William Howard Arnold

William Howard Arnold (January 18, 1901 – September 30, 1976) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army.

For the American nuclear physicist, see William Howard Arnold (physicist).
William Howard Arnold
Arnold as commander of the 23rd (Americal) Division in World War II
BornJanuary 18, 1901 (1901-01-18)
Dyersburg, Tennessee
DiedSeptember 30, 1976 (1976-10-01) (aged 75)
Lake Forest, Illinois
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1924–1961
Rank Lieutenant general
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards

Early life

Arnold was born in Dyersburg, Tennessee on January 18, 1901.[1] In 1924 he graduated from the United States Military Academy.[2]

Early career

Assigned to the Infantry, Arnold served in assignments throughout the United States. In 1928 he graduated from the Infantry Officer Course.[3] From 1928 to 1930 he was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.[4]

Arnold was assigned as Training and Operations Officer, S-3, for the 15th Infantry Regiment in Tientsin, China from 1934 to 1936.[5]

In 1938 he graduated from the Command and General Staff College.[6]

World War II

From 1942 to 1943 Arnold was Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Operations, G-3, of the IV Corps, headquartered at Fort Lewis, Washington.[7]

Arnold was promoted to brigadier general in September, 1943 and assigned as Chief of Staff of the XIV Corps, supervising the planning and execution of combat operations in Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville.[8]

Arnold was promoted to major general in November, 1944 and assigned to command the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division. He served until the division was deactivated in December, 1945, leading it during combat operations in the Southern Philippines. In August, 1945 Arnold accepted the surrender of the Japanese occupying Cebu Island.[9]

Post-World War II

Arnold continued his Army service after the war. From 1950 to 1952 he served as commander of the Joint Military Mission for Aid to Turkey (JMMAT).[10]

In 1953 Arnold was assigned as commander, of U.S. Forces Austria, receiving promotion to lieutenant general and serving until 1955.[11]

Arnold was named commander of the 5th United States Army headquartered in Chicago, Illinois in 1955, where he served until his 1961 retirement.[12][13][14]

Awards and decorations

General Arnold's honors included multiple awards of the Distinguished Service Medal including two for World War II, the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars and the Air Medal.[15][16][17]

Family, retirement, and death

With his wife, Elizabeth Welsh (Mullen), he was the father of nuclear fuel executive William Howard Arnold, Colonel Joseph Coleman Arnold,(1964 USMA), Elizabeth A Dallman, Emily A Clancy, and the grandfather of Nobel Prize-winning scientist and engineer Frances Arnold.[18]

In retirement Arnold remained in the Chicago area. He died in Lake Forest, Illinois on September 30, 1976.[19][20] He is buried at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, next to his wife Elizabeth (1905–1976), who was named a Grand Cross Dame of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 1955.[21]

References
  1. Report on Military Construction Projects: Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C., published by U.S. House Committee on Government Operations, 1963, page 136
  2. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, published by the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1930, page 1826
  3. U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1946, page 24
  4. Who Was Who In America: With World Notables, published by Marquis Who's Who, 1993, page 17
  5. The United States 15th Infantry Regiment in China, 1912-1938, by Alfred E. Cornebise, 2004, page 217
  6. U.S. Army Register, 1946
  7. Report on Military Construction Projects: Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.
  8. The Chicago Assembly, January 5–6, 1956, published by Rand McNally & Company, 1956, page 26
  9. Center of Military History Publication 72-40, Southern Philippines: The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II
  10. Report on Military Construction Projects: Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.
  11. Waltzing Into the Cold War: the Struggle for Occupied Austria, James Jay Carafano, 2002, Page 173
  12. Newspaper article, Arnold, Chief In Austria, To Head 5th Army; He'll Succeed Gen. Gay in Chicago Office, Chicago Tribune, August 14, 1955
  13. Newspaper article, Gen. Arnold Soon to Doff His Uniform; Retirement Will End 36 Year Career Chicago Tribune, September 20, 1960
  14. Newspaper article, 5th Army Gets A New Boss on Wednesday; Lt. Gen. Cummings To Be Sworn In, Chicago Tribune, January 29, 1961
  15. Midwest Engineer, published by Western Society of Engineers, Chicago, volumes 11 to 13, 1958, page 9
  16. U.S. Army Register, 1946
  17. Military Times, Hall of Valor, Recipients of the Army Distinguished Service Medal
  18. https://www.nap.edu/read/24773/chapter/4
  19. Gen. W.H. Arnold, 75, WW II Leader Dies, New York Times, October 1, 1976
  20. Gen. W. H. Arnold dies; fought in South Pacific, Chicago Tribune, October 1, 1976
  21. “Fünfzig Jahre und mehr”, Ritterorden vom Heiligen Grab zu Jerusalem, Festschrift 2004, p 40
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