Thomas Leonard Harrold (June 21, 1902 – June 16, 1973) was a United States Army lieutenant general. He was commander of the 9th Armored Division, United States Army Armor School, 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, III Corps, and United States Army Caribbean. From 1958 to 1961 he served as commandant of the National War College.
Thomas Leonard Harrold | |
|---|---|
 Harrold as Commandant of the National War College | |
| Born | June 21, 1902 San Diego, California, US |
| Died | June 16, 1973 (aged 70) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1925–1961 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | National War College United States Army Caribbean Command III Corps 8th Infantry Division 10th Mountain Division 1st Cavalry Division United States Army Armor School 3rd Constabulary Brigade |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (3) |
Early life
edit_at_West_Point_in_1925.png)
Harrold was born in San Diego, California on June 21, 1902. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1925 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Cavalry.[1]
Early career
editFrom 1926 to 1927, Harrold was the adjutant for the 7th Cavalry Regiment.[2] He graduated from the Cavalry Officers Course in 1930.[3] Harrold served as an instructor at West Point in the early 1930s.[4] In the early 1940s, Harrold was in charge of army recruiting for the area that included Connecticut.[5] In 1942, Harrold graduated from the Command and the General Staff College.[6]
During World War II, Harrold commanded Combat Command A, 9th Armored Division, serving from August 27, 1944, to May 3, 1945.[7] Harrold led his command during combat in Europe, including a key role in repelling the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge.[8][9][10]
Harrold commanded the 9th Armored Division from 1945 to 1946.[11][12]
Senior command
editFrom 1946 to 1947, Harrold served as commander of the 3rd Constabulary Brigade in West Germany.[13][14] Harrold served as Director of Civil Affairs for the United States Army European Command from 1947 to 1949.[15][16] From 1949 to 1951, Harrold served as commander of the United States Army Armor School and Fort Knox.[17][18][19][20]
Harrold briefly served as deputy commander of I Corps in 1951, but was soon transferred to commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. He served from July 1951 to March 1952, receiving promotion to major general and leading the division during the Korean War.[21][22] Harrold commanded the division during its stationing at Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan, where it carried out combat training, electronic surveillance and defense of Japan from potential attacks by the Soviet Union or China.[23]
From February 1953 to June 1954, Harrold was commander of the 10th Mountain Division.[24] Harrold commanded the 8th Infantry Division from August to November 1954.[25][26] General Harrold served as commander of the III Corps at Fort Hood from 1954 to 1956.[27][28][29][30][31] From 1956 to 1958, Harrold served as commander of the United States Army Caribbean Command.[32][33][34] Harrold was Commandant of the National War College from 1958 until his 1961 retirement.[35]
Awards and decorations
editHarrold's decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Silver Star (two awards), Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal (three awards).[36][37]
Retirement and death
editIn retirement, Harrold resided at Fort Lauderdale, Florida,[38] where he died on June 16, 1973.[39] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2 Site E-508.[40]
Personal life
editHarrold was married to Emily Draper of Troy, New York. They had one child, Sally, who was born in 1937.[41]
References
edit- ^ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1949, page 228
- ^ [Skirmish – Red, White and Blue: The History of the 7th U.S. Cavalry, 1945–1953], by Edward L. Daily, 1992, p. 114
- ^ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1946, p. 298
- ^ Official Register of the Officers and Cadets Archived July 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, United States Military Academy, published by the academy, 1934, p. 12
- ^ Newspaper article, Local Stampede For Enlistment Surpasses 1917, Hartford Courant, December 10, 1941
- ^ Armed Forces Journal International, published by Army and Navy Journal, Inc., Volume 80, Issues 27–52, 1943, p. 1443
- ^ List of Commanders and Staff, 9th Armored Division Order of Battle of the United States Army in World War II, European Theater of Operations, published by the Theater Historian, 1945, p. 498
- ^ The Bitter Woods, by John S.D. Eisenhower, 1995, p. 211
- ^ A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge, by Charles B. MacDonald, 1997, p. 356
- ^ Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945, by Trevor Nevitt Dupuy, David L. Bongard, Richard C. Anderson (Jr.), and Richard Claire Anderson, 1994, p. 129
- ^ Newspaper article, Edward F. Brandt Awarded Bronze Star Medal, Titonka (Iowa) Topic, September 20, 1945
- ^ New York State Journal of Medicine, published by the Medical Society of the State of New York, 1945, Volume 45, Issues 13–24, page 2234
- ^ Richard O'Regan (October 22, 1946). "55 Are Taken Into Custody At Stuttgart". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press.
- ^ Through Mobility We Conquer: The Mechanization of U.S. Cavalry, George F. Hofmann, 2006, p. 425
- ^ Armed Forces Journal International, published by Army and Navy Journal, Inc., 1947, Volume 84, Issues 27–52, p. 1286
- ^ Information Bulletin, published by U.S. Office of Military Government, Provisional Office of Administration, 1949, Volumes 152–169, p. 19
- ^ Ed Creagh (October 10, 1950). "Today's Soldier is Treated as a Human Being". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press.
- ^ "General Harrold Hints At Deadly New Weapon". Baltimore Sun. September 6, 1950. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012.
- ^ Ed Creagh (October 11, 1950). "Battle Tested Old Sarge Gives Recruits Briefings on Tanks". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press.
- ^ A. A. Hoehling (September 24, 1950). "Give Them Firepower! How Will Our Tanks Fare In An All-Out War?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012.
- ^ Former Leaders, 1st Cavalry Division Archived July 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, published by Fort Hood, Texas Public Affairs Officer, 2010, accessed April 16, 2011
- ^ From Pusan to Panmunjom, by Paik Sun Yup, 1999, p. 131
- ^ 1st Cavalry Division: A Spur Ride Through the 20th Century from Horses to the Digital Battlefield, by Turner Publishing Company, 2003, p. 59
- ^ List of Division Commanders Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, 10th Mountain Division Organization published by 10th Mountain Division Veterans Association, undated (after 2007), accessed April 16, 2011
- ^ "10th Division Head Gets Command at Fort Riley". The New York Times. August 16, 1954. p. 7.
- ^ "Gen. Gay Assigned; He Will Command 5th Army Based at Chicago". The New York Times. September 10, 1954. p. 6.
- ^ "Gen. Harrold to Command Ft. Hood". Pampa Daily News. September 12, 1954.
- ^ "Ike Will Not Order War, 11,000 Troops to Train Here". Galveston Daily News. April 5, 1956.
- ^ Newspaper photo caption, Poage Visits Hood, Waco News-Tribune, October 7, 1955
- ^ "Harrold Gets New Post". Pacific Stars and Stripes. April 16, 1956.
- ^ "Harrold Leaves For Caribbean". Gatesville Messenger And Star Forum. June 8, 1956.
- ^ "LaGuardia Gives Leave for Troops". Montreal Gazette. December 24, 1957.
- ^ The American Legion Magazine, published by American Legion, Volumes 62–63, 1957, p. 49
- ^ Army, Navy, and Air Force Journal, published by Army and Navy Journal Inc. Volume 95, Issues 1–26, 1957, p. 693
- ^ List of Commandants Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine, National War College Alumni Association web site, accessed April 16, 2011
- ^ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 362
- ^ List of Recipients of Major Military Awards, Hall of Valor web site, published by Military Times, accessed April 16, 2011
- ^ Social Security Death Index
- ^ Florida Death Index, 1877–1998
- ^ Thomas L. Harrold entry, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator
- ^ American men in government: a biographical dictionary and directory of Federal officials, by Jerome M. Rosow, 1949, p. 173