Last Known Activity:
Brigadier General Truman Everett Boudinot
Born September 2, 1895 in Hamilton, Iowa
Died December 11, 1945
Second Lieutenant 1917
First Lieutenant 1917
Captain (Temporary) 1918
Captain 1920
Major 1935
Lieutenant Colonel 1940
Colonel (Aus) 1941
Brigadier General (AUS) 1944
Major General 1945 (Posthumous)
Served with 8th Cavalry Regiment 1917-19
Student, Cavalry School 1919-20
Served with Army Air Service 1922-23
Served with Signal Corps 1923-27
Served in the Philippines 1925-27
Student, Infantry School 1927-28
Student, Command & General Staff School 1936-37
Served with 13th Cavalry Regiment 1937-40
Plans & Training Officer, AFRTC, Ft. Knox 1940-42
Commanding Officer, 32nd Armored Regiment 1942-44
Commander, Combat Command "B", 3rd Armored Division 1944-45
Commanding General, 7th Armored Division 1945
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Other Comments:
BRIGADIER GENERAL
TRUMAN E. BOUDINOT
Commanding
Combat Command "B"
Brigadier General Truman Everett Boudinot, leader of Combat Command "B" in action from Normandy to the River Elbe, was famed for his firecracker temperament and competitive drive. He was a commander who knew the capabilities of both armor and infantry, having studied both throughout a long army career.
General Boudinot joined the 3rd Armored Division in March, 1942, as commanding officer of the 32nd Armored Regiment. He remained with the regiment from that time until July 15, 1944, when he assumed command of CC "B" during the pre-breakthrough phase of the Normandy fighting.
At the head of CC "B", General Boudinot planned and helped to accomplish the great breakthrough, the pursuit across France, and the storming of the Siegfried Line. He commanded the first allied units to cross Germany's border in force, on September 12, 1944, and the first to take a German town, Roetgen, since the days of Napoleon. Later, in the furious Ardennes struggle, his Combat Command "B" inflicted one of the first serious setbacks to von Rundstedf's winter offensive when, at La Gleize, Belgium, it teamed with elements of the 30th Infantry Division to cut up much of the 1st SS LEIBSTANDARDE ADOLF HITLER Panzer Division. In the subsequent return to the Rhineland area, General Boudinot entered Cologne with forward elements of the division. And, during the final drive, it was CC "B" which liberated the death camp slaves at Nordhausen after sharing in the magnificent Ruhr encirclement. His troops went on without rest to Dessau, Germany, and had thrown a bridgehead across the Mulde River when army orders halted forward action at that point.
General Boudinot was studying civil engineering at the University of California when America became involved in the first World War. He was given a direct commission and saw action with the 8th Cavalry in Mexico.
Although the general has always been a horseman, he early realized the capabilities of armored force and the value of an integrated command. In 1928 he was graduated from the Advance Infantry Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served with the air forces and is noted as an army free balloon racer. At Fort Sam Houston, Texas, while with the Signal Corps, he built the first meteorological station at Kelley Field.
After tours of duty at various American and territorial posts, the general went to Fort Knox, Kentucky, with the 13th Cavalry in 1937. Here he grew up with the armored force and had much to do with the development of this new and potent arm of service. Because of his intimate knowledge of' tanks, the general was made plans and training officer of the AFRTC, at Fort Knox, on December 20, 1940. His know-how preceded tank victories on the western front of 1944-45.
The general led his old 32nd Armored Regiment at Villiers Fossard, Normandy, in June, 1944, but was soon given command of the powerful assault force which he led to many victories throughout the five campaigns in western Europe.
General Boudinot's decorations include the Mexican Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Silver Star with three clusters, Bronze Star, Air Medal, the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre with palm. He also wears the Distinguished Unit Citation.
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