VII Corps (United States)

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VII Corps
US VII Corps SSI.png
Shoulder sleeve insignia of VII Corps
Active 1918–1919
1921–1946
1950–1992
Country United States United States of America
Branch  United States Army
Nickname The Jayhawk Corps
Engagements World War I
World War II
*Battle of Normandy
*Battle of Hurtgen Forest
War in Southwest Asia
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Joseph Lawton Collins

John Galvin
Frederick M. Franks, Jr.
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia VII Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia.png
U.S. Corps (1939 - Present)
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VI Corps (United States) VIII Corps (United States)
For the VII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VII Corps (ACW).

The VII Corps of the United States Army was one of the two principal corps of the United States Army Europe during the Cold War. Activated in 1918 for World War I, it was reactivated for World War II and again during the Cold War. During both World War II and the Cold War it was subordinate to the Seventh Army, or USAREUR and was headquartered at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, West Germany, from 1951 until it was redeployed to the US and deactivated in 1992.

Contents

History [edit]

Wiki letter w.svg This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2013)

World War I [edit]

Organized at the end of World War I on 19 August 1918, at Remiremont, France and was deactivated in 1919.

World War II [edit]

VII Corps was reactivated at Fort McClellan, Alabama 25 November 1940 and participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers staged as the US Army prepared for World War II. In late December 1941, VII Corps HQ was moved to San Jose, California as part of the Western Defense Command and as it continued to train and prepare for deployment.[1] Its first return to continental Europe took place on D-Day in 1944, as one of the two assault corps for US First Army during Operation Overlord, targeting Utah Beach with its amphibious assault. For Overlord, the 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne Divisions were attached to VII Corps.[2] After the Normandy Campaign the Airborne units were assigned to the newly created XVIII Airborne Corps. Subsequently, the unit participated in many battles during the advance across France and Germany until the surrender of the Third Reich. The corps was deactivated in 1946.

Battle of Normandy [edit]

Gen.J. Lawton Collins, VII Corps, describes taking of Cherbourg to Gen. Omar Bradley, First Army

For the Normandy Operation , VII Corps was part of 21st Army Group under the command of Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery and the First Army commanded by Maj. Gen. Courtney Hodges. The Corps was commanded by Maj. Gen. J. Lawton Collins.

Assigned Units and Commanders [edit]

8th Infantry Col. James A. Van Fleet
12th Infantry Col. Russell P. Reeder (11 June)
Lt. Col. Hervey Tribolet
22d Infantry Col. Hervey A. Tribolet
Col. Robert T. Foster (26 June)
39th Infantry Col. Harry A. Flint
47th Infantry Col. George W. Smythe
60th Infantry Col. Frederick J. de Rohan
313th Infantry Col. Sterling A. Wood
314th Infantry Col. Warren A. Robinson
315th Infantry Col. Porter P. Wiggins
Col. Bernard B. McMahon (24 June)
505th Parachute Infantry Col. William E. Ekman
507th Parachute Infantry Col. George V. Millett, Jr.
Col. Edson D. Raff (15 June)
508th Parachute Infantry Col. Roy E. Lindquist
325th Glider Infantry Col. Harry L. Lewis
357th Infantry Col. Philip De Witt Ginder
Col. John W. Sheehy (13 June)
Lt. Col. Charles M. Schwab (15 June)
Col. George B. Barth (17 June)
358th Infantry Col. James V. Thompson
Col. Richard C. Partridge (16 June)
359th Infantry Col. Clark K. Fales
501st Parachute Infantry Col. Howard R. Johnson
502d Parachute Infantry Col. George V. H. Moseley, Jr. (WIA 6 June)
Lt. Col. John H. Michaelis (6 June)
506th Parachute Infantry Col. Robert F. Sink
327th Glider Infantry Col. George S. Wear
Col. Joseph H. Harper (10 June)
4th Cavalry Squadron Lt. Col. E. C. Dunn
24th Cavalry Squadron Lt. Col. F. H. Gaston, Jr.
70th Tank Battalion Lt. Col. John C. Welborn
746th Tank Battalion Lt. Col. C. G. Hupfer

[3]

Battle casualties, 6 June – 1 July 1944

Unit Total Killed Wounded Missing Captured
All Units 22,119 2,811 13,564 5,665 79
4th Inf Division 5,452 844 3,814 788 6
9th Inf Division 5,438 301 2,061 76 0
79th Inf Division 2,438 240 1,896 240 0
90th Inf Division 2,376 386 1,979 34 0
82d A/B Div. 4,480 457 1,440 2,571 12
101st A/B Div. 4,670 546 2,217 1,907 0
Corps Troops 304 37 157 49 61

Source: VII Corps, G-1 Reports, June 1944

Operation Cobra [edit]

VII Corps led the initial assault of Operation Cobra, the First United States Army-led offensive as part of the breakout of the Normandy area. Its success is credited with changing the war in France from high-intensity infantry combat to rapid maneuver warfare. (for more see Operation Cobra).

Cold War [edit]

VII Corps Cold War NATO assignment.
VII Corps Garrison Footprint in the 1980's

From reactivation in 1950 and throughout the Cold War, the corps guarded part of NATO's front with the Warsaw Pact. Headquartered in Stuttgart at Kelley Barracks it was one of the two main US combat formations in Germany along with V Corps, which was headquartered in Frankfurt am Main at Abrams Building. At the end of the Cold War VII Corps would have commanded the following units in case of war:

Gulf War [edit]

After Saddam Hussein's troops invaded Kuwait in 1990, the corps was deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the second major wave of deployments of American forces. Its presence took US forces in theatre from a force capable of defending Saudi Arabia to a force capable of ejecting Iraqi troops from Kuwait.

Commanders during Cold War and Gulf War [edit]

Maj. Gen. Withers A. Burress - June 1951 - December 1952

Maj. Gen. James M. Gavin - December 1952 - March 1954

Lt. Gen. Henry I. Hodes - March 1954 - February 1955

Lt. Gen. George H. Decker - February 1955 - May 1956

Maj. Gen. Halley G. Maddox - June - July 1956

Lt. Gen. John F. Uncles - August 1956 - August 1958

Lt. Gen. Gordon B. Rogers - September 1958 - October 1959

Lt. Gen. Guy S. Meloy, Jr. - October 1959 - January 1961

Lt. Gen. John C. Oakes - January 1961 - April 1962

Lt. Gen. C. H. Bonesteel III - April 1962 - August 1963

Lt. Gen. Louis W. Truman - September 1963 - July 1965

Lt. Gen. Frank T. Mildren - July 1965 - May 1968

Lt. Gen. Donald V. Bennett - June 1968 - September 1969

Lt. Gen. George G. O'Connor - October 1969 - February 1971

Lt. Gen. Fillmore K. Mearns - February 1971- March 1973

Lt. Gen. George S. Blanchard - March 1973 - June 1975

Lt. Gen. Frederick J. Kroesen - July 1975 - October 1976

Lt. Gen. David E. Ott - October 1976 - October 1978

Lt. Gen. Julius W. Becton, Jr. - October 1978 - June 1981

Lt. Gen. William J. Livsey - June 1981 - July 1983

Lt. Gen. John R. Galvin - July 1983 - February 1985

Lt. Gen. Andrew P. Chambers - February 1985 - July 1987

Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Watts - July 1987 - August 1989

Lt. Gen. Frederick M. Franks Jr. - August 1989 - June 1991

Lt. Gen. Michael F. Spigelmire - August 1991 - 1992 (Deactivation)[4]

Gulf War [edit]

VII Corps Gulf War Map.
Captured Iraqi T-72 Tank at VII Corps Cold War HQ, Kelley Barracks.

In the Gulf War, VII Corps was probably the most powerful formation of its type ever to take to the battlefield. Normally, a corps commands three divisions when at full strength, along with other units such as artillery of various types, corps-level engineers and support units. However, VII Corps had far more firepower under its command.

Its principal full strength fighting formations were U.S. 1st Armored Division, U.S. 3rd Armored Division and U.S. 1st Infantry Division. In addition, the corps had U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment to act as a scouting force, and two further heavy divisions; US 1st Cavalry Division and British 1st Armoured Division, as well as the U.S. 11th Aviation Group. Although both 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Armoured Division had only two maneuver brigades, they were still immensely powerful formations in their own right.

VII corps was originally deployed to give the CinC an offensive option if needed. In the 100 hour war they were given a force mission: To wipe out the Iraqi Republican Guards Heavy Divisions. That meant that the 1st Infantry Division had to make a forced entry to make room for the British attack on the right wing and to secure the main forces advance on the left. That attack force was led by the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment followed by the 1st Armored Division and the 3rd Armored Division. That main force was later joined by the 1st Infantry Division after they had completed their breach. That gave VII Corps commander General Frederick M. Franks, Jr. a three division strike force to confront several Iraqi Armored Divisions. After the corp had turned 90 degrees east according to FRAGPLAN 7 and after the Cavalry Regiment had fought the single sided Battle of 73 Easting the three Divisions (plus the British on the right wing) fought one of the most one sided battles in the history of the US Army.

VII Corps cut a swathe through Iraqi forces. It advanced with U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps on its left wing and Arab forces on its right wing. It pulverized all Iraqi forces that tried to stand and fight and destroyed a good proportion of the Iraqi Republican Guard divisions. A ceasefire was called before the destruction of the Republican Guard units could be completed.

VII Corps' attack cost about a hundred US and British soldiers' lives. But it destroyed several divisions including the Medina and the Tawalkna Republican Guards division along with support units. It also destroyed most of the Iraqi VII Corps that had guarded the frontline as well as other units. The attack was one of the most single sided battles in history of warfare.[citation needed] The Battle of 73 Easting was studied as a textbook armored battle in the US armored units.

Redeployment and deactivation [edit]

After the fighting was over most VII Corps units were redeployed directly to the United States for reassignment or retirement. VII Corps HQ returned to Germany and was disbanded as part of the post-Cold War American defense spending cuts. Some VII Corps units remained in Germany and were reassigned to V Corps or USAREUR. A ceremony was held in downtown Stuttgart at Schlossplatz, where the VII Corps colors were retired on March 18, 1992. (See references)

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.xixcorps.nl/Mission_Accomplished_Story_of_the_VII_Corps.htm
  2. ^ http://www.vii-corps.org/WWII/WWII.htm
  3. ^ http://www.vii-corps.org/WWII/WWII.htm
  4. ^ http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm?http&&&www.usarmygermany.com/Units/Corps/USAREUR_VIICorps.htm
  • Clancy, Tom (2007). Into The Storm: A Study in Command. Berkley Trade. 
  • Ryan, John (May 1998). Battle Command in the Storm: Lieutenant General Franks and VII Corps. School of Advanced Military Studies United States Army Command and General Staff College. 

Casey, Melanie (13 July 2004), "From Helenen Kaserne to Kelley Barracks", Stuttgart Citizen (Stuttgart, Germany): P 10

External links [edit]

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