Edward Almond

Edward Mallory Almond (December 12, 1892 – June 11, 1979) was a senior United States Army officer who fought in World War I, World War II, where he commanded the 92nd Infantry Division, and the Korean War, where he commanded the U.S. X Corps.

Early life and education

Edward Mallory Almond was born on December 12, 1892, in Luray, Virginia. He was the first son of Walter, a farm equipment salesman, and Grace Popham Almond. Another boy, Malcolm, joined the family in 1895, as did a sister, Judy, in 1897. Young Almond, nicknamed "Ned" by his family, grew up being told stories by his paternal grandmother about the American Civil War. Almond's maternal grandfather, Thomas Popham, along with his great-uncle, William Barton Mallory, had both served in the Confederate Army during the war.

In Almond’s youth there were still many veterans of the Civil War all over Virginia. Almond stated in later life that neither his grandparents nor the older people who had been involved spoke much about the conflict. He did note, however, that there seemed to be an undertone of bitterness for having lost the war.

Of his early years, Michael E. Lynch states:

Always interested in the military, determined to be a professional soldier, and inspired throughout his life by the words of Stonewall Jackson's, "You may be whatever you resolve to be",

Almond graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in June 1915. He graduated third in a class of sixty-five cadets. He was later commissioned as a first lieutenant in the United States Army on 30 November 1916. The United States entered World War I soon afterwards, in April 1917.

World War I

Almond served in France during the latter stages of the war, ending it as a major. He fought in the Meuse–Argonne offensive of late 1918 as the commander of the 12th Machine Gun Battalion of the 4th Division, commanded then by Major General George H. Cameron. During his service in France, he was wounded in action and received a Silver Star Citation (later upgraded to the Silver Star decoration). he attended the Army War College, Air Corps Tactical School, and finally the Naval War College, from which he graduated in 1940. Almond was then assigned to staff duty at VI Corps HQ, Providence, Rhode Island, receiving a promotion to the temporary rank of colonel on October 14, 1941.—and went on to advise the Army against ever again using African-Americans as combat troops. Almond told confidants that the division's poor combat record had cheated him of higher command.

Occupation duty in Japan

In 1946, Almond was transferred to Tokyo as chief of personnel at General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters, normally a dead-end job. Almond very effectively handled the sizable challenge of staffing the occupation forces in Japan as American forces rapidly demobilized, standing out among MacArthur's lackluster staff. Having won MacArthur's confidence as capable and loyal, Almond was the logical choice to become Chief of Staff in January 1949, when the incumbent, Paul J. Mueller, rotated home. The invasion succeeded, but Almond did not pursue effectively and most of the routed North Korean Army escaped northwards.

During this time, Major General O. P. Smith,

Future general and secretary of state Alexander Haig served as aide-de-camp to Almond in the Korean War.

Post Korea

thumb|The grave of Lieutenant General Edward Almond at [[Arlington National Cemetery.]]

In July 1951, Almond was reassigned and became commandant of the United States Army War College.

He retired from the Army on 31 January 1953 and worked as an insurance executive.

In 1956, Almond was a delegate to a pro-segregationist conference where Chief Justice Earl Warren, who wrote the majority opinion for Brown v. Board of Education, was proclaimed an enemy of the United States. Speakers at the conference claimed that the country was facing a "Marxist-Zionist" takeover and equated desegregation to communism.

General Almond died in 1979, aged 86. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, near his son, Edward Mallory Almond Jr., a captain in the 157th Infantry Regiment, killed in action on March 19, 1945, in France.

Orders, decorations and medals

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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|colspan="4"|Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster

|Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

|Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster

|Legion of Merit

|Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

|Bronze Star with "V" device and Oak Leaf Cluster

|Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters

|Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

|Purple Heart

|Mexican Border Service Medal

|World War I Victory Medal

|Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

|American Defense Service Medal

|American Campaign Medal

|European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ 3 Campaign Stars

|World War II Victory Medal

|Army of Occupation Medal with "Japan" Clasp

|National Defense Service Medal

|Korean Service Medal with 4 Campaign Stars

|Order of Abdon Calderón 1st Class (Ecuador)

|Order of Solomon (Ethiopian Empire)

|Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom)

|Commander, Legion of Honor (France)

|Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with palm (France)

|Order of Military Merit (Brazil)

|Cheon-Su National Security Medal (South Korea)

|Presidential Unit Citation (South Korea)

|United Nations Medal for Korea

1st Distinguished Service Cross citation

General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 43 (October 23, 1950)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major General Edward M. Almond (ASN: 0-466), United States 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.</blockquote>

2nd Distinguished Service Cross citation

Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 362 (May 28, 1951)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant General Edward M. Almond (ASN: 0-466), United States 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.</blockquote>

In popular culture

In the novel series The Corps, General Almond is mentioned in the last two books: Under Fire and Retreat Hell! Almond is portrayed by the author (who served under Almond in the Korean War) in a positive light.
In James McBride's 2002 novel Miracle at St. Anna, the commanding general of the 92nd Infantry Division, General Allman, is based on Almond.
In the 2008 Spike Lee film Miracle at St. Anna, Almond is portrayed by Robert John Burke.
In Victor H. Krulak's 1984 novel First To Fight, Almond is critiqued by retired Lieutenant General of the Marine Corps and author of the book, Victor H. Krulak, who served alongside Almond's counterpart, Lieutenant General Shepard