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Home Town Luray
Last Address Anniston, AL
Date of Passing Jun 11, 1979
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Born at Luray, Virginia, December 12, 1892, he graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1915. In November 1916 he was commissioned in the Infantry, receiving promotion to First Lieutenant in 1917.
In World War I he served with the 4th Div (Generals John L. Hines and George H. Cameron) in France from June 1918 into occupation period, receiving temporary rank of Major in October 1918.
He taught military science at Marion Institute, Alabama, 1919-1923 and, after attending the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1924 taught there until 1928, August of which year was promoted to Major.
He graduated from the Command & General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1930. After a tour of duty in Philippines he attended the Army War College in 1934. From 1934 to 1938 he was attached to intelligence Division of the General Staff. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September 1938, he completed the course at US Navy War College in 1940 and in January 1941 was assigned staff duty at VI Corps HQ, Providence, Rhode Island. Promoted to the temporary ranks of Colonel October 1941, Brigadier General Mar 1942, when was named assistant commander of the 93rd Infantry Division in Arizona. In July 1942 he took command of new 92nd Div (Negro) which he organized and, following its activation in October, trained in Alabama and Arizona (was given rank of temporary Major General in September 1942) until August 1944 when he took it overseas for service in Italy. The 92nd attacked the Ligurian Coast toward Massa and for months fought a seesaw battle up and down the Serchio Valley.
In April 1945 a major drive to north was spearheaded by famed 442nd Regiment (Nisei), a unit of the 92nd; La Spezia was taken, the German Gothic Line flanked, and the way to the Po Valley across the mountains opened. By the time of the German surrender on May 2, 1945 the 92nd held the coast north to Genoa.
He returned to US in August 1945 and placed in command of the 2nd Div, Camp Swift, Texas, in September and was promoted to the permanent rank of Colonel in December. In June 1946 he was transferred to Douglas MacArthur's HQ staff in Tokyo, becoming deputy Chief of Staff, Far Eastern Command, January 1947. Promoted to the permanent rank of Major General, January 1948 (dating from September 1944), he became Chief of Staff, Far East Command, February 1949. In September 1950, soon after outbreak of Korean War he was named to command the newly created X Corps, assembled from 2 skeleton divisions and assorted other elements, to execute MacArthur's plan for an amphibious assault at Inchon, midway up west coast of Korean peninsula. The landing, conducted by naval forces under Admiral Arthur D. Struble, took place on September 15. X Corps quickly took Seoul and linked up with Walton H. Walker's 8th Army pushed north, trapping some 120,000 North Korean troops. In October, X Corps moved by sea around peninsula and landed unopposed at Wonsan, on the east coast of North Korea. Incorporating Republic of Korea I Corps into his command, he pushed north and reached the Chinese border at Yalu River by November 21. Massive Chinese counterattacks from November 25 forced UN forces to withdraw, and by December 11 X Corps had concentrated in the port of Hungnam, whence it embarked for Pusan, in South Korea, a huge operation involving 105,000 troops, nearly as many refugees, and all materiel, and was incorporated into 8th Army. Reentering the line in east-central Korea, X Corps was a central anchor in UN defense and took part in a gradual advance back across 38th parallel. He was promoted to temporary Lieutenant General in February 1951, and remained in command of X Corps until July. He was then placed in command of the Army War College, a post held until he retired in January 1953.
Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Purple Heart
He lived thereafter in Anniston, Alabama, where he was an executive in an insurance company and had numerous civic interests. December 12, 1892-June 11, 1979. Buried: Jun 15, 1979 in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.
Buried with him are his son, Captain Edward Mallory Almond, Jr., who graduated from West Point in 1943 and who was killed-in-action in World War II on March 19, 1945, and his wife, Margaret Cook Almond, August 4, 1892 - June 29, 1990.
His son-in-law, Thomas T. Galloway, Major, United States Army Air Corps, was killed-in-action over France in July 1944. The Major was married to the General's daughter, Margaret.
ALMOND, EDWARD MALLORY Major General, United States Army (First Award)
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward M. Almond, Major General, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General of X Corps.
Major General Almond distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea during the period from 15 to 25 September 1950. During the seizure of Inchon, General Almond personally visited front line units, coordinated tactical efforts, and by his own fearless example aided them in seizing assigned objectives.
Following the fall of Inchon, General Almond personally led his troops in their rapid drive through enemy-held territory to seize Seoul, and to speed the disintegration of the enemy forces.
During the assault of the Han River, he moved to a forward position well beyond the line of friendly forces to observe and control the river crossing. Despite heavy enemy mortar fire directed at him, General Almond remained to supervise the air and artillery support which was protecting the first units of the Seventh Infantry Division crossing the river. Disregarding enemy mine fields and sniper fire, he proceeded to the crossing site to direct fire of amphibious tanks neutralizing enemy opposition which was impeding our crossing. By his inspirational leadership, his complete indifference to danger, and personal control of the battlefield, General Almond quickly concluded tactical operations which destroyed the enemy forces in the X Corps zone of action and saved countless lives in the forces under his command.
ALMOND, EDWARD MALLORY Lieutenant General, United States Army (Second Award)
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is presented to Edward M. Almond, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General, X Corps.
Lieutenant General Almond distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces during the massive offensive by three known Communist Armies against the X Corps, during the period from 16 through 25 May 1951.
General Almond personally directed the historic defense which contained this attack and resulted in crushing losses in enemy manpower and materiel. During this period General Almond distinguished himself by countless acts of individual heroism as well as providing the inspiration, leadership and tactical skill which contributed materially the success of this operation.
On 19 May 1951, while reconnoitering enemy positions in a light aircraft, he observed 250 enemy at a point forward of a friendly tank patrol. General Almond landed his plane by the tank column and sent the tank platoon leader in his aide's plane to observe the enemy group. While with the tank column the enemy set up a machine gun within 500 yards of his position. Without regard for hostile fire from this gun, he directed tank fire which silenced the weapon. The tank platoon went on to destroy the 250 enemy.
On 21 May 1951, General Almond made an aerial reconnaissance before a tank column operating at Soksa-ri, Korea. While flying low over this area, General Almond received intense automatic-weapons fire. Again, without regard for personal safety, he located these weapons and personally directed their destruction. Again on 25 May 1951, he made four flights in an unarmed light plane through the enemy-held mountain pass between Hangye and the Umyang bridgehead on the Seyang River. Despite intense enemy small-arms and friendly artillery fire, he returned time and again to insure proper command and liaison between friendly forces operating at both ends of the pass. These specific acts, as well as countless visits to forward-most command posts, provided the inspiration and forceful leadership essential at this critical time.
Other Comments:
ALMOND, EDWARD MALLORY LTG United States Army DATE OF BIRTH: 12/12/1892 DATE OF DEATH: 06/11/1979 BURIED AT: SECTION 2 SITE 4937-A ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Title: Major General Edward M. Almond and his aide confer with General Frank E. Lowe during Korean War.
The 2nd Division was first constituted on 21 September 1917 in the Regular Army.It was organized on 26 October 1917 at Bourmont, Haute Marne, France.
The 2nd Infantry Division is a formation of the United States Army. Its current primary mission is the pre-emptive defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea. There are approximately 17,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Division, with 10,000 of them stationed in South Korea,accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel.
The 2nd Infantry Division is unique in that it is the only U.S. Army division that is made up partially of South Korean soldiers, called KATUSAs (Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army). This program began in 1950 by agreement with the first South Korean president, Syngman Rhee. Some 27,000 KATUSAs served with the U.S. forces at the end of the Korean War. As of May 2006, approximately 1,100 KATUSA soldiers serve with the 2ID. There were also more than 4,748 Dutch soldiers assigned to the division between 1950 and 1954.
Twice during World War I the division was commanded by US Marine Corps generals, Brigadier GeneralCharles A. Doyen and Major GeneralJohn A. Lejeune (after whom the Marine Corps Camp in North Carolina is named), the only time in U.S. military history when Marine Corps officers commanded an Army division.
He organized and commanded the 5th Marine Regiment in World War I, and in France took command of the 4th Brigade, 2d Division, composed of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments and the 6th Machine Gun Battalion. from 26 October to 8 November 1917, he served as commanding general, 2nd Division (United States), the first Marine officer to command a U.S. Army division. He returned to the United States, dying of influenza during the height of the global pandemic on 6 October 1918 at Quantico, Virginia.The 4th Brigade went on to win a historic victory in Belleau Wood. Brigadier General Doyen's contribution to these victories was recognized by the posthumous award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the first to ever be awarded.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was named in his honor during World War II. Lejeune is often referred to in the present day as being the "greatest of all Leathernecks" and the "Marine's Marine."
Major General John A. Lejeune, U.S. Marine Corps, 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1920-1929)
MOH Recipient(s) Private Frank J. Bart U.S. Army, Company C, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division.
being on duty as a company runner, when the advance was held up by machinegun fire voluntarily picked up an automatic rifle, ran out ahead of the line, and silenced a hostile machinegun nest, killing the German gunners. The advance then continued, and when it was again hindered shortly afterward by another machinegun nest this courageous soldier repeated his bold exploit by putting the second machinegun out of action.
PVT Frank J. Bart
MOH Recipient(s) SFC Junior D. Edwards,U.S. Army, Company E, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
SFC Edwards, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon, while assisting in the defense of a strategic hill, was forced out of its position and came under vicious raking fire from an enemy machine gun set up on adjacent high ground, SFC Edwards individually charged the hostile emplacement, throwing grenades as he advanced. The enemy withdrew but returned to deliver devastating fire when he had expended his ammunition. Securing a fresh supply of grenades, he again charged the emplacement, neutralized the weapon and killed the crew, but was forced back by hostile small-arms fire. When the enemy emplaced another machine gun and resumed fire, SFC Edwards again renewed his supply of grenades, rushed a third time through a vicious hail of fire, silenced this second gun and annihilated its crew. In this third daring assault he was mortally wounded but his indomitable courage and successful action enabled his platoon to regain and hold the vital strongpoint. SFC Edwards' consummate valor and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the utmost glory upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the Infantry and military service.
SFC Junior D. Edwards
MOH Recipient (s) Corporal Victor H. Espinoza,U.S. Army, Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
For acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Acting Rifleman in Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Chorwon, Korea on 1 August 1952. On that day, Corporal Espinoza and his unit were responsible for securing and holding a vital enemy hill. As the friendly unit neared its objective, it was subjected to a devastating volume of enemy fire, slowing its progress. Corporal Espinoza, unhesitatingly and being fully aware of the hazards involved, left his place of comparative safety and made a deliberate one man assault on the enemy with his rifle and grenades, destroying a machinegun and killing its crew. Corporal Espinoza continued across the fire-swept terrain to an exposed vantage point where he attacked an enemy mortar position and two bunkers with grenades and rifle fire, knocking out the enemy mortar position and destroying both bunkers and killing their occupants. Upon reaching the crest, and after running out of rifle ammunition, he called for more grenades. A comrade who was behind him threw some Chinese grenades to him. Immediately upon catching them, he pulled the pins and hurled them into the occupied trenches, killing and wounding more of the enemy with their own weapons. Continuing on through a tunnel, Corporal Espinoza made a daring charge, inflicting at least seven more casualties upon the enemy who were fast retreating into the tunnel. Corporal Espinoza was quickly in pursuit, but the hostile fire from the opening prevented him from overtaking the retreating enemy. As a result, Corporal Espinoza destroyed the tunnel with TNT, called for more grenades from his company, and hurled them at the enemy troops until they were out of reach. Corporal Espinoza's incredible display of valor secured the vital strong point and took a heavy toll on the enemy, resulting in at least fourteen dead and eleven wounded. Corporal Espinoza's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.