George Windle Read Jr. (July 29, 1900 – December 15, 1974) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. He was prominent as a top-tier polo player, a successful commander of World War II armor units, and the U.S. Army's Chief of Armor.
George Windle Read Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Read as commander of Second United States Army, 1958 | |
| Born | July 29, 1900 Fort Grant, Arizona, US |
| Died | December 15, 1974 (aged 74) Fort Ord, California, US |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1960 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant general |
| Service number | 0-12603 |
| Commands | 68th Tank Regiment Combat Command B, 6th Armored Division 6th Armored Division 1st Brigade, United States Constabulary 2nd Armored Division Allied Land Forces South East Europe U.S. Army Armor Center and School Second United States Army |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star French Legion of Honor French Croix de Guerre with Palm Belgian Croix de Guerre Greek Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Phoenix |
Early life
editRead was born at Fort Grant, Arizona, on July 29, 1900,[1][2][3] the son of Burton Young Read and Major General George Windle Read (1860–1934), one of the top commanders in the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. His grandfather was Lieutenant General S.B.M. Young, who served as the first Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Read was educated on military posts throughout the United States, and graduated from Central High School in Washington, D.C.[4]
Read was decided upon a military career from an early age; at 13, he took part in a summer Boy Scout encampment that included military training.[5] In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Washington's high schools maintained a corps of cadets, with students organized into companies and regiments for drill and ceremony competitions.[4] During his high school years, Read was an active participant as a member of the corps' Company H, 1st Regiment.[4]
World War I
editRead enlisted in the Army on May 15, 1917, shortly before his seventeenth birthday.[6] He served with the 15th Cavalry Regiment and the 30th and 42nd Infantry Divisions during World War I, attaining the rank of sergeant.[7]
Post World War I
editRead completed the officer candidate school in Langres, France, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry in 1919.[8] He soon transferred to Cavalry, and graduated from the Cavalry School Basic Course in 1921.[9]
He served throughout the United States and overseas during the 1920s and 1930s. From 1922 to 1925 Read served in the Philippines as aide de camp to his father.[10][11]
A championship caliber polo player, Read took part in several tournaments during the 1920s and 1930s, playing on teams sponsored by the Army.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]
Read graduated from the Cavalry School Regular Course in 1937, afterwards serving in the Middle East as an observer in Palestine and a member of the Armored Force Board that was based in Cairo, Egypt.[19][10][20][21]
World War II
edit
After graduating from the Command and General Staff College in 1941, Read was assigned as Training and Operations Officer, G-3, for the 6th Armored Division.[10][1]
Read served with the 6th Armored Division in Europe throughout World War II, including assignments as commander of the 68th Tank Regiment, commander of the division's Combat Command B, assistant division commander, and division commander from April to May, 1945 and again from July until the division was deactivated in September, 1945.[10][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]
Post World War II
editIn the late 1940s Read served as President of Army Ground Forces Board 3 at Ft. Benning, Georgia. (The Army created several ground forces boards to test new weapons and equipment and make procurement recommendations.)[32][10]
From 1948 to 1950 Read served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4, for the United States Constabulary.[33]
During the early 1950s General Read commanded 1st Brigade, United States Constabulary in West Germany.[34][35][36]
From April 1952 to April 1953 Read served as commander of the 2nd Armored Division.[37][38]
In 1953 Read was assigned as commander of the U.S. Army Armor Center and School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he remained until 1955.[39]
He then commanded Allied Land Forces South East Europe, remaining in this post until 1957.[40][41][42]
In 1957 Read assumed command of the Second United States Army, remaining in this position until his retirement in 1960.[43][44][45][46][47]
Awards and decorations
editGeneral Read's U.S. decorations included multiple awards of the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, and multiple awards of the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal.[48][49]
His foreign awards included the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre with Palm, Belgian Croix de Guerre, Luxembourg War Cross, Greek Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Phoenix, and Order of Merit (Chile).[50]
Retirement and death
editGeneral Read resided in Aptos, Santa Cruz County, California after his retirement from the Army, and died at Fort Ord's Silas B. Hays Army Hospital on December 15, 1974, from the effects of lymphocytic leukemia. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 3946.[51][52][53][54]
Family
editIn 1933, Read married Ernestine Eaton Renzel (1903–1988).[55] They had no children.[55]
References
edit- ^ a b The Monthly Supplement: a Current Biographical Reference Service, published by Who’s Who, Inc., 1944, Volumes 5-6, page 247
- ^ Newspaper article, Maj. Gen. G.W. Read is Dead at Capital; World War Officer Succumbs, New York Times, November 7, 1934
- ^ U.S. Census entry, 1910, family of George Windle and Burton Young Read
- ^ a b c "Plans Completed for Cadets' Drill". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. May 30, 1916. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Boy Scouts Work at Trail Building: Gaining Health and Experience in Trip to the White Mountains; Real Military Rule Prevails in Camp". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. June 28, 1914. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kelly, William P., ed. (July 1954). "Private to General". Life of the Soldier and the Airman. Governors Island, NY: Recruiting Publicity Bureau, U.S. Army. p. 9 – via Google Books.
- ^ Official Army register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1922, page 504
- ^ "Lieutenant Here to Visit Brother". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. October 29, 1922. p. 10.
- ^ Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 708]
- ^ a b c d e Life of the Soldier and the Airman, Volumes 35-36, 1953, page 289
- ^ U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1940, page 663
- ^ Field Artillery Journal, March-April 1928, page 204
- ^ Newspaper article, Governors Island Wins at Polo, 7-6, New York Times, October 3, 1932
- ^ Newspaper article, West Point Officers Bow; Lose to Second Corps Area at Polo, 11-7 -- Read Excels, New York Times, July 3, 1933
- ^ Newspaper article, South Shore Takes Polo Game, 13 TO 4; Overpowers First Division A Quartet Before 1,000 at Fort Hamilton, New York Times, July 31, 1933
- ^ Newspaper article, Governors Island Wins at Polo, 11-10, New York Times, October 26, 1934
- ^ Newspaper article, Greentree Four Was Outstanding During the Past Polo Campaign, New York Times, December 29, 1935
- ^ Newspaper article, Governors Island Tops NYAC By 12 to 7 to Annex Polo Title, New York Times, March 12, 1936
- ^ U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1956, page 702
- ^ Newspaper article, More US Observers Reach Cairo, New York Times, April 8, 1941
- ^ Army and Navy Journal, Volume 78, Issues 1-26, 1940, page 495
- ^ The New International Year Book, 1946, page 684
- ^ The Super Sixth: history of the 6th Armored Division in World War II, George F. Hofmann, 1975
- ^ Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II, Shelby L. Stanton, 1984, page 56
- ^ United States Army in World War II: Breakout and Pursuit, Department of the Army Historical Division, 1951, page 316
- ^ Magazine article, Taps for an Armored Division: The Final Veterans Reunion of the 6th Armored Division, undated, by George F. Hoffman
- ^ Web site, U.S. 6th Armored Division in Normandy and Brittany, by Merle Delinger
- ^ Cold War Casualty: the Court-Martial of Major General Robert W. Grow, George F. Hoffman, 1993, page 67
- ^ War as I Knew It, by George Smith Patton, 1995, page 245
- ^ Operation Cobra and the Great Offensive: Sixty Days That Changed the Course of World War II, Bill Yenne, 2003, page 82
- ^ Brest to Bastogne: The Story of the 6th Armored Division, published by Stars and Stripes, Paris, 1945
- ^ Military Affairs: the Journal of the American Military Institute, 1945, Volumes 9-11, page 36
- ^ Newspaper article, Read to Leave 2d Armd Div for US Post, Stars and Stripes Newspaper, Europe, Mediterranean, and North Africa Editions, June 16, 1953
- ^ Newspaper article, Gens Rickard, Hickey, Thorson Get 2d Star, Stars and Stripes, Europe, Mediterranean, and North Africa Editions, July 21, 1950
- ^ Newspaper article, Col Slocum to Speak At Giessen Ceremony, Stars and Stripes Newspaper, Europe, Mediterranean, and North Africa Editions, May 17, 1951
- ^ Newspaper article, 2 Brig Gens in EC on Truman List for Temporary 2d Stars, Stars and Stripes Newspaper, Europe, Mediterranean, and North Africa Editions, January 30, 1952
- ^ 2nd Armored Division web site, past commanders page
- ^ Newspaper article, West's War Games Begin In Germany, The New York Times, September 7, 1952
- ^ Newspaper article, Knox General Being Shifted, The New York Times, July 5, 1955
- ^ The National Guardsman, Volume 11, 1957, page 13
- ^ NATO Letter, Volumes 5 - 6, published by North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 1957, page 21
- ^ History of the United States Armor and Cavalry Association, established 1885 Archived 2010-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, Unknown authors, updated 2008
- ^ Newspaper article, General in Cook's Togs Confuses Post, Washington (D.C.) Afro-American, August 6, 1957
- ^ Newspaper article, West Point to Get New Chief July 1, The New York Times, May 14, 1960
- ^ Newspaper article, Maryland, Virginia Guardsmen At Gap, Reading (Pennsylvania) Eagle, August 21, 1959
- ^ World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1960, page 60
- ^ The Army Almanac: a Book of Facts Concerning the United States Army, 1959, page 78
- ^ Official Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 708
- ^ "Military Times, Hall of Valor, Alphabetical Index of Recipients of Major Military Awards". Archived from the original on 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
- ^ "Gen. Read of 2nd Army to Speak July 3". Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg, PA. March 30, 1960. p. 1 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
- ^ Social Security Death Index
- ^ California Death Index Archived 2012-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, entry for George W. Read Jr.
- ^ State of California death certificate, George Windle Read Jr.
- ^ "Read, George W". ANC Explorer. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ a b "Obituary, Ernestine Read". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, CA. June 5, 1988. p. A-10 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
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