Though considered for the post of chief of the imperial general staff, alexander received an invitation from. Biography of general alexander mccarrell patch 1889 1945, usa. Patch, commanding general of the americal division, to direct tactical operations on guadalcanal. She was laid down under a maritime commission contract mc hull 680 on 15 january 1943 at alameda, california, by the bethlehem steel corp. Buckner tap123 usns general maurice rose tap126 usns general william o. Born in washington, dc, alexander patch was a third generation west pointer, the son of general alexander patch, class of 19. Army field commander in north africa and europe during world war ii, and. Through previous research believe it could be ltg mark w. Patton photo world war ii wwii battle of the bulge prelude. General alexander mccarrell sandy patch 23 november 1889 21 november 1945 was an officer in the united states army, best known for his service in world war ii. Within one month, the army employing three american divisions, five french divisions, and the. Patton meeting with a member of the house committee. In october of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first african american tank battalion to see combat in world war ii.
In response to communist infiltration and aggression in south vietnam, general alexander m. Seventh army in the invasion of southern france operation dragoon. This is a brief biographical sketch of the military career of general alexander mccarrell patch. Uss general alexander m patch ap122, us naval ship, usn. Alexander mccarrell patch november 23, 1889 november 21, 1945 was a senior united states army officer who fought in both world war i and world war ii, rising to rank of general.
Field marshal harold alexander was a top british commander during world war ii and a veteran of wwi. Guadalcanal campaign aug 7, 1942 feb 9, 1943 summary. My wifes maiden name is patch and she is related to general patch. He was the second son and second of three children of alexander mccarrell patch and annie moore patch, both of whom had grown up in washington, pa. This campaign was the first major offensive that the allied powers initiated against japan in wwii since the attack on pearl harbor in 1941. It was an exciting two days for the patch family and for the community that turned out to welcome them, but soon the general had to get back to work. The united states army north arnorth is a formation of the united states army. The 23rd infantry division, initially, and more commonly known as, the americal division, of the united states army was activated 27 may 1942 on the island of new caledonia. Commissioned a second lieutenant in the marine corps in 1909, vandegrift had advanced to major general by 1942.
The battle of guadalcanal began on august 7, 1942, during world war ii 19391945. Not a 100% sure, photo is from my deceased fathers pfc alexander f. So patch was literally the man in the arena, the champion personally selected by army chief of. World war ii biography of field marshal sir harold alexander. In world war i patch served as an infantry officer and as an in. Field marshal harold alexander, 18911969 military history. On august 15th, 1944, seventh army units assaulted the beaches of southern france in the st. Ms of american lieutenant general alexander patch with troops, he talks to one soldier. General patchs men make a slashing advance related photo on page 4 shows general george s. David layton saved to american generalsadmirals world war 2. He served during the war in the 12th army group as a military policeman and messenger. Patch graduated from the united states military academy before serving as an infantry officer and machine gun instructor in world. Marine corps forces during the guadalcanal campaign, and the u.
Death and burial ground of patch, alexander mccarell sandy. Major general john porter lucas january 14, 1890 december 24, 1949 was a senior officer of the united states army who saw service in world war i and world war ii. Patch departed new york 35 august 1965 for the far east. It served in north africa and italy in the mediterranean theater of operations and france and germany in. Harold alexander, 1st earl alexander of tunis wikipedia. Arnorth is responsible for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities. The north african campaign of the second world war took place in north africa from 10 june 1940 to may 1943. Butner t ap 1, us naval ship, usn navy photo print. Bonn, draws not only from primary source documents, and also secondary.
Details about uss general alexander m patch ap122, us naval ship, usn navy photo print. Biography of general alexander mccarrell patch 1889. Generals conferring in luneville, france the portal to. Field marshal harold alexander was one of the most successful senior british generals of the second world war, and proved to be an able commander of coalition armies. Patton and alexander patch meet in luneville, france. This division was the only division formed outside of united. Captain infantry alexander mccarrell patch, iii asn.
He died of pneumonia on 21111945, age 55, at brooke general hospital, fort sam houston, texas, a year after his son was killed. The selection of a commander to succeed general vandegrift was left to general harmon. Harmon, commanding army forces in the south pacific area. During world war ii he served as secretary to the general staff of the seventh army under general alexander patch. Prior to world war i, he served in texas and arizona. Alexander was born in london in 1891, the third son of the fourth earl of caledon. Meyer is better known to the canadians than to most in the u. Patch, alexander mccarrell 18891945 worldcat identities. It was the first unit patch to be authorized for wear in world war ii and specifically commemorated the divisions sacrifices and victory in the battle for guadalcanal.
The seventh army was the first us field army to see combat in world war ii and was activated at sea when the i armored corps, under the command of lieutenant general george patton, was redesignated on 10 july 1943. Field marshal harold rupert leofric george alexander, 1st earl alexander of tunis, kg, gcb, om, gcmg, csi, dso, mc, cd, pc can, pc 10 december 1891 16 june 1969. It included campaigns fought in the libyan and egyptian deserts western desert campaign, also known as the desert war and in morocco and algeria operation torch, as. Ms of american lieutenant general alexander patch with troops, he talks. Both of his grandfathers were graduatesfrom the classes of 1877 and 1883. Alexander patch1889 1945 american army general who also commanded marines in the invasion of guadalcanal to relieve the 1st marine div. In november 1942, he landed on guadalcanal with his army to relieve the marine 1st division. During the buildup before the united states entry into world war ii, marshall was appointed army chief of staff. Dambrosio, he is standing to the generals right in the photo. Browse historical events, famous birthdays and notable deaths from mar 5, 1945 or search by date, day or keyword. Why did world war ii us army general alexander patch. Capt alexander mccarrell patch, iii 19201944 find a.
Generals from usa page, brigadiergeneral john watt 18821961 paine, brigadiergeneral george harris 18841949. Armys finest and most successful world war ii combat commanders is one of the wars most neglected generals. Vi corps during the battle of anzio operation shingle in the italian campaign of world war ii. Would like help in identifying the lt general in the picture. During the first conflict he served with the american. The seventh army was a united states army created during world war ii that evolved into the united states army europe usareur during the 1950s and 1960s. Im going to say that allied general alexander was, in my opinion, one of the worst commanders of world war ii in a bad way. Alexander patch iii, had been killed in action in france on oct. He quickly learned the marines may have a great hatred toward the japanese, but not mu. Which ww2 generals were liked the most by their own troops. Patch served in the us army for many years and fought during world war i and world war ii. The united states officially entered world war ii in december 1941, after the. In 1950, the ships were transferred back to the us navy and assigned to the military sea transportation service. Marine corps officer who led the first largescale u.
General alexander mccarrell sandy patch november 23, 1889 november 21, 1945 was an officer in the united states army, best known for his service in world war ii. General alexander patch was assigned to command the army which moved to naples, italy, the following july. Twining, a lieutenant colonel and the divisions operations officer on guadalcanal, for a short time before the 1st. He died of pneumonia on 21111945, age 55, at brooke general hospital, fort. Darby tap127 from 1946 to 1950, the transports served as part of the army transport service. The british military had undergone several changes in command. Us army world war ii 315th infantry regiment, 79th infantry division united states military academy class of 1942 entered the service from d. Bonn this article is excerpted from an upcoming book, extreme war, by terrence poulos, due to be published by the military book club. Alexander patch, who assumed command of the us seventh army on 4 march 1944 in algiers, algeria, in order to plan the upcoming allied landings in southern france. The guadalcanal campaign which was codenamed as operation watchtower by the allied powers was a naval campaign that took place between august 7, 1942 and february 9, 1943. An army service component command ascc subordinate to united states northern command northcom, arnorth is the joint force land component of northcom. In the immediate emergency following pearl harbor, the united states had hurriedly sent a task force to defend new caledonia against a feared japanese attack. The bombing of monte cassino being one of the greatest examples of general alexanders poor decisions.