US General officer casualties

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Schloss Adler
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US General officer casualties

#1

Post by Schloss Adler » 11 Nov 2015, 18:11

Hi,

I am trying to decipher the names of the 72 general officers who are listed as casualties in the following report: "Army Battle Casualties and Non-battle Deaths in World War II, 7 December 1941 - 31 December 1946 (Final Report)" that was published 1 June 1953. A link to this report is below:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref ... l#contents

There were a total of 25 battle deaths and 47 non-battle deaths.

Of the battle casualties, there were a total of 25, broken down as follows; 18 were killed in action, 3 died of wounds, 1 Killed in action as POW, 1 died from other causes as a POW, and 2 missing/declared dead.

Of those killed in action, I believe that I have all of these:

1. Maj. Gen. Clarence L. Tinker, 7 June 1942, near Wake Island
2. Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. Walker, 5 January 1943 over Rabaul
3. Brig. Gen. Howard K. Ramey, 26 March 1943, New Britain
4. Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, 13 June 1943, over Kiel, Germany
5. Brig. Gen. Charles L. Keerans, 11 July 1943, Farello, Sicily
6. Brig. Gen. Davis D. Graves, 8 February 1944, over San Stefano, Italy
7. Brig. Gen. Russell A. Wilson, 6 March 1944, over Berlin, Germany
8. Brig. Gen. Don F. Pratt, 6 June 1944, Manche, France
9. Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, 25 July 1944, St. Lo, France
10. Brig. Gen. James E. Wharton, 12 August 1944, Sourdeval, France
11. Brig. Gen. Edmund W. Searby, 14 September 1944, near Point-a-Mousson, France
12. Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Castle, 24 December 1944, Liege, Belgium
13. Brig. Gen. Gustav J. Braun, 17 March 1945, near Monte Bel Monte, Italy
14. Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose, 30 March 1945, Paderborn, Germany
15. Brig. Gen. (POTH) Lloyd H. Gibbons, 7 April 1945, near Kassel, Germany
16. Brig. Gen. (POTH) William O. Darby, 30 April 1945, Torbole, Italy
17. Brig. Gen. James L. Dalton, 16 May 1945, Luzon, Philippines
18. Brig. Gen. Claudius M. Easley, 19 June 1945, Okinawa

Three died of wounds:

1. Brig. Gen. Nelson M. Walker, 10 July 1944, Normandy, France
2. Maj. Gen. Edwin D. Patrick, 15 March 1945, Luzon, Philippines
3. Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., 18 June 1945, Okinawa

That comes to 21 names. For the other four, the report includes in the battle death category those of whom died as POWs (1), those that died of other causes (1) and who were missing in action and subsequently declared dead (2) for a total of 25.

As for the Prisoners of War, the tables also give a number of 20 of those who were captured and interned (one was killed in action and one died of non-battle causes). The POWs are broken out by theater:

- 17 captured in the Pacific, 1 of who died of other (non-battle) causes (Brig. Gen. Allan C. McBride?) This total of 17 contradicts my findings (see list of POWs below)
- 2 captured in the China/Burma/India theater, of which 1 was killed in action. I have no idea who these three are. Perhaps someone can help me.
- 1 captured in Europe (Brig. Gen. Arthur W. Vanaman)

From my research, I believe that I have all of the POWs listed below (of which all but one was in the Pacific):

1. Maj. Gen. Edward P. King, Jr.
2. Maj. Gen. Albert M. Jones
3. Maj. Gen. George M. Parker
4. Brig. Gen. Clifford Bluemel
5. Brig. Gen. William E. Brougher
6. Brig. Gen. Maxon S. Lough
7. Brig. Gen. Allan C. McBride
8. Brig. Gen. Clinton A. Pierce
9. Brig. Gen. Carl H. Seals
10. Brig. Gen. Luther R. Stevens
11. Brig. Gen. James R.N. Weaver
12. Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright
13. Maj. Gen. George F. Moore
14. Brig. Gen. Lewis C. Beebe
15. Brig. Gen. Charles C. Drake
16. Brig. Gen. Arnold J. Funk
17. Maj. Gen. William F. Sharp
18. Brig. Gen. Joseph P. Vachon
19. Brig. Gen. Bradford G. Chynoweth
20. Brig. Gen. Arthur W. Vanaman (Europe)

I did not add Clyde A. Selleck who had been demoted to Colonel before he surrendered.

As for the two POWs who died (1 killed in action (CBI theater) and 1 died of other (non-battle) causes (Pacific theater), I have Brig. Gen. Allan C. McBride (captured in the Philippines) who died in his sleep while a POW, so I would assume that he is considered the non-battle death.

As for the one who was killed in action, the only ones that I can think of would be Guy O. Fort and Vicente Lim, both of whom were executed and thus be recognized (I think) as being killed in action. However, both Lim and Fort were captured in the Pacific (the report lists the one killed in action as being from the CBI theater). And, if I add their names to the above list, that brings up the total to 22 which is two more than what is in the report.

The tables also lists two generals being captured in the CBI theater. I have no idea who these individuals are.

Of the missing in action/declared dead I have no idea who they are either. The tables list 2 missing in Europe (1 declared dead) and 1 missing in the Pacific (1 declared dead) for a total of three. Perhaps one of those declared dead in the Pacific could be either Fort or Lim.

So in recap: For the battle deaths, I have 18 killed in action (see list), 3 died of wounds (see list), 1 killed in action as a POW (?) in the CBI theater, 1 died as POW of other non-battle causes in the Pacific theater (McBride?), and 2 missing/declared dead (?) (one in Europe and 1 in the Pacific). Any help on the question marks would be appreciated.

---------------------------------------------

As for the 47 non-battle deaths, they are broken down as follows: 27 in the US (9 died in air accidents, 18 died of disease); 20 overseas (8 air accidents, 1 non air accident, and 10 disease).

I will start in the US first. Of the air accidents, the reports lists 9. However I have the following:

1. Brig. Gen. Herbert A. Dargue, 12 December 1941, Bishop, CA
2. Maj. Gen. Frank C. Mahin, 24 July 1942, Waynesboro, TN
3. Brig. Gen. Carlyle H. Wash, 26 January 1943, Flomaton, AL
4. Brig. Gen. Douglas B. Netherwood, 19 August 1943, Okeefenokee swamp, FL
5. Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson, 13 October 1943, Camp Polk, OR
6. Maj. Gen. Paul W. Newgarden, 14 July 1944, Chattanooga, TN
7. Brig. Gen. Earl L. Naiden, 20 September 1944, Medford, OR
8. Brig. Gen. Stuart C. Godfrey, 19 October 1945, Spokane, WA
9. Maj. Gen. Hugh J. Gaffey, 16 June 1946, Godman Field, KY
10. Maj. Gen. Paul B. Wurtsmith, 13 September 1946, Asheville, NC
11. Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross, 18 October 1946, Brooksville, KY

This is two more than what is listed in the tables. Which brings me to another question, if the dates of the report were from 7 December 1941 through 31 December 1946, then the above list should be correct. However, if you take into account that both Netherwood and Naiden had reverted to Colonel, then that would bring the total back down to 9.

Died of disease (The report lists 18)

1. Brig. Gen. Alfred J. Lyon, 1 December 1942, Washington, DC, Pneumonia
2. Maj. Gen. Alexander E. Anderson, 24 December 1942, Gainesville, TX, Heart attack?
3. Brig. Gen. Clinton W. Russell, 23 March 1943, Fort Jay, NY, Illness
4. Maj. Gen. Robert Olds, 28 April 1943, Davis-Montham Field, AZ, Heart attack
5. Brig. Gen. Arthur B. McDaniel, 26 December 1943, Mountain Brook, AL, Heart attack
6. Brig. Gen. James F. C. Hyde, 7 August 1944, Phoenixville, PA, Heart attack
7. Brig. Gen. Gordon de L. Carrington, 21 August 1944, Washington, DC, Illness?
8. Brig. Gen. Harry D. Chamberlain, 29 September 1944, San Francisco, CA, Illness
9. Brig. Gen. John H. Gardner, 11 October 1944, Washington, DC, Heart attack
10. Brig. Gen. Creswell Garlington, 11 March 1945, Hunter Field, GA, Illness
11. Brig. Gen. Henry W. Harms, 4 June 1945, Riverside, CA, Suicide?
12. Brig. Gen. Donald R. Goodrich, 12 July 1945, Maxwell Field, FL, Illness
13. Maj. Gen. Malin Craig, 25 July 1945, Washington, DC, Illness
14. Brig. Gen. Morris Berman, 11 November 1945, San Antonio, TX, Heart attack
15. Brig. Gen. Truman E. Boudinot, 21 December 1945, Washington, DC, Illness
16. Brig. Gen. Myron R. Wood, 29 October 1946, Washington, DC, Heart attack
17. Brig. Gen. John B. Franks, 13 November 1946, Washington, DC, Heart attack

That leaves me with one missing. This could be Maj. Gen. Leonard Wing who died of a heart attack in Rutland, VT on 16 December 1945. Again, in the above list, Harms had reverted to Colonel before his death.

As for the 20 non-battle deaths that occurred overseas, I have the following.

Aircraft accidents (The report lists 8):

1. Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan, 17 November 1942, Bay of Biscay
2. Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, 3 May 1943, Iceland
3. Brig. Gen. Charles H. Barth, Jr., 3 May 1943, Iceland
4. Brig. Gen. William H. Eaton, 6 February 1945, Vichy, France
5. Lt. Gen. Millard F. Harmon, 26 February 1945, Pacific
6. Brig. Gen. James R. Andersen, 26 February 1945, Pacific
7. Brig. Gen. Joe L. Loutzenheiser, 7 October 1945, near Guam
8. Maj. Gen. James E. Parker, 19 March 1946, Formosa

The above list appears correct, but I found a Brig. Gen. Willis R. Taylor who was killed on 14 June 1945 in a plane crash in Panama.

Accident other (The report lists 1)

1. Maj. Gen. Donald W. Brann, 29 December 1945, Hunting accident (this is a guess)

Disease (The report lists 10)

1. Brig. Gen Albert K. B. Lyman,17 August 1942, Heart attack, Hawaii territory
2. Brig. Gen. William D. Powell,6 October 1943, Stroke, China
3. Maj. Gen. (POTH) Donald A. Davison, 6 May 1944, Illness?, India
4. Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., 12 July 1944, Heart attack, France
5. Brig. Gen. Thomas E. Roderick, 21 September 1944, Illness, Italy or North Africa
6. Brig. Gen. Walter G. Layman, 24 September 1944, Heart attack, England
7. Maj. Gen. Edwin M. Watson, 20 February 1945, Heart attack, USS Quincy at sea
8. Brig. Gen. Harold L. Mace, 20 January 1946, Suicide? (considered a mental illness?), Philippines
9. Brig. Gen. Edward C. Betts, 6 May 1946, Heart attack, Germany

This leaves me with one missing.

So in recap: For the non-battle deaths, I have 46 names listed (both overseas and in the US). I am missing one from the disease category, and although I am off by what appears to be one name (46 vs. 47) , the some of the totals in the specific categories don't quite equal the tables in the report.

One final note...after going through the Army Registers for the period 1941 - 1947, I noticed that, Gen. George S. Patton, who died in an accident (non-aircraft) on 21 December 1945 in Germany, Gen. Joseph W. Stillwell, who died on 12 October 1946 in San Francisco, CA and Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch who died on 21 November 1945 in Fort Sam Houston, TX are not represented in the report.

The issue with this is that all three of these generals died within the time frame of the report (7 December 1941-31 December 1946), yet are not represented in the official tables. For example, the report does not list any officer of General rank (e.g., Patton) and only 4 Lt. Generals (which I have as Andrews, McNair, Buckner and Harmon). If you add Stillwell and Patch, that brings up the total of Lt. Gens. to six. Overall, the report lists 4 Lt. Generals, 15 Maj. Generals, and 53 Brig. Generals as being casualties.

In conclusion, I know that this is a lot of data to process, I am just trying to match the numbers in the report (general officers only) to actual names. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Or, if anyone has their own specific lists that they can offer, that would be great too.


Thanks,

Doug Batson

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Re: US General officer casualties

#2

Post by Steen Ammentorp » 12 Nov 2015, 22:58

Hi Doug,

I have been going through your list here and there seems to be very little that I can add to it. However I do think that Brigadier-General Harold H. George should be on the list of air accidents, 29 April 1942, Darwin, Australia. You might also want to look into Leonard F. Fish, who died of a hearth attack 19 December 1945. While a NG officer and died at home I am unsure whether he was released from federal service along with 43rd Div - most likely he was, but anyhow.
Last edited by Steen Ammentorp on 13 Nov 2015, 11:26, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: US General officer casualties

#3

Post by Steen Ammentorp » 12 Nov 2015, 22:59

Sorry you already have your eyes on Wing, missed that.
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Re: US General officer casualties

#4

Post by Steen Ammentorp » 12 Nov 2015, 23:04

btw. Willis R. Taylor reverted to Colonel on 13 April 1943.
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Re: US General officer casualties

#5

Post by Schloss Adler » 13 Nov 2015, 05:03

Thanks for your input Steen. In further crunching the numbers/names, the Army Battle Casualties and Non-Battle Deaths in World War II further states that for the 18 who were killed in action, the breakdown by theater was as follows: 10 in Europe, 5 in the Pacific, and 3 in the Mediterranean. Again, this doesn't fit easily into the numbers that I have below:

For Europe (I could only find 9 names out of 10)

1. Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, 13 June 1943, over Kiel, Germany
2. Brig. Gen. Russell A. Wilson, 6 March 1944, over Berlin, Germany
3. Brig. Gen. Don F. Pratt, 6 June 1944, Manche, France
4. Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, 25 July 1944, St. Lo, France
5. Brig. Gen. James E. Wharton, 12 August 1944, Sourdeval, France
6. Brig. Gen. Edmund W. Searby, 14 September 1944, near Point-a-Mousson, France
7. Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Castle, 24 December 1944, Liege, Belgium
8. Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose, 30 March 1945, Paderborn, Germany
9. Brig. Gen. (POTH) Lloyd H. Gibbons, 7 April 1945, near Kassel, Germany

For the Pacific (5 out of 5)

1. Maj. Gen. Clarence L. Tinker, 7 June 1942, near Wake Island
2. Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. Walker, 5 January 1943 over Rabaul
3. Brig. Gen. Howard K. Ramey, 26 March 1943, New Britain
4. Brig. Gen. James L. Dalton, 16 May 1945, Luzon, Philippines
5. Brig. Gen. Claudius M. Easley, 19 June 1945, Okinawa

For the Mediterranean (I have one extra [4 instead of 3], perhaps Darby wasn't counted as he was only a Colonel?)

1. Brig. Gen. Charles L. Keerans, 11 July 1943, Farello, Sicily
2. Brig. Gen. Davis D. Graves, 8 February 1944, over San Stefano, Italy
3. Brig. Gen. Gustav J. Braun, 17 March 1945, near Monte Bel Monte, Italy
4. Brig. Gen. (POTH) William O. Darby, 30 April 1945, Torbole, Italy

As for those who died of wounds, again the numbers in the official report are Europe (2) and the Pacific (1). However, I have 2 in the Pacific and 1 in Europe.

1. Brig. Gen. Nelson M. Walker, 10 July 1944, Normandy, France
2. Maj. Gen. Edwin D. Patrick, 15 March 1945, Luzon, Philippines
3. Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., 18 June 1945, Okinawa

As for the missing in action/declared dead, the report gives 1 in Europe and 1 in the Pacific. I don't have any idea who would fall into these categories.

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Re: US General officer casualties

#6

Post by reedwh52 » 18 Nov 2015, 20:35

There are several definitional caveats to use when considering the reports:
1) The report is for active duty (i.e. does not cover retirees that died in military hospitals, etc) Example: MG Malin Craig (Actually GEN Malin Craig (DOR 1937) was retired when he died & shouldn't be included in the listing
2)The grade of the officer is defined as "Grade--In tables showing grade data, all battle casualties, including deaths among such personnel, are distributed by the grade in which serving at the time the initial casualty was incurred. Non-battle deaths, other than those among captured, interned, and missing in action personnel, are distributed by the grades in which serving at the time of death."
3) For example, in your listings both Naiden & Harms were reflected as COL in the relevant Army Register casualty listings which reflected their current grades.
4) The same listings reflect all three of your POTH listings as General officers at death
5) The Missing, declared dead names on page 771 of the 1946 register were:
Vicente Lim
Davis D Graves
Howard K Ramey
Kenneth N Walker
Russell A Walker

Hope this is of some help

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Re: US General officer casualties

#7

Post by Schloss Adler » 19 Nov 2015, 03:36

Thanks, I appreciate your help. My records show that Craig was retired, but was recalled to active duty on September 26, 1941 and headed the War Department's Personnel Board until he died.

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Re: US General officer casualties

#8

Post by reedwh52 » 19 Nov 2015, 04:52

I agree that Malin Craig headed the Selection Board until shortly before his death and is often cited as being on active duty when he died. I frankly thought he was on active duty at that time.

However, the initial question in this thread is trying to reconcile by name the general officers cited in the casualty report. It is at least highly likely that, for instance, General Craig was not included in the "Battle and Non-Battle Casualty data because the Adjutant General's Office reflected him as retired at his date of death. (See below-all General Officer casualties-Active and Retired) reflected in the Jan 1, 1946 Army Register.

Official Army Register January 1 1946 US War Department
CASUALTIES ACTIVE LIST (Casualties shown with date prior to 1945 were not of record at that time) Page 770
Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., 21 December1945, in the European Area.
Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., 18 June1945, at Okinawa.
Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch, 21 November1945, at Brooke Hospital Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex.
Maj. Gen. Edwin D. Patrick, 15 March1945, in the Philippine Islands.
Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose, 30 March1945, in Germany.
Brig. Gen. Morris Berman, 11 November1945, at San Antonio, Tex.
Brig. Gen. Truman E. Boudinot, 21 December1945, at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington,
Brig. Gen. Gustav J. Braun, 17 March1945, in the Mediterranean Area.
Brig. Gen. James L. Dalton, 2d, 16May1945,in the Southwest Pacific Area.
Brig. Gen. William O. Darby, 30 April 1945, in Italy.
Brig. Gen. Claudius M. Easley, 19 June1945, at Okinawa.
Brig. Gen. Creswell Garlington, 11 March1945, at AAF Regional Hospital, Hunter Field, Oa.
Brig. Gen. Lloyd H. Gibbons, 7 April 1945, in the European Area.
Brig. Gen. Stuart C. Godfrey, 19 October 1945, Northwest of Geiger Field, Spokane, Wash.
Brig. Gen. Donald R. Goodrich, 12 July 1945, atAAF Regional Hospital, Maxwell Field, Fla.
Brig. Gen. Davis D. Graves, declared dead 9 February 1945 {Reported missing over Italy).
Brig. Gen. Vicente Lim, declared dead11 November1945, in the Southwest Pacific Area.
Brig. Gen. Howard K. Ramey, declared dead 19 November1945, over New Guinea.
Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. Walker, declared dead 12 December1945, over Rabaul, NewBritain.
Brig. Gen. Russell A. Wilson, declared dead7 August 1945 (Reported missing over Germany).


CASUALTIES RETIRED LIST (Page 1099)
Gen. Malin Craig, 25 July 1945, at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D. C.
Maj. Gen. Lansing H. Beach, 2 April 1945, at Pasadena ASFRegional Hospital, Pasadena, Calif.
Maj. Gen. Frederick W. Coleman, 5 January1945, at U. S. Soldiers Home, Washington, D. C.
Maj. Gen. Eli A. Helmick, 13 January1945, at Tripler General Hospital, T. H.
Maj. Gen. William P. Jackson, 13 January1945, at San Francisco, Calif.
Maj. Gen. Francis J. Kernan, 3 February 1945, at Welch Convalescence Hospital, Daytona, Fla.
Maj. Gen. Fred W. Sladen, 10 July 1945, atNewHampshire Hospital, NewLondon, N. H.
Maj. Gen. Edwin M. Watson, 20 February1945, at Sea.
Brig. Gen. Ambrose R. Emery, 28 November1945, at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D. C.
Brig. Gen. Berkeley Enochs, 18 December1944, at MiamiBeach, Fla.
Brig. Gen. Daniel W. Hand, 28 September1945, at Letterman General Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco, Calif.
Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Hanson, 23May1945, at Oakland Regional Station Hospital, Oakland, Calif.
Brig. Gen. John W. Joyes, 24 September1945, at Culpeper, Va.
Brig. Gen. Abraham G. Lott, 21 January1945, at Brooke General Hospital, Fort SamHouston, Tex.
Brig. Gen. John B. Maynard, 2 February 1945, at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D. C.
Brig. Gen. Harrison J. Price, 16 September1945, at his home, S606 Brooks Rd., Richmond, Va.
Brig. Gen. Frank W. Weed, 29 September1945, at Letterman General Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco, Calif.

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Re: US General officer casualties

#9

Post by Steen Ammentorp » 19 Nov 2015, 20:37

A good point about Craig!

Another non-battle casualty that should be on the list is Brig Gen Myron R. Wood, who died 29 Oct 1946 in Washington D.C., I previously thought that he had retired at the time, but the casualty list in the 1947 army register has him on the active list. The 1959 Army Almanac also shows him having his this rank at time of death. edit - sorry he is listed

Regarding Vicente Lim, then he does not appear in the casualty list in the Army Register up to 1949. In the 1948 Register, he still appears on the retired list, without any reference to him being a Brig Gen. This despite the fact that he were declared death as of 11 Nov 1945 according to the Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the US Military Academy, vol. 9. Nor is there any reference to him being a Brig Gen in this source. I have not been able to find any reference to him being promoted to Brig Gen in the Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. Despite this the 1950 Army Almanac list him as being a Brig Gen in the Army, however without any date, the 1959 Army Almanac on the other hand gives the dates for hold the rank of Brig Gen in the Army as 1 Jul 1936 to 31 Oct 1936.

Therefore, I very much doubt that he ever held a rank of Brigadier General in the US Army (or Army of the United States). That he was a Brigadier General in the Philippine Army is not in question, but whether this rank were recognized as a Brigadier General (Army of the United States) when the Philippine army was called into service of the United State Armed Forces in July 1941 is uncertain – or at least I have not been able to clarify it.

Much the same goes for Guy O. Fort, never a regular army officer, but an officer of the Philippine Constabulary. Tough both is mentioned in Ancell & Miller's "The Biographical Dictionary of World War II Generals and Flag Officers" as generals in the US Army and both are listed as generals in the 1950 Army Almanac, but without dates (Fort is left out in the 1959 edition), then I have been unable to find any official references to their promotion to Brig Gen.

Therefore, for the purpose of the above-mentioned rapport, would think it unlikely that they were include. If they were, then Brigadier General Simeon de Jesus, executed sometime 1944, should al-so be considered.
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Re: US General officer casualties

#10

Post by Schloss Adler » 20 Nov 2015, 03:31

You are 100% right, Craig was on the retired list. Not sure how he slipped on to my active list. Thanks for pointing that out. Unfortunately, with him now excluded in my list of those dying from disease in the US, it brings the number down to 16. The casualty report states that 18 died of this cause in the US. Other casualties on the 1946 Army Register also include General Patton and Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch both of which are not included in the casualty report. Additionally, there were no officers of 4-star rank represented and only 4 Lt. Generals in the tables (which I take as Andrews, McNair, Buckner and Harmon). Patch would make it five. As for Myron Wood, I did include him in my initial posting in the disease category. Vicente Lim appears as a Brig. Gen. in the 1946 register, although his name doesn't appear at the beginning of any register from 1941-1945 where they list the active generals. You are right about Fort. I have no record of either him (or Lim for that matter) being promoted to general in the US army. So like you said, until further proof surfaces about their promotion to Brig. Gen. in the Army of the United States, I am not counting them. What makes this hard is that the casualty report doesn't specifically outline the parameters for inclusion.

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Re: US General officer casualties

#11

Post by Steen Ammentorp » 20 Nov 2015, 08:44

Yes – Lim appears in the casualty list of active officers in the 1946 Army, yet he is still listed in the list of retired officer and his entry here, does not refer do any promotion to Brig Gen – he continues on the retired list until the 1948 edition. But even if we accept that he was promoted Brig Gen, then we encounter another problem, because if we discount Craig as retired so should Lim.

Anyway, a 1937 Alphabetical Roster of Philippine Army Officers shows Lim as an regular active officer with the rank of Brig Gen – he is not included in the list of US Army officers detailed with the Philippine Army.

You have pointed out the absence of 4 stars generals in the rapport as well as Patch, so the rapport may have other errors, and we may be searching for officers that did not exist. I only have a handful of US WWII general officers, whose date of death I have yet to establish, either National Guard or retired generals. So unless the missing generals unknown and died before then end of 1946, then I think that all the WWII generals are counted for. Perhaps it could be officers promoted after 1 Jan 1946 and died before the end of the year. This may explain either why they do not appear in in the active list in 1946 or casualty list in 1947.
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Re: US General officer casualties

#12

Post by Schloss Adler » 21 Nov 2015, 00:28

Yes, I guess that makes the most sense. As for Lin, my theory is that he was in the US Army as Lt. Col. and traveled to the Philippines at some point. He subsequently retired from the US Army on 30 June 1936 and was promoted to Brig. Gen. on 1 July 1936 in the Philippine Army. Later, the Philippine Army was called into active service with the US Army. From what I have found, Lin is listed in the US Army Registers from starting from 1925 with dates of promotion as Major (29 April 1923) and Lt. Col. (1 Nov 1935) and then on the retired list as of the 1937 register. He then appears as a casualty in the 1946 register but as a Brig. Gen. Like you said, not prior appointment to general officer rank except that in the PA.

As for Fort, I have no idea. I scoured the registers and he is not listed. Unless he was one of those who were inducted directly into the army from industry, academia, etc and were not listed.

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Re: US General officer casualties

#13

Post by Schloss Adler » 21 Nov 2015, 00:42

My apologies. I meant Lim not Lin.

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Re: US General officer casualties

#14

Post by reedwh52 » 21 Nov 2015, 05:40

Good evening.
Here's a slightly different (and no less confusing) starting point- Casualties-Active from the Army Registers for 1942-1947 covering the period 1941-1946. There were two general officers in the list for 1942-both died of illness before December 7, 1941, are labeled pre-war and not included in the count. This listing gives a count of 64 general officers in the casualty report period, (including Vincente Lim and excluding Guy O. Fort, both shown as BG in the 1950 Army Almanac-General Officers of World War II.
An additional 5 officers not included in these listings are reflected in a second listing.
A third list includes 5 officers who are not included in the Casualty Active category. Two (Naiden & Harms) were Colonels on the active casualty list) Three were retired (Craig, Watson, Russell). Craig & Watson are often referred to as on active duty when they died. Craig may have reverted to retired prior to death and Watson was occupying a civilian position from 1938 to his death as the Appointments Secretary to the President.
General Officers included in the Casualties-Active listings:
Area Cause AR* no Name Date Location
prewar CONUS Disease 1942 1 Maj. Gen. Adna K. Chaffee 22-Aug-1941 at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
prewar CONUS Disease 1942 2 Brig. Gen. EdmundL. Gruber 30-May-1941 at Leavenworth, Kansas.
1 CONUS Air 1943 1 Maj. Gen. Herbert A. Dargue 12-Dec-1941 in the vicinity of Bishop, California
2 CONUS Air 1943 2 Maj. Gen. Frank C. Mahin 24-Jul-1942 Waynesboro, TN
3 PACIFIC Air 1943 3 Brig. Gen. Harold H. George 30-Apr-1942 near Darwin, Australia.
4 CONUS Disease 1943 4 Brig. Gen. Alfred J. Lyon 1-Dec-1942 Washington, DC
5 PACIFIC Disease 1943 5 Brig. Gen. Albert K. B. Lyman 13-Aug-1942 at Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii.
6 EUROPE Air 1944 1 Lt. Gen. Frank M. Andrews 3-May-1943 Iceland,
7 CONUS Air 1944 2 Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson 13-Oct-1943 at Station Hospital, Camp Polk, LA
8 CONUS Disease 1944 3 Maj. Gen. Robert Olds 28-Apr-1943 at Desert Sanatorium, Tucson, AZ
9 PACIFIC KIA 1944 4 Maj. Gen. Clarence L. Tinker 7 June1943 DD missing in action in the Pacific Area.
10 EUROPE Air 1944 5 Brig. Gen. Charles H. Barth 3-May-1943 Iceland
11 EUROPE Air 1944 6 Brig. Gen. Asa N. Duncan 17-Nov-1942 Bay of Biscay,
12 CONUS Disease 1944 7 Brig. Gen. Arthur B. McDaniel 26-Dec-1943 86 Faincay Drive, Birmingham, AL
13 PACIFIC Disease 1944 8 Brig. Gen. William D. Powell 6-Oct-1943 China
14 CONUS Air 1944 9 Brig. Gen. Douglas B. Netherwood 19-Aug-1943 Okeefenokee swamp
15 CONUS Air 1944 10 Brig. Gen. Carlyle H. Wash 26-Jan-1943 Flomaton, AL
16 EUROPE KIA 1945 1 Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair 25-Jul-1944 St. Lo, France
17 CONUS Air 1945 2 Maj. Gen. Paul W. Newgarden 14-Jul-1944 Chattanooga, TN
18 CONUS Disease 1945 3 Brig. Gen. Gordon de L. Carrington 21-Aug-1944 at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, DC
19 CONUS Disease 1945 4 Brig. Gen. Harry D. Chamberlain 29-Sep-1944 San Francisco, CA
20 PACIFIC Disease 1945 5 Brig. Gen. Donald A. Davison 6-May-1944 in the Asiatic Area.,
21 EUROPE KIA 1945 6 Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest 13-Jun-1943 over Kiel, Germany
22 CONUS Disease 1945 7 Brig. Gen. John H. Gardner 11-Oct-1944 Washington, DC
23 CONUS Disease 1945 8 Brig. Gen. James F. C. Hyde 7-Aug-1944 at Valley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, PA
24 EUROPE Disease 1945 9 Brig. Gen. Walter G. Layman 24-Sep-1944 England
25 PACIFIC KIA 1945 10 Brig. Gen. Allan C. McBride 9-May-1944 at Camp Taiwan-Formosa, Philippine Islands.
26 EUROPE KIA 1945 11 Brig. Gen. Don F. Pratt 6-Jun-1944 Manche, France
27 MED Disease 1945 12 Brig. Gen. Thomas E. Roderick 21-Sep-1944 Italy or North Africa
28 EUROPE KIA 1945 13 Brig. Gen. Edmund W. Searby 14-Sep-1944 near Point-a-Mousson, France
29 EUROPE KIA/DOW 1945 14 Brig. Gen. Nelson M. Walker 10-Jul-1944 Normandy, France
30 EUROPE KIA 1945 15 Brig. Gen. James E. Wharton 12-Aug-1944 Sourdeval, France
31 EUROPE Accident 1946 1 Gen. George S. Patton Jr 21-Dec-1945 in the European Area.,
32 PACIFIC KIA/DOW 1946 2 Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner Jr 18-Jun-1945 Okinawa,
33 EUROPE Disease 1946 3 Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch 21-Nov-1945 at Brooke Hospital Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX
34 PACIFIC KIA/DOW 1946 4 Maj. Gen. Edwin D. Patrick 15-Mar-1945 Luzon, Philippines
35 CONUS Disease 1946 5 Brig. Gen. Morris Berman 11-Nov-1945 San Antonio, TX
36 EUROPE KIA 1946 5 Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose 30-Mar-1945 Paderborn, Germany
37 CONUS Disease 1946 6 Brig. Gen. Truman E. Boudinot 21-Dec-1945 Washington, DC
38 MED KIA 1946 7 Brig. Gen. Gustav J. Braun 17-Mar-1945 near Monte Bel Monte, Italy
39 PACIFIC KIA 1946 8 Brig. Gen. James L. Dalton 16-May-1945 Luzon, Philippines
40 MED KIA 1946 9 Brig. Gen. William O. Darby 30-Apr-1945 Torbole, Italy
41 PACIFIC KIA 1946 10 Brig. Gen. Claudius M. Easley 19-Jun-1945 at Okinawa.
42 CONUS Disease 1946 11 Brig. Gen. Creswell Garlington 11-Mar-1945 Hunter Field, GA
43 EUROPE KIA 1946 12 Brig. Gen. Lloyd H. Gibbons 7-Apr-1945 near Kassel, Germany
44 CONUS Air 1946 13 Brig. Gen. Stuart C. Godfrey 19-Oct-1945 Northwest of Geiger Field, Spokane, WA
45 CONUS Disease 1946 14 Brig. Gen. Donald R. Goodrich 12-Jul-1945 Maxwell Field, FL
46 MED KIA 1946 15 Brig. Gen. Davis D. Graves 2/9/1945 DD Reported missing over Italy
47 PACIFIC 1946 16 Brig. Gen. Vicente Lim 11/11/1945 DD in the Southwest Pacific Area.,
48 PACIFIC KIA 1946 17 Brig. Gen. Howard K. Ramey 26-Mar-1943 New Britain,
49 PACIFIC KIA 1946 18 Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. Walker 12/12/1945 DD over Rabaul, NewBritain.
50 EUROPE KIA 1946 19 Brig. Gen. Russell A. Wilson 6-Mar-1944 over Berlin, Germany
51 CONUS Disease 1947 1 Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stillwell 12-Oct-1946 Letterman Army Hospital, Pacific
52 PACIFIC Air 1947 2 Lt. Gen. Millard F. Harmon 26-Feb-1945 Pacific,
53 EUROPE Accident 1947 3 Maj. Gen. Donald W. Brann 29-Dec-1945 in the European Area.,
54 CONUS Air 1947 4 Maj. Gen. Hugh J. Gaffey 16-Jun-1946 Godman Field, KY
55 PACIFIC Air 1947 5 Maj. Gen. James E. Parker 19-Mar-1946 Formosa,
56 CONUS Air 1947 6 Maj. Gen. Paul B. Wurtsmith 13-Sep-1946 50 miles southwest of Asheville, N. C.
57 PACIFIC Air 1947 7 Brig. Gen. James R. Andersen 26-Feb-1945 Pacific,
58 EUROPE Disease 1947 8 Brig. Gen. Edward C. Betts 6-May-1946 Germany
59 CONUS Disease 1947 9 Brig. Gen. John B. Franks 13-Nov-1946 at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, DC
60 CONUS Air 1947 10 Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross 18-Oct-1946 2 1/2 miles south of Brookville, Ky.
61 MED KIA 1947 11 Brig. Gen. Charles L. Keerans Jr 12-Jul-1944 in theNorth African Area.
62 PACIFIC Air 1947 12 Brig. Gen. Joe L. Loutzenheiser 7-Oct-1945 near Guam,
63 PACIFIC Disease 1947 13 Brig. Gen. Harold L. Mace 20-Jan-1946 Philippines
64 CONUS Disease 1947 14 Brig. Gen. Myron R. Wood 29-Oct-1946 Washington, DC

( 5) General Officers not reflected on the Registers
65 EUROPE Air NR Brig. Gen. William H. Eaton 6-Feb-1945 Vichy, France
66 EUROPE Disease NR Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr 12-Jul-1944 France
67 CONUS Disease NR Maj. Gen. Alexander E. Anderson 24-Dec-1942 Gainesville, TX
68 EUROPE KIA NR Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Castle 24-Dec-1944 Liege, Belgium
69 PACIFIC KIA/POW NR Brig. Gen. Guy O. Fort 11-Nov-42 Philippines

Other comments:
The five officers below were excluded from the list because , in two cases, the Active Casualty listing reflects their grades al Colonel, and in three cases, they were on the Casualties-Retired list.
Excl 1 CONUS Air 1945 COL Brig. Gen. Earl L. Naiden 20-Sep-1944 Medford, OR
Excl 2 CONUS Disease 1946 COL Brig. Gen. Henry W. Harms 4-Jun-1945 Riverside, CA
Excl 3 OVERSEAS Disease 1946 Ret Maj. Gen. Edwin M. Watson 20-Feb-1945 USS Quincy at sea
Excl 4 CONUS Disease 1946 Ret Maj. Gen. Malin Craig 25-Jul-1945 Washington, DC
Excl 5 CONUS Disease 1944 Ret Brig. Gen. Clinton W. Russell 23-Mar-1943 Fort Jay, NY

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Steen Ammentorp
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Re: US General officer casualties

#15

Post by Steen Ammentorp » 21 Nov 2015, 06:42

Hi,

Just to give a brief sketch of Lim's early career. Following graduation from West Point he was commission into the Philippine Scouts, and with a brief spell of being instructor at the Philippine Military Academy 1916-1917 he served at different posts in the Philippines. He went to the US for the period 1929-1929 where he attended the Infantry School, Command & General Staff School and Army War College. Returning to the Philippines, he was commandant of the ROTC unit at San Juan de Letran College until his retirement from US Army 30 June 1936. Next day he became chief of the war plans division and a Brigadier General in the Philippine Army.
Kind Regards
Steen Ammentorp
The Generals of World War Two

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