| Lucian King Truscott, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| January 9, 1895 – November 12, 1965 (aged 70) | |
 |
|
| Place of birth | Chatfield, Texas |
| Place of death | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917 to 1947 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 13th Armored Regiment IX Corps Allied Combined Staff US Rangers VI Corps |
| Commands held | 3rd Infantry Division U.S. VI Corps (Italy, France) U.S. Fifteenth Army (Oct '44) U.S. Fifth Army (Italy) (Dec '44) U.S. Third Army (Bavaria) (Oct '45) |
| Battles/wars | World War II Dieppe Morocco Battle of Sicily Battle of Anzio |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Purple Heart |
| Other work | author |
Lucian King Truscott, Jr. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 764 - Tibetan troops occupy Chang'an, the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, for fifteen days Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Chatfield is a town in northeastern Navarro County, Texas, United States, eleven miles northeast of Corsicana. Alexandria is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star General officer rank The 3rd Infantry Division &mdashnicknamed the Rock of the Marne &mdash is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, The VI Corps took part in some of the most high profile operations in World War II. The Fifteenth United States Army was the last Field army to see service in northwest Europe during World War II and was the final command of the legendary Gen The United States Army North, formerly known as the Fifth United States Army was a field army of the United States Army. United States Army Central, formerly the Third United States Army was a field army of the United States Army. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis Operation Shingle ( January 22, 1944) during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, awarded for extreme This article concerns the United States Army Distinguished Service Medal The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving (January 9, 1895 – September 12, 1965) was a US Army General, who successively commanded the 3rd Infantry Division, VI Corps, U.S. Fifteenth Army and U.S. Fifth Army during World War II. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The 3rd Infantry Division &mdashnicknamed the Rock of the Marne &mdash is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, The VI Corps took part in some of the most high profile operations in World War II. The Fifteenth United States Army was the last Field army to see service in northwest Europe during World War II and was the final command of the legendary Gen The United States Army North, formerly known as the Fifth United States Army was a field army of the United States Army. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Contents |
Early life
Truscott was born in Chatfield, Texas, to an English father and Irish mother, and joined the Army in 1917. Chatfield is a town in northeastern Navarro County, Texas, United States, eleven miles northeast of Corsicana. After officer training, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry and served in various cavalry and staff assignments between World War I and World War II.
World War II
In 1942, then-Colonel Truscott was instrumental in developing an American commando unit patterned after the British Commando units. In Military science, the term commando can refer to an individual a Military unit, or a raiding style of military operation. The American unit was activated by newly promoted Brigadier General Truscott on June 19, 1942 as the 1st Ranger Battalion, and placed under the command of William Orlando Darby. The United States Army Rangers or simply Army Rangers are specialized elite American light infantry and Special operations troops
On November 8, 1942, as a major general, he lead the 9,000 men of the 60th Infantry and 66th Armored Regiment in the landings at Mehdia and Port Lyautey in Morocco, part of Operation Torch under General George S. Patton. The 66th Armor Regiment is the oldest Armored unit in the United States Army, tracing its lineage to the beginning of the Tank Service in February 1918 under For the town in Guyana see Mahdia Guyana. Mahdia, Arabic: المهدية (al-Mahdiya is a Tunisian Kenitra ( Arabic name القنيطرة, transliterated: Al-Qonaitirah, the little bridge) is a city in Morocco, formerly Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British - American invasion of French North Africa in World War II For the 19th century Scottish jurist/politician see George Patton Lord Glenalmond. [1]
Truscott took command of the 3rd Infantry Division in April 1943, and oversaw preparations for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky. The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis He was known as a very tough trainer, bringing the 3rd Infantry Division up to a very high standard. He led the division in the assault on Sicily in July 1943. Here his training paid off when the Division covered great distances in the mountainous terrain at high speed. The famous "Truscott trot" was a marching pace of five miles per hour over the first mile, thence four miles per hour, much faster than the usual standard of 2. 5 miles per hour. The 3rd Infantry Division was considered by many the best-trained, best-led division in the Seventh Army. In mid-September 1943, nine days after the initial Allied landings, he led the division ashore at Salerno on the Italian mainland, where it fought its way up the peninsula. The process Allied invasion of Italy, was the Allied landing on mainland Italy in September 1943 by General Harold Alexander 's 15th Army Group
In January 1944, the division assaulted Anzio as part of the U.S. VI Corps. Operation Shingle ( January 22, 1944) during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against The VI Corps took part in some of the most high profile operations in World War II. Allied forces soon became mired on the beachhead, and Truscott was given command of VI Corps, replacing the initial commander, Lieutenant General John P. Lucas, who had proved to be indecisive during the battle. John Porter "Old Luke" Lucas ( January 14, 1890 - December 24, 1949) was a General and the commander of VI Corps Truscott was succeeded in command of 3rd Infantry Division by Major General John "Iron Mike" O'Daniel. John W "Iron Mike" O'Daniel ( February 15, 1894 &ndash March 27, 1975) was a United States Army general best known for
Following Anzio, Truscott continued to command VI Corps through the fight up Italy. His command was then withdrawn from the line to prepare for Operation Dragoon, the amphibious assault on southern France. Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France, on 15 August, 1944, as part of World War II. The Corps landed on 15 August 1944 and faced relatively little opposition. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed On September 2, 1944 Truscott was promoted to Lieutenant General and in October he took command of the newly formed U.S. Fifteenth Army . The Fifteenth United States Army was the last Field army to see service in northwest Europe during World War II and was the final command of the legendary Gen
Truscott's next command came in December 1944. He was promoted to command of the U.S. Fifth Army in Italy when its commander Lieutenant General Mark Clark was made commander of 15th Army Group. The United States Army North, formerly known as the Fifth United States Army was a field army of the United States Army. Mark Wayne Clark ( May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984) was an American general during World War II and the Korean War Truscott led the Army through the hard winter of 1944–1945, where many of its formations were in exposed positions in the mountains of Italy. He then led US forces through the final destruction of the German Army in Italy.
Truscott had a very gravelly voice, said to be the result of an accidental ingestion of acid in childhood. He was superstitious about his clothing, and usually wore a leather jacket, "pink" (light khaki) pants and lucky boots in combat. He also wore a white scarf as a trademark, first during the Sicilian campaign.
Truscott once said to his son, "Let me tell you something, and don't ever forget it. You play games to win, not lose. And you fight wars to win. That's spelled W-I-N ! And every good player in a game and every good commander in a war. . . has to have some son of a bitch in him. If he doesn't, he isn't a good player or commander. . . . It's as simple as that. No son of a bitch, no commander. "
Post war
Truscott took over command of the U.S. Third Army from Gen. United States Army Central, formerly the Third United States Army was a field army of the United States Army. George S. Patton on October 8, 1945, and led it until April 1946. For the 19th century Scottish jurist/politician see George Patton Lord Glenalmond. This command included the Eastern Military District of the U. S. occupation zone of Germany, which consisted primarily of the state of Bavaria. Bavaria ( German:, with an area of 70553 Km² (27241 square miles and almost 12 When the U.S. Seventh Army was deactivated in March 1946, Truscott's Third Army took over the Western Military District (the U. The Seventh United States Army, formerly the United States Army Europe, is the land component of United States European Command. S. -occupied parts of Baden, Württemberg and Hesse-Darmstadt). Baden is a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the right bank of the Rhine. Württemberg, formerly known as Wirtemberg, is an area and a former state in Swabia, a region in southwestern Germany. The People's State of Hesse (Volksstaat Hessen was the name of the German state of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1918 until 1945
Will Lang Jr. from Life (magazine) wrote a biography on Truscott that appeared in the October 2, 1944 issue of LIFE. William John Lang Jr ( 7 October 1914 – 21 January 1968) was an American journalist and a bureau head for Life
In 1954 Truscott was promoted to the rank of general by special act of Congress (Public Law 83-508, July 19, 1954).
Decorations
General Truscott received the Army's second-highest decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross, for valor in action in Sicily on July 11, 1943, the second day of the invasion. The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, awarded for extreme General Truscott's other decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart. This article concerns the United States Army Distinguished Service Medal An oak leaf cluster or oakleaves is a common device which is placed on U The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving
Retirement
After retirement, Lucian K. Truscott Jr. was an author. General Truscott wrote Command Missions (1954 - ISBN 0891413642) and The Twilight of the U. S. Cavalry (ISBN 0700609326)
General Truscott died September 12, 1965, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Family
Lucian K. Truscott, Jr's son, Lucian K. Truscott III, fought in the Korean War as a rifle company commander. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the
His grandson, Lucian K. Truscott IV, wrote the books Dress Gray (ISBN 0385134754) Heart of War (ISBN 0451187709), Army Blue (ISBN 0747202443) and Full Dress Gray (ISBN 0006160794).
References
- ^ Atkinson, Rick. Rick Atkinson (born 1952 in Munich) is an American Journalist and Author whose contributions led to four Pulitzer Prizes Atkinson An Army at Dawn. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 111, 141-148. ISBN 0805074481
Additional information
- Short bio at Third Army website
- Bio at Navarro County, Texas website
| Preceded by George S. Patton |
Commanding General of the Third United States Army 1945 – 1946 |
Succeeded by Geoffrey Keyes |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic