march renamed control armies transferred reduced coordinating staff agency member took interest development helicopters taking rides different machines met founder bell company poor financial situation hoping army buy new helicopters impressed aircraft agreed bell asking found money funds bell world recognizable helicopters retirement post military career rules time given mandatory retirement 62nd birthday september wife decided buy farm west_virginia retained georgetown virginia resided war settled role cattle hired curtis cook discovered owed hospital bills paid accepted continued working death finding life sufficiently hold interest accepted job managing director hired executive assistant job involved fund raising enjoy left better opportunity technical assistant president presented successfully lobbied united_states_air_force buy provider strong advocate rifle maintained better weapon army rifle described rifle ultimately served briefly military advisor united_nations dispute india pakistan status president represent united_states tenth anniversary ceremonies invasion southern france dedication france sicily rome american cemetery memorial italy leaving asked replace marshall chairman remain role joined number retired generals including joint exercise desert strike major military exercise farm sold moved health declined 1960s died february buried arlington national cemetery second husband harvard economics professor worked died married died october buried arlington national cemetery survived wife died daughter died sister catherine sons graduated west_point class died buried arlington near papers york dates rank awards decorations
Jacob L. Devers