Lunsford E. Oliver: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|United States Army general}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} |
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{{Infobox military person |
{{Infobox military person |
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|name=Lunsford Errett Oliver |
|name=Lunsford Errett Oliver |
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|birth_date= |
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1889|03|17}} |
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|death_date= |
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1978|10|13|1889|03|17}} |
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|birth_place=[[Nemaha, Nebraska]], [[United States]] |
|birth_place=[[Nemaha, Nebraska]], [[United States]] |
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|death_place=[[Newington, Connecticut]], United States |
|death_place=[[Newington, Connecticut]], United States |
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|placeofburial=[[West Point |
|placeofburial=[[West Point Cemetery]] |
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|placeofburial_label= |
|placeofburial_label= |
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|image=Lunsford E. Oliver.jpg |
|image=Lunsford E. Oliver.jpg |
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|rank=[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] |
|rank=[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] |
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|servicenumber=0-3536 |
|servicenumber=0-3536 |
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|commands=[[5th Armored Division (United States)|5th Armored Division]] |
|commands=[[2nd Engineer Battalion (United States)|2nd Engineer Battalion]]<br />[[36th Engineer Battalion (United States)|36th Engineer Battalion]]<br />[[29th Engineer Battalion (United States)|29th Engineer Battalion]]<br />[[5th Armored Division (United States)|5th Armored Division]] |
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|unit=[[File:United States Army Corps of Engineers logo.svg|25px]] [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] |
|unit=[[File:United States Army Corps of Engineers logo.svg|25px]] [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] |
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|battles=[[Pancho Villa Expedition]]<br>[[World War I]]<br>[[World War II]] |
|battles=[[Pancho Villa Expedition]]<br />[[World War I]]<br />[[World War II]] |
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|awards=[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)<br>[[Legion of Merit]] (2)<br>[[Silver Star]]<br>[[Bronze Star]] (3) |
|awards=[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)<br />[[Legion of Merit]] (2)<br />[[Silver Star]]<br />[[Bronze Star]] (3) |
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|laterwork= |
|laterwork= |
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}} |
}} |
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[[Major general (United States)|Major General]] '''Lunsford Errett Oliver''' (March 17, 1889 – October 13, 1978) was a senior [[United States Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]], who commanded the [[5th Armored Division (United States)|5th Armored Division]] during [[World War II]]. |
[[Major general (United States)|Major General]] '''Lunsford Errett Oliver''' (March 17, 1889 – October 13, 1978) was a senior [[United States Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]], who commanded the [[5th Armored Division (United States)|5th Armored Division]] during [[World War II]]. |
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==Biography== |
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[[File:Lunsford Errett Oliver (1889–1978) at West Point in 1913.png|thumb|left|150px|At West Point in 1913]] |
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⚫ | Lunsford Errett Oliver was born on March 17, 1889 in [[Nemaha, Nebraska]], the son of Thomas Jefferson Oliver and Mary Lorraine Evans.<ref>http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/a/h/Rebecca-Dickson-Rahn/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0866.html</ref> In 1909 he attended the [[United States Military Academy]] (USMA) at [[West Point, New York]] and graduated on June 12, 1913. Subsequently he was commissioned into the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] of the [[United States Army]] as a [[second lieutenant]].<ref>http://unithistories.com/ |
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⚫ | Lunsford Errett Oliver was born on March 17, 1889, in [[Nemaha, Nebraska]], the son of Thomas Jefferson Oliver and Mary Lorraine Evans.<ref>http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/a/h/Rebecca-Dickson-Rahn/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0866.html {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=September 2022}}</ref> In 1909 he attended the [[United States Military Academy]] (USMA) at [[West Point, New York]], and graduated on June 12, 1913. Subsequently he was commissioned into the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] of the [[United States Army]] as a [[second lieutenant]].<ref name=unithistories>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_O01.html |title=US Army Officer 1939–1945 |publisher=World War II Unit Histories & Officers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109123945/http://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_O01.html |archive-date=2014-11-09 |url-status=dead |access-date=2022-08-28}}</ref> Like he, many of his West Point classmates later became [[general officer]]s, including [[Alexander Patch]], [[Paul Newgarden]], [[William R. Schmidt]], [[Robert L. Spragins]], [[Louis A. Craig]], [[Geoffrey Keyes]], [[Selby H. Frank]], [[Henry Balding Lewis]], [[John E. McMahon, Jr. (military)|John E. McMahon, Jr.]], [[Carlos Brewer]], [[Richard U. Nicholas]], [[Douglass T. Greene]], [[Robert H. Van Volkenburgh]], [[Willis D. Crittenberger]], [[Robert M. Perkins]], [[Howard C. Davidson]], [[Dennis E. McCunniff]], [[William A. McCulloch]], [[Francis K. Newcomer]], [[Charles H. Corlett]], [[Henry B. Cheadle]], [[Lawrence B. Weeks]], [[Junius Wallace Jones]] and [[William L. Roberts]]. |
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⚫ | Oliver's first assignment was at [[Fort Brown]], [[Texas]] on border patrol duty as a supply officer during the [[Pancho Villa Expedition]]. He was appointed to the [[U.S. Army Engineer School]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] for further military education and graduated on March 31, 1916. He then served with the [[1st Engineer Battalion (United States)|1st Engineer Battalion]] at [[Washington Barracks]], before he was transferred to [[Fort Oglethorpe (Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia)|Fort Oglethorpe]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. Oliver stayed on active service during [[World War I]], organizing and training railway engineer battalions. He did not, however, serve overseas during the war and remained in the United States. |
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⚫ | Oliver's first assignment was at [[Fort Brown]], [[Texas]], on border patrol duty as a supply officer during the [[Pancho Villa Expedition]]. He was appointed to the [[U.S. Army Engineer School]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], for further military education and graduated on March 31, 1916. He then served with the [[1st Engineer Battalion (United States)|1st Engineer Battalion]] at [[Washington Barracks]], before he was transferred to [[Fort Oglethorpe (Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia)|Fort Oglethorpe]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. Oliver stayed on active service during [[World War I]], organizing and training railway engineer battalions. He did not, however, serve overseas during the war and remained in the United States, where he briefly commanded the [[2nd Engineer Battalion (United States)|2nd Engineer Battalion]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5c_3P3ZjWUC&dq=general+paul+william+baade+battalion&pg=PA267|title=The U.S. Army and World War II: Selected Papers from the Army's Commemorative Conferences|isbn=9780160495892|last1=Bellafaire|first1=Judith|year=1998|publisher=Center of Military History, United States Army }}</ref> |
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⚫ | After the war, he contributed to the [[Flood Control Act of 1928#Section 1: Mississippi River Valley project|Mississippi River Flood Control Project]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Paths of Armor: The Fifth Armored Division in World War II|year=1950|publisher=The Battery Press|location=Nashville|isbn=0-89839-084-2|pages=15}}</ref> and then between years 1924–1927 served as an engineer in [[Alaska Road Commission]], which was responsible for the construction of many important Alaska highways. In 1928, he attended the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College|U.S. Army Command and General Staff School]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]] for further military education. |
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⚫ | During the years 1933–1937, Oliver served as an District Engineer in [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]] and in 1938, he attended the [[United States Army War College|U.S. Army War College]] in [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]].<ref>http://www.generals.dk/general/Oliver/Lunsford_Errett/USA.html</ref> After his War College studies, Oliver was assigned as an instructor to the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served in this capacity until 1940, when he was assigned as the Armored Force Engineer at [[Fort Knox]], [[Kentucky]]. While there, Oliver, now promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]], initiated the research that led to the development of the [[Pontoon bridge|steel treadway bridge]]. |
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⚫ | After the war, he contributed to the [[Flood Control Act of 1928#Section 1: Mississippi River Valley project|Mississippi River Flood Control Project]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Paths of Armor: The Fifth Armored Division in World War II|year=1950|publisher=The Battery Press|location=Nashville|isbn=0-89839-084-2|pages=15}}</ref> and then between years 1924–1927 served as an engineer in [[Alaska Road Commission]], which was responsible for the construction of many important Alaska highways. In 1928, he attended the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College|U.S. Army Command and General Staff School]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]], for further military education. |
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⚫ | During the years 1933–1937, Oliver served as an District Engineer in [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]], and in 1938, he attended the [[United States Army War College|U.S. Army War College]] in [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Oliver/Lunsford_Errett/USA.html|title = Biography of Major-General Lunsford Errett Oliver (1889 – 1978), USA}}</ref> After his War College studies, Oliver was assigned as an instructor to the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served in this capacity until 1940, when he was assigned as the Armored Force Engineer at [[Fort Knox]], [[Kentucky]]. While there, Oliver, now promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]], initiated the research that led to the development of the [[Pontoon bridge|steel treadway bridge]]. |
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⚫ | Oliver was assigned to the [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]] in January 1942, a month after the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] and the subsequent American entry into [[World War II]], to assume command of [[Combat command|Combat Command 'B']] (CCB), then promoted to the [[one-star rank|one-star]] [[general officer]] rank of [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on February 16, 1942. The division deployed to [[Northern Ireland]] on May 6, 1942 to train for eventual operations in [[French North Africa]]. |
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⚫ | In September, Oliver went to [[London]], [[England]] to assist in the planning for [[Operation Torch]] ([[Allies of World War II|Allied]] invasion of North Africa). Oliver was promoted to the [[two-star rank]] of [[Major general (United States)|major general]] on November 20, 1942,<ref |
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⚫ | Oliver was assigned to the [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]] in January 1942, a month after the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] and the subsequent American entry into [[World War II]], to assume command of [[Combat command|Combat Command 'B']] (CCB), then promoted to the [[one-star rank|one-star]] [[general officer]] rank of [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on February 16, 1942. The division deployed to [[Northern Ireland]] on May 6, 1942, to train for eventual operations in [[French North Africa]]. |
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⚫ | In September, Oliver went to [[London]], [[England]] to assist in the planning for [[Operation Torch]] ([[Allies of World War II|Allied]] invasion of North Africa). Oliver was promoted to the [[two-star rank]] of [[Major general (United States)|major general]] on November 20, 1942,<ref name=unithistories/> then CCB under his command landed successfully near the city of [[Oran]] on November 8, 1942, and started to advance toward the Tafaraoui airfield, occupying it with little resistance that same day. He was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=100335|title=Lunsford Oliver - Recipient -}}</ref> CCB encountered its first major enemy resistance at [[Medjez el Bab|Medjez-el-bab]], [[Tunisia]] where they fought for fours days starting on December 6, 1942. |
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⚫ | Oliver returned to the United States and was appointed commander of the [[5th Armored Division (United States)|5th Armored Division]], where he succeeded Brigadier General [[Sereno E. Brett]] at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base|Camp Cooke]] in early 1943. Oliver led the division throughout the remainder of the war, including training in the [[Mojave Desert]] near [[Needles, California]] through March 1943, the Tennessee Maneuvers through the Summer, and final validation and reorganization of the division at [[Fort Drum|Pine Camp]] (Now Fort Drum, New York) through the winter into early 1944. |
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⚫ | Oliver returned to the United States and was appointed commander of the [[5th Armored Division (United States)|5th Armored Division]], where he succeeded Brigadier General [[Sereno E. Brett]] at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base|Camp Cooke]] in early 1943. Oliver led the division throughout the remainder of the war, including training in the [[Mojave Desert]] near [[Needles, California]], through March 1943, the Tennessee Maneuvers through the Summer, and final validation and reorganization of the division at [[Fort Drum|Pine Camp]] (Now Fort Drum, New York) through the winter into early 1944. |
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⚫ | Oliver led the division on two ships to England, arriving on February 24, 1944, in preparation for the Allied [[invasion of Normandy]]. The division served on the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]] starting with landing on [[Utah Beach]] on July 26, 1944 until [[Victory in Europe Day]] on May 8, 1945 and after. The 5th Armored Division, under Major General Oliver's command, was the first division to reach the [[Seine|Seine River]], the first division to reach [[Luxembourg]], the first division to fight in Germany, and when halted by orders from the [[Ninth United States Army|U.S. Ninth Army]], the division sat 45 miles from [[Berlin]], closer than any other American division.<ref>{{cite book|title=Paths of Armor: The Fifth Armored Division in World War II|year=1950|publisher=The Battery Press|location=Nashville|isbn=0-89839-084-2}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Oliver led the division on two ships to England, arriving on February 24, 1944, in preparation for the Allied [[Operation Overlord|invasion of Normandy]]. The division served on the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]] starting with landing on [[Utah Beach]] on July 26, 1944, until [[Victory in Europe Day]] on May 8, 1945, and after. The 5th Armored Division, under Major General Oliver's command, was the first division to reach the [[Seine|Seine River]], the first division to reach [[Luxembourg]], the first division to fight in Germany, and when halted by orders from the [[Ninth United States Army|U.S. Ninth Army]], the division sat 45 miles from [[Berlin]], closer than any other American division.<ref>{{cite book|title=Paths of Armor: The Fifth Armored Division in World War II|year=1950|publisher=The Battery Press|location=Nashville|isbn=0-89839-084-2}}</ref> |
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⚫ | A street in [[Luxembourg City]] is named in honour of Major General Oliver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rue+G%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral+Major+Lunsford+%C3%89.+Oliver,+2225+Luxembourg/@49.607943,6.0975283,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47954935d118c97d:0x933aa026c44c3692!8m2!3d49.607943!4d6.099717|title=Rue Général Major Lunsford É. Oliver|website=Rue Général Major Lunsford É. Oliver|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref> |
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⚫ | A street in [[Luxembourg City]] is named in honour of Major General Lunsford E. Oliver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rue+G%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral+Major+Lunsford+%C3%89.+Oliver,+2225+Luxembourg/@49.607943,6.0975283,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47954935d118c97d:0x933aa026c44c3692!8m2!3d49.607943!4d6.099717|title=Rue Général Major Lunsford É. Oliver|website=Rue Général Major Lunsford É. Oliver|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref> |
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He died in [[Newington, Connecticut]], on October 13, 1978, and was buried at [[West Point Cemetery]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108461961/lunsford-e-oliver/ |title=Lunsford E. Oliver |newspaper=[[Daily Hampshire Gazette]] |location=Easthampton |page=7 |date=1978-10-16 |access-date=2022-08-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |
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==Decorations== |
==Decorations== |
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Major General Lunsford E. Oliver's ribbon bar: |
Major General Lunsford E. Oliver's ribbon bar: |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|colspan="14"|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] with [[Oak Leaf Cluster]] |
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!2nd Row |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Silver Star]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]] with [[Oak leaf cluster|Oak Leaf Cluster]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Bronze Star]] with two Oak Leaf Clusters |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Mexican Border Service Medal]] |
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!3rd Row |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Army of Occupation of Germany Medal]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[American Defense Service Medal]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[American Campaign Medal]] |
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!4th Row |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with eight service stars and [[Arrowhead device]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Army of Occupation Medal]] |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Honour|Officer of the Legion of Honour]] (France) |
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!5th Row |
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|colspan="4"|[[Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)|French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm]] |
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|colspan="4"|[[Order of Orange-Nassau|Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] ([[Netherlands]]) |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Order of the Oak Crown|Grand Officer of Order of the Oak Crown]] ([[Luxembourg]]) |
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|colspan="4 |
|colspan="4"|[[Order of Abdon Calderón|Order of Abdon Calderón, First Class]] ([[Ecuador]]) |
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</center> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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*[https://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_O01.html#Oliver_LE United States Army Officers 1939–1945] |
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*[https://www.generals.dk/general/Oliver/Lunsford_Errett/USA.html Generals of World War II] |
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{{s-bef|before=[[ |
{{s-bef|before=[[Jack W. Heard]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[5th Armored Division (United States)|Commanding General 5th Armored Division]]|years=1943–1945}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[5th Armored Division (United States)|Commanding General 5th Armored Division]]|years=1943–1945}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Morrill Ross]]}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Lunsford}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Lunsford E.}} |
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[[Category:1889 births]] |
[[Category:1889 births]] |
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[[Category:1978 deaths]] |
[[Category:1978 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Military personnel from Omaha, Nebraska]] |
[[Category:Military personnel from Omaha, Nebraska]] |
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[[Category:United States Army generals]] |
[[Category:United States Army generals]] |
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[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]] |
[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]] |
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[[Category:United States Army War College alumni]] |
[[Category:United States Army War College alumni]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]] |
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]] |
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]] |
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)]] |
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)]] |
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[[Category:Grand Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] |
[[Category:Grand Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] |
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[[Category:Grand Officers of the Order of the Oak Crown]] |
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[[Category:People from Nemaha County, Nebraska]] |
[[Category:People from Nemaha County, Nebraska]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]] |
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[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College faculty]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:15, 8 February 2024
Lunsford Errett Oliver | |
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Nickname(s) | "Bug" |
Born | Nemaha, Nebraska, United States | March 17, 1889
Died | October 13, 1978 Newington, Connecticut, United States | (aged 89)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1913–1948 |
Rank | Major General |
Service number | 0-3536 |
Unit | Corps of Engineers |
Commands | 2nd Engineer Battalion 36th Engineer Battalion 29th Engineer Battalion 5th Armored Division |
Battles/wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II |
Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Silver Star Bronze Star (3) |
Major General Lunsford Errett Oliver (March 17, 1889 – October 13, 1978) was a senior United States Army officer, who commanded the 5th Armored Division during World War II.
Early life and military career
[edit]Lunsford Errett Oliver was born on March 17, 1889, in Nemaha, Nebraska, the son of Thomas Jefferson Oliver and Mary Lorraine Evans.[1] In 1909 he attended the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, and graduated on June 12, 1913. Subsequently he was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army as a second lieutenant.[2] Like he, many of his West Point classmates later became general officers, including Alexander Patch, Paul Newgarden, William R. Schmidt, Robert L. Spragins, Louis A. Craig, Geoffrey Keyes, Selby H. Frank, Henry Balding Lewis, John E. McMahon, Jr., Carlos Brewer, Richard U. Nicholas, Douglass T. Greene, Robert H. Van Volkenburgh, Willis D. Crittenberger, Robert M. Perkins, Howard C. Davidson, Dennis E. McCunniff, William A. McCulloch, Francis K. Newcomer, Charles H. Corlett, Henry B. Cheadle, Lawrence B. Weeks, Junius Wallace Jones and William L. Roberts.
Oliver's first assignment was at Fort Brown, Texas, on border patrol duty as a supply officer during the Pancho Villa Expedition. He was appointed to the U.S. Army Engineer School in Washington, D.C., for further military education and graduated on March 31, 1916. He then served with the 1st Engineer Battalion at Washington Barracks, before he was transferred to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Oliver stayed on active service during World War I, organizing and training railway engineer battalions. He did not, however, serve overseas during the war and remained in the United States, where he briefly commanded the 2nd Engineer Battalion.[3]
Between the wars
[edit]After the war, he contributed to the Mississippi River Flood Control Project.[4] and then between years 1924–1927 served as an engineer in Alaska Road Commission, which was responsible for the construction of many important Alaska highways. In 1928, he attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for further military education.
During the years 1933–1937, Oliver served as an District Engineer in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and in 1938, he attended the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.[5] After his War College studies, Oliver was assigned as an instructor to the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served in this capacity until 1940, when he was assigned as the Armored Force Engineer at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While there, Oliver, now promoted to colonel, initiated the research that led to the development of the steel treadway bridge.
World War II
[edit]Oliver was assigned to the 1st Armored Division in January 1942, a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent American entry into World War II, to assume command of Combat Command 'B' (CCB), then promoted to the one-star general officer rank of brigadier general on February 16, 1942. The division deployed to Northern Ireland on May 6, 1942, to train for eventual operations in French North Africa.
In September, Oliver went to London, England to assist in the planning for Operation Torch (Allied invasion of North Africa). Oliver was promoted to the two-star rank of major general on November 20, 1942,[2] then CCB under his command landed successfully near the city of Oran on November 8, 1942, and started to advance toward the Tafaraoui airfield, occupying it with little resistance that same day. He was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal.[6] CCB encountered its first major enemy resistance at Medjez-el-bab, Tunisia where they fought for fours days starting on December 6, 1942.
Oliver returned to the United States and was appointed commander of the 5th Armored Division, where he succeeded Brigadier General Sereno E. Brett at Camp Cooke in early 1943. Oliver led the division throughout the remainder of the war, including training in the Mojave Desert near Needles, California, through March 1943, the Tennessee Maneuvers through the Summer, and final validation and reorganization of the division at Pine Camp (Now Fort Drum, New York) through the winter into early 1944.
Oliver led the division on two ships to England, arriving on February 24, 1944, in preparation for the Allied invasion of Normandy. The division served on the Western Front starting with landing on Utah Beach on July 26, 1944, until Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, and after. The 5th Armored Division, under Major General Oliver's command, was the first division to reach the Seine River, the first division to reach Luxembourg, the first division to fight in Germany, and when halted by orders from the U.S. Ninth Army, the division sat 45 miles from Berlin, closer than any other American division.[7]
A street in Luxembourg City is named in honour of Major General Lunsford E. Oliver.[8]
He died in Newington, Connecticut, on October 13, 1978, and was buried at West Point Cemetery.[9]
Decorations
[edit]Major General Lunsford E. Oliver's ribbon bar:
References
[edit]- ^ http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/a/h/Rebecca-Dickson-Rahn/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0866.html [user-generated source]
- ^ a b "US Army Officer 1939–1945". World War II Unit Histories & Officers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
- ^ Bellafaire, Judith (1998). The U.S. Army and World War II: Selected Papers from the Army's Commemorative Conferences. Center of Military History, United States Army. ISBN 9780160495892.
- ^ Paths of Armor: The Fifth Armored Division in World War II. Nashville: The Battery Press. 1950. p. 15. ISBN 0-89839-084-2.
- ^ "Biography of Major-General Lunsford Errett Oliver (1889 – 1978), USA".
- ^ "Lunsford Oliver - Recipient -".
- ^ Paths of Armor: The Fifth Armored Division in World War II. Nashville: The Battery Press. 1950. ISBN 0-89839-084-2.
- ^ "Rue Général Major Lunsford É. Oliver". Rue Général Major Lunsford É. Oliver. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ "Lunsford E. Oliver". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Easthampton. October 16, 1978. p. 7. Retrieved August 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]- 1889 births
- 1978 deaths
- United States Army Corps of Engineers personnel
- Military personnel from Omaha, Nebraska
- United States Army generals
- United States Military Academy alumni
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- United States Army War College alumni
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Officers of the Legion of Honour
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
- Grand Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- People from Nemaha County, Nebraska
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- United States Army generals of World War II
- United States Army Command and General Staff College faculty
- Burials at West Point Cemetery