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John Francis Uncles

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John Francis Uncles
Uncles as a West Point Cadet, 1922
BornSeptember 18, 1898 (1898-09-18)
Chillicothe, Missouri
DiedJanuary 20, 1967 (1967-01-21) (aged 68)
Washington, D.C.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1917–1958
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands
Battles / wars
Awards

John Francis Uncles (September 18, 1898 – January 20, 1967) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. He attained prominence as commander of the United States VII Corps.

Early life

Uncles was born on September 18, 1898 in Chillicothe, Missouri.[1][2] His family moved to Kansas City when he was six, and he was educated at St. Vincent's parochial school and De La Salle Academy, graduating with special honors in 1916 and receiving the Bishop's medal for finishing with first honors in the literary-scientific course.[3][4] After graduation, he joined the Missouri National Guard, enlisting a few days following the declaration of war for World War I.[4] Uncles was assigned to the unit which was federalized as Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, and he served in France under battery commander Harry S. Truman.[5][6][7]

  • John Francis Uncles newspaper clippings
    John Francis Uncles newspaper clippings
  • John Francis Uncles portrait
    John Francis Uncles portrait

Early military career

Chosen by Truman when unit commanders were asked after the armistice to help replenish the Army's supply of junior officers by nominating candidates from the enlisted ranks, in 1918 Uncles began attendance at the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1922 with a commission as a second lieutenant of Artillery.[8]

Uncles served in Artillery assignments of increasing responsibility and rank throughout the United States and overseas.

In 1927, he graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Course.[9] From 1930 to 1934 Uncles was an instructor at the United States Military Academy.[10][11][12]

Uncles served with the 11th Field Artillery Regiment in Hawaii from 1934 to 1937.[13]

In 1938, Uncles graduated from the Command & General Staff College, afterwards being assigned as instructor in the Department of Tactics & Communications at the Fort Sill, Oklahoma Field Artillery School, where he served until 1940.[5]

Uncles served as assistant personnel officer, G-1, in the office of the Chief of Field Artillery from 1940 to 1942.[14]

World War II

Uncles as a brigadier general during World War II.

In 1942, Uncles was assigned as assistant personnel officer, G-1, at Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, where he remained until 1943.[15][16]

Uncles was assigned to the staff of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill in 1943, and later that year, he attended the New Division Officers Course, also at Fort Sill.[13]

At the end of 1943, Uncles was assigned as commander of the 404th Field Artillery Group, serving until 1944, when he assumed command of the 34th Field Artillery Brigade, which he led in combat throughout France, Belgium and the Netherlands until the end of World War II.[13][17][18]

Post World War II

In 1945 Uncles was appointed to command the 32nd Field Artillery Brigade in Germany, serving until 1946.[5]

He served as Chief of Field Artillery in the Army’s Career Management Branch from 1946 to 1948.[19]

In 1948, Uncles became Chief of Staff of United States Constabulary in Europe, serving until 1950, when he was named commander of the 4th Infantry Division Artillery, which he led until 1951.[20]

Uncles was commander of Seventh Army Artillery from 1951 to 1952, after which he was assigned to the staff of the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4, as deputy assistant chief of staff for research and development, where he served until 1953.[21]

From 1953 to 1954 Uncles was the Army’s Chief of Research & Development.[22][23]

Uncles was appointed Chief of Staff for United States Army, Europe in 1954, and served in this assignment until 1956.[24][25][26]

In 1956 Uncles was assigned as commander of the VII Corps, serving until his 1958 retirement.[27][28][29]

Awards and decorations

Uncles’ awards included two Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.[30][31]

Retirement and death

Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

General Uncles retired in 1958, afterwards residing in Washington, D.C.[32] He died at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 1967.[33][34][35] Uncles was buried at Arlington National Cemetery Section 3, Grave 8982-C.[36]

Personal

In 1926 Uncles was married to Elizabeth Bowman Banks (1902–1999).[37][38] Their daughter Margaret U. "Marka" Huffman (1930–2009), was married to Army Major General Burnside E. Huffman (1920–2005).[39][40][41][42][43][44]

References

  1. ^ U.S. Census Entry, John F. Uncles Family, 1900.
  2. ^ Passenger Manifest, U.S.S. Dresden, arrival in New York City, August 25, 1929
  3. ^ Newspaper article, "K.C. Boy Chosen to Qualify To Enter West Point", abt 1917.
  4. ^ a b Newspaper article, "One of 6 Picked From 35th. John Francis Uncles, Private, Selected to Go to West Point."
  5. ^ a b c Magazine article, Obituary, John F. Uncles, The National Guardsman, February, 1967
  6. ^ Newspaper article, Honor Roll of Service Flag of St. Columban’s Church, Chillicothe Constitution, March 21, 1918
  7. ^ Newspaper article, Honor Former Chillicothean: John Francis Uncles to West Point, Chillicothe Constitution, December 3, 1918
  8. ^ Official U.S. Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1946, page 698
  9. ^ Official U.S. Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1956, page 862
  10. ^ Roster of Officers and Troops, United States Military Academy, published by the academy, 1931
  11. ^ Roster of Officers and Troops, United States Military Academy, published by the academy, 1932
  12. ^ Roster of Officers and Troops, United States Military Academy, published by the academy, 1935
  13. ^ a b c Life of the Soldier and the Airman, published by the U.S. Army Recruiting Publicity Bureau, May, 1955, Volumes 37-38, page 69
  14. ^ Magazine article, Stations of Field Artillery Officers: Regular Army and Reserve Officers on Duty with Regular Army, Field Artillery Journal, November–December, 1940
  15. ^ The Link magazine, published by the General Commission on Chaplains and Armed Forces Personnel , Volume 1, Numbers 1 to 8, 1943, page 10
  16. ^ Newspaper article, Given Promotion: Col. John F. Uncles to Personnel Division of Command, Chillicothe Constitution, July 2, 1942
  17. ^ Conquer: the Story of Ninth Army, 1944-1945, published by U.S. Army, reprinted 1980, page 25
  18. ^ Newspaper article, from Private to General, Chillicothe Constitution, February 23, 1967
  19. ^ Magazine article, The Field Artillery Section of the Career Management Branch, Field Artillery Journal, January–February 1948, page 18
  20. ^ Life of the Soldier and the Airman, published by the U.S. Army Recruiting Publicity Bureau, May 1955, Volumes 37-38, page 69
  21. ^ Newspaper photo caption, Party Arrives for Arsenal Tour Archived 2010-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, the Redstone (Alabama) Rocket, May 5, 1953
  22. ^ Army Organization and Administration, Special Staff Study, by James E. Hewes, Jr., published by United States Army Center of Military History, 1975, republished in 1983, Chapter 6, pages 249 to 250
  23. ^ Newspaper article, U.S. Develops Gas Weapons for Defense, International News Service, published in Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette, April 17, 1954
  24. ^ Newspaper photo caption, Gen. Uncles Appointed USAREUR Chief of Staff, Stars and Stripes, European edition, December 2, 1954
  25. ^ Chiefs of Staff page Archived 2010-01-05 at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Army Europe web site
  26. ^ Newspaper article, Army Rejects Talks On Alleged Spy Tunnel, The Hartford Courant, April 27, 1956
  27. ^ Newspaper article, Gen. Uncles Takes Over as VII Corps Chief, Stars and Stripes, European edition, August 4, 1956
  28. ^ Newspaper article, Chillicothe-born Soldier Now Heads 7th Corps in Germany, Chillicothe Constitution, November 1, 1956
  29. ^ Newspaper article, Gen. J. F. Uncles to Retire, New York Times, July 23, 1958
  30. ^ Alphabetical Index of Recipients of Major U.S. Military Awards, Military Times, Hall of Valor
  31. ^ Official U.S. Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 876
  32. ^ Newspaper article, death announcement, Uncles, Lieut. Gen. John Francis, U.S.A. (Ret.), Washington Post, January 22, 1967
  33. ^ Social Security Death Index
  34. ^ Newspaper column, Late General’s Writings Recall Old Camp Doniphan, by Paul McClung, Lawton (Oklahoma) Constitution, January 27, 1967
  35. ^ Newspaper article, Lieut. Gen. John Uncles, 68; Led Seventh Army Corps, New York Times, January 22, 1967
  36. ^ Gravesite Locator, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  37. ^ Encyclopedia of American Biography, New series, Volume 38, 1968, page 263
  38. ^ Obituary, Elizabeth Banks Uncles, Washington Post, June 4, 1999
  39. ^ Newspaper article, Troth of Miss Uncles; Vassar Student Will Be Bride of Maj Burnside Huffman, New York Times, April 9, 1950
  40. ^ Obituary, Burnside Elijah Huffman, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, October 16, 2005
  41. ^ Obituary, Margaret U. "Marka" Huffman, Columbus (Georgia) Ledger-Enquirer, October 6, 2009
  42. ^ Last Roll Call, TAPS, Supplement to Assembly Magazine, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, January–February 2006
  43. ^ Social Security Death Index entry, Burnside E. Huffman
  44. ^ Social Security Death Index entry, Margaret U. Huffman
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