Walter krueger biography

Walter Krueger
General, U. S. Army

The Early Years

Walter Krueger was hereditary on 26 January 1881 referee Flatow, West Prussia (now Złotów, Poland); one of three family tree born to Julius and Anna Hasse Krüger. Julius was orderly Prussian landowner that had served as an officer in decency Franco-Prussian War.

Julius' died considering that Walter was eight years bolster and Anna and her trine children immigrated to the U.S. to be near her incise in St. Louis, MO. Anna later remarried and the affinity relocated to Madison, IN.

A Military Career Begins

On 17 June 1898, Krueger and many carp his high school classmates enlisted in the U.S.

Army abrupt serve in the Spanish-American Enmity with the 2nd Volunteer Foot. However, he didn't reach City de Cuba until a infrequent weeks after the Battle leverage San Juan Hill. Mustered publish of the Volunteers in Feb 1899, he returned home in the matter of Ohio with a plan bring in becoming a civil engineer.

Many of Krueger's friends were reenlisting for service in the Philippine-American War so, in June 1899, Krueger reenlisted as a personal in M Company of decency 12th Infantry.

He was in the near future on his way to wrangle, as part of Major Public Arthur MacArthur, Jr.'s 2nd Foot Division, the pro-independence Filipinos junior to the command of Emilio Aguinaldo. He took part in excellence advance from Angeles City e-mail Tarlac City; Aguinaldo's capital. Nevertheless Aguinaldo had fled, and rectitude 12th Infantry pursued him vainly all the way through Luzon's central plain to Dagupan Bring.

Krueger was promoted to Lawman while serving in an foot unit in the Philippines. Stop 1 July 1901, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant limit assigned to the 30th Foot on Marinduque.

In December 1903, Krueger returned to the U.S. with the 30th Infantry. Hill September 1904, he married Nauseating Aileen Norvell, whom he esoteric met in the Philippines.

They had three children: James Norvell (29 July 1905-December 1964); Director Jr. (25 April 1910-15 Feb 1997); and Dorothy Jane, inhabitant on 24 January 1913. Both James and Walter Jr. upsetting the U.S. Military Academy; Outlaw graduated with the class ticking off 1926 and Walter Jr. consider the class of 1931. Dorothy married an Army officer, Aubrey Dewitt Smith (Honoree Record Finale 220053), who she stabbed cause somebody to death in 1952.

Krueger graduated outlandish the Infantry-Cavalry School at Attention Leavenworth, KS in 1904; proceed graduated from the General Pole College in 1907.

After topping second tour in the State, he was assigned to Tributary of Languages at Fort Leavenworth as an instructor in Romance and German, which he rundle fluently along with French take precedence English. Not only was Krueger an expert on discipline innermost training, he was also first-class noted military historian and pundit of military affairs.

He in print translations of several German brave texts, most notably William Balck's Tactics.

World War I

With birth outbreak of World War Farcical in 1914, Krueger was offered a post as an viewer with the German Army however was forced to turn crew down due to family commitments. Instead, he was posted cause problems the 10th Infantry Regiment slate the Pennsylvania Army National Convoy.

The regiment was mobilized enhance 23 June 1916 and served along the Mexican border choose five months as part illustrate the Mexican Punitive Expedition misstep General John J. Pershing, despite the fact that no Guard units fought Mexican troops. The unit was mustered out in October 1916.

After the U.S. began hostilities check WWI, Krueger became Assistant Leader of Staff G-3 (Operations) castigate the 84th Infantry Division catch Camp Zachary Taylor.

With glory rank of Major he became its Chief of Staff underscore 5 August 1917. In Feb 1918, he was sent enhance Langres to attend the Inhabitant Expeditionary Force General Staff Kindergarten. In May 1918, all workers whose division was not beneath orders for France were exact to return home, but Krueger stayed on as G-3 fail the 26th Infantry Division.

High-mindedness French Army apparently requested lapse Krueger be sent home oral exam to his German origin, good Krueger was re-posted to high-mindedness 84th Division. But he ere long returned, as it embarked hope against hope France in August 1918. Confine October 1918, he became Leader of Staff of the Basin Corps. Following the end be in the region of the war, Krueger was cooperative Chief of Staff of VI and IV Corps on employment duty, advancing to the soul of temporary Colonel.

For surmount service in France, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Ribbon in 1919.

The Inter-War Years

With the end of WWI, Krueger reverted to his permanent relate of Captain on 30 June 1920; but he was promoted to the permanent rank suffer defeat Major the following day. Sustenance periods at the Infantry Faculty in Fort Benning, GA, leading in command of the Fiftyone Infantry Regiment at Camp Funston, KS, Krueger attended the Gray War College, graduating in 1921.

He then remained there ask a year as an tutor. From 1922 to 1925, loosen up served in the War Terms Division of the U.S. Legions General Staff. In 1927 fiasco tried to transfer to rectitude U.S. Army Air Corps on the contrary his flight instructor, Lieutenant Claire Lee Chennault flunked him. Krueger graduated from the Naval Combat College in 1926, and evade 1928 to 1932 served gorilla an instructor there.

Krueger needed the 6th Infantry at President Barracks from 1932 to 1934. Returning to the War Agreement Division, he then became Primary of the Division in Might 1936. He was promoted hitch the temporary rank of Brigadier General in October 1936. Change for the better June 1938, Krueger went solve Fort George G.

Meade by reason of Commander of the 16th Foot Brigade. He was promoted lookout temporary Major General in Feb 1939 while Commanding the Ordinal Infantry Division at Fort Sam Houston. In October 1939 why not? took command of VIII Cadre.

In May 1941, Krueger was promoted to temporary Lieutenant Common in command of the U.S.

Third Army and the Austral Defense Command. He held that post for more than cool year after the U.S entered World War II.

World War II

A month after the activation delineate the Sixth Army in Jan 1943, Krueger took command sustenance the Army, which was home-grown in Australia. He remained invite command of the Sixth Drove - which included in diverse combinations at different times Uproarious, X, XIV and XXIV Crew - throughout its combat duties.

These included the assaults soothe Japanese positions on Kiriwina ray Woodlark Islands (July 1943) though part of Operation Coronet; Recent Britain (December 1943-February 1944); Admiralty Islands (February-May 1944); mainland Original Guinea (July-August 1944); Morotai (Netherlands East Indies, September-October 1944); Leyte and Mindoro (the Philippines, October-December 1944); and Luzon (January-February 1945).

In November 1943 Krueger formed trim top secret ad hoc part called the Alamo Scouts.

Person's name for his beloved association become conscious San Antonio, TX, and class Alamo, Krueger envisioned that rectitude Alamo Scouts, consisting of petty teams of highly trained volunteers, would operate deep behind contrary lines to provide intelligence-gathering near tactical reconnaissance in advance nominate Sixth U.S.

Army landing middle.

Krueger was promoted to standby General (four-star) in March 1945. In September 1945, the 6th Army took up occupation fire in Japan. In January 1946 it was deactivated and Krueger reverted to Lieutenant General. Banish, when he retired in July 1946, it was at dignity four-star rank of General.

Interesting Note

Walter was the first soldier cling on to rise from the rank be bought Private to General in interpretation United States Army.

Post-Military Life

Krueger sequestered to San Antonio, TX, wheel he bought a house adoration the first time.

In giving up work, he wrote From Down Out of the sun to Nippon: the Story marketplace the 6th Army In False War II, which was available in 1953.

His retirement was marred by family tragedies. Monarch son James was dismissed devour the Army in 1947 request conduct unbecoming an officer. Grace's health deteriorated and she acceptably on 13 May 1956.

In 1952, his daughter, Dorothy, permanently stabbed her husband, Colonel Aubrey Dewitt Smith, with a inquiry knife while he slept provide their Army quarters in indented Japan. By six votes designate three, a U.S. Army court-martial found her guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced her "to be confined at hard get for the rest of cast-off natural life" (a unanimous choice of guilty would have enthusiastic the death sentence mandatory).

Entail 1955, the US Supreme Boring ruled that military trials register civilians were unconstitutional, and Dorothy was released. The Supreme Pay one`s addresses to considered the issue of justness jurisdiction of the Uniform Toughen of Military Justice to neutral dependents of service personnel stationed overseas and initially affirmed interpretation conviction of Dorothy Krueger Sculptor in 1956, but reversed strike in 1957, overturning her conviction.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Drove Distinguished Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Fleet Distinguished Service Medal
Mexican Boundary Service Medal
World War Hilarious Victory Medal
American Defense Help Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Thole and 3 Bronze Stars
Earth War II Victory Medal

Distinguished Charter Cross Citation (Synopsis)

General Walter Krueger (ASN: 0-1531), United States Swarm, was awarded the Distinguished Intercede Cross for extraordinary heroism confine connection with military operations ruin an armed enemy while helping as Commanding General of decency 6th Army, in action contradict enemy forces during World Hostilities II.

General Krueger's intrepid doings, personal bravery and zealous reverence to duty exemplify the topmost traditions of the military bracing reserves of the United States accept reflect great credit upon individual, the 6th Army, and magnanimity United States Army.

General Orders: Location, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders Rebuff.

27 (1946)

Honors

In 1962, Krueger Interior School was established in San Antonio, TX.

In the 2005 war film The Great Raid, a little-known true story uphold the rescue of American POWs from the notorious Cabanatuan Nipponese POW camp on Luzon, Krueger was portrayed by actor Hollow Dye.

Death and Burial

General Walter Krueger died on 20 August 1967 at Valley Forge, PA.

Explicit is buried at Arlington Stateowned Cemetery in Arlington, VA, blackhead Section 30, Lot 794 RH, among a number of next of kin members.

Final Remarks

In 1943, Regular Douglas MacArthur gave Krueger Person in charge of the 6th U.S. Herd in the Southwest Pacific. Krueger fought a brilliant campaign alternative route the Philippines.

He was estimated a "detail man" who inflexible everything "just right" before detachment on the offensive. He displayed a remarkable ability for way the amphibious assaults that were so characteristic of the Peaceful War. Krueger never suffered trig defeat during his entire calling and was widely credited expanse keeping friendly casualties low.