Thomas Leonard Harrold

Thomas Leonard Harrold

Harrold as Commandant of the National War College
Born (1902-06-21)June 21, 1902
San Diego, California
Died June 16, 1973(1973-06-16) (aged 70)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1925-1961
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards

Thomas Leonard Harrold (June 21, 1902 – June 16, 1973) was a United States Army Lieutenant General. He was commander of the 9th Armored Division, U.S. Army Armor School, 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, III Corps, and U.S. Army Caribbean. From 1958 to 1961 he served as commandant of the National War College.

Early life

Harrold was born in San Diego, California on June 21, 1902. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1925 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry.[1]

Early career

From 1926 to 1927 Harrold was the adjutant for the 7th Cavalry Regiment.[2]

He graduated from the Cavalry Officers Course in 1930.[3]

Harrold served as an instructor at West Point in the early 1930s.[4]

In the early 1940s Harrold was in charge of Army recruiting for the area that included Connecticut.[5]

In 1942 Harrold graduated from the Command and the General Staff College.[6]

World War II

During World War II Harrold commanded Combat Command A, 9th Armored Division, serving from August 27, 1944 to May 3, 1945.[7] Harrold led his command during combat in Europe, including a key role in repelling the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge.[8][9][10]

Harrold commanded the 9th Armored Division from 1945 to 1946.[11][12]

Post World War II

From 1946 to 1947 Harrold served as commander of the 3rd Constabulary Brigade in West Germany.[13][14]

Harrold served as Director of Civil Affairs for the U.S. Army European Command from 1947 to 1949.[15][16]

From 1949 to 1951 Harrold served as commander of the U.S. Army Armor School and Fort Knox.[17][18][19][20]

Korean War

Harrold as commander of the 1st Cavalry Division

Harrold briefly served as deputy commander of I Corps in 1951, but was soon transferred to commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. He served from July, 1951 to March, 1952, receiving promotion to Major General and leading the division during the Korean War.[21][22] Harrold commanded the division during its stationing at Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan, where it carried out combat training, electronic surveillance and defense of Japan from potential attacks by the Soviet Union or China.[23]

Post Korean War

From February, 1953 to June, 1954 Harrold was commander of the 10th Mountain Division.[24]

Harrold commanded the 8th Infantry Division from August to November, 1954.[25][26]

General Harrold served as commander of the III Corps at Fort Hood from 1954 to 1956[27][28][29][30][31]

From 1956 to 1958 Harrold served as commander of the U.S. Army Caribbean.[32][33][34]

Harrold was Commandant of the National War College from 1958 until his 1961 retirement.[35]

Awards and decorations

General Harrold's decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Silver Star (two awards), Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal (three awards).[36][37]

Retirement and death

In retirement General Harrold resided at Fort Lauderdale, Florida,[38] where he died on June 16, 1973.[39] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2 Site E-508.[40]

Personal

General Harrold was married to Emily Draper of Troy, New York. They had one child, Sally, who was born in 1937.[41][42][43]

External Resources

Find A Grave page, Thomas L. Harrold, accessed April 16, 2011

References

  1. ↑ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1949, page 228
  2. ↑ [Skirmish -- Red, White and Blue: The History of the 7th U.S. Cavalry, 1945-1953], by Edward L. Daily, 1992, page 114
  3. ↑ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1946, page 298
  4. ↑ Official Register of the Officers and Cadets, United States Military Academy, published by the academy, 1934, page 12
  5. ↑ Newspaper article, Local Stampede For Enlistment Surpasses 1917, Hartford Courant, December 10, 1941
  6. ↑ Armed Forces Journal International, published by Army and Navy Journal, Inc., Volume 80, Issues 27-52, 1943, page 1443
  7. ↑ List of Commanders and Staff, 9th Armored Division Order of Battle of the United States Army in World War II, European Theater of Operations, published by the Theater Historian, 1945, page 498
  8. ↑ The Bitter Woods, by John S.D. Eisenhower, 1995, page 211
  9. ↑ A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge, by Charles B. MacDonald, 1997, page 356
  10. ↑ Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945, by Trevor Nevitt Dupuy, David L. Bongard, Richard C. Anderson (Jr.), and Richard Claire Anderson, 1994, page 129
  11. ↑ Newspaper article, Edward F. Brandt Awarded Bronze Star Medal, Titonka (Iowa) Topic, September 20, 1945
  12. ↑ New York State Journal of Medicine, published by the Medical Society of the State of New York, 1945, Volume 45, Issues 13-24, page 2234
  13. ↑ Newspaper article, 55 Are Taken Into Custody At Stuttgart, by Richard O'regan], Associated press, published in Schenectady Gazette, October 22, 1946
  14. ↑ Through Mobility We Conquer: The Mechanization of U.S. Cavalry, George F. Hofmann, 2006, page 425
  15. ↑ Armed Forces Journal International, published by Army and Navy Journal, Inc., 1947, Volume 84, Issues 27-52, page 1286
  16. ↑ Information Bulletin, published by U.S. Office of Military Government, Provisional Office of Administration, 1949, Volumes 152-169, page 19
  17. ↑ Newspaper article, Today's Soldier is Treated as a Human Being, by Ed Creagh, Associated Press, published in St. Petersburg Times, October 10, 1950
  18. ↑ General Harrold Hints At Deadly New Weapon, Baltimore Sun, September 6, 1950
  19. ↑ Newspaper article, Battle Tested Old Sarge Gives Recruits Briefings on Tanks, by Ed Creagh, Associated Press, published in Spokane Daily Chronicle, October 11, 1950
  20. ↑ Newspaper article, Give Them Firepower! How Will Our Tanks Fare In An All-Out War?, by A.A. Hoehling, Los Angeles Times, September 24, 1950
  21. ↑ Former Leaders, 1st Cavalry Division, published by Fort Hood, Texas Public Affairs Officer, 2010, accessed April 16, 2011
  22. ↑ From Pusan to Panmunjom, by Paik Sun Yup, 1999, page 131
  23. ↑ 1st Cavalry Division: A Spur Ride Through the 20th Century from Horses to the Digital Battlefield, by Turner Publishing Company, 2003, page 59
  24. ↑ List of Division Commanders, 10th Mountain Division Organization published by 10th Mountain Division Veterans Association, undated (after 2007), accessed April 16, 2011
  25. ↑ Newspaper article, 10th Division Head Gets Command at Fort Riley, New York Times, August 16, 1954
  26. ↑ Newspaper article, Gen. Gay Assigned; He Will Command 5th Army Based at Chicago, New York Times, September 10, 1954
  27. ↑ Newspaper article, Gen. Harrold to Command Ft. Hood, Pampa Daily News, September 12, 1954
  28. ↑ Newspaper article, Ike Will Not Order War, 11,000 Troops to Train Here, Galveston Daily News, April 5, 1956
  29. ↑ Newspaper photo caption, Poage Visits Hood, Waco News-Tribune, October 7, 1955
  30. ↑ Newspaper article, Harrold Gets New Post, Pacific Stars and Stripes, April 16, 1956
  31. ↑ Newspaper article, Harrold Leaves For Caribbean, Gatesville Messenger And Star Forum, June 8, 1956
  32. ↑ Newspaper article, LaGuardia Gives Leave for Troops, Montreal Gazette, December 24, 1957
  33. ↑ The American Legion Magazine, published by American Legion, Volumes 62-63, 1957, page 49
  34. ↑ Army, Navy, and Air Force Journal, published by Army and Navy Journal Inc. Volume 95, Issues 1-26, 1957, page 693
  35. ↑ List of Commandants, National War College Alumni Association web site, accessed April 16, 2011
  36. ↑ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 362
  37. ↑ List of Recipients of Major Military Awards, Hall of Valor web site, published by Military Times, accessed April 16, 2011
  38. ↑ Social Security Death Index
  39. ↑ Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
  40. ↑ Thomas L. Harrold entry, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator
  41. ↑ Newspaper article, General Harrold, Family Going to Live in Germany, Troy Times-Record, May 1, 1946
  42. ↑ Newspaper photo caption, Another Star, Troy Record, October 4, 1951
  43. ↑ American men in government: a biographical dictionary and directory of Federal officials, by Jerome M. Rosow, 1949, page 173
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/15/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.