Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

George A. White (18 July 1880 – 23 November 1941) was an American journalist, magazine editor, and senior

officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...

of the

Oregon National Guard The Oregon Military Department is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, which oversees the armed forces of the state of Oregon. Under the authority and direction of the governor as commander-in-chief, the agency is responsib ...

, who helped organize

The American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is made up of state, U.S. territory, and overseas departments, and these are in turn made up of l ...

. He commanded the 41st Infantry Division, made up of troops from the

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

, Oregon,

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

, and

Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the s ...

National Guards, from January 1930 until his death in November 1941.

Early life

George Ared White was born on July 18, 1880, in

Saline County, Illinois Saline County is a county in Southern Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 23,768. The largest city and county seat is Harrisburg. This area of Southern Illinois is known locally as " Little Egypt". Three major towns in Saline ...

. On August 1, 1895, he enlisted in the

Utah National Guard The Utah National Guard consists of the: * Utah Army National Guard **19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) **65th Field Artillery Brigade **85th WMD CST **97th Troop Command **115th Engineer Group (CBT) **204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade **211th ...

as a musician. He was discharged in June 1898 in order to enlist in the U.S. Volunteers for the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

. He remained in Federal service until discharged in December 1898. White re-enlisted in the Guard in 1899 was promoted to sergeant and later first sergeant before being discharged in 1903. He moved to

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

, where he enlisted in the 3d Infantry,

on August 4, 1907. The next day he was promoted to

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

. White was promoted to Captain on March 21, 1911.

Military career

Mexican Border Service

White was appointed

Adjutant General An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer. France In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...

of Oregon on February 1, 1915. When the National Guard was Federalized for Mexican Border Service, he obtained a leave of absence in order to command a

troop A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Tr ...

of Oregon cavalry. After service on the Mexican border from June 1916 to February 1917, White resumed his post in Oregon.

World War I

On March 23, 1917, the National Guard was mobilized. As Adjutant General of Oregon, White was involved in recruiting efforts to bring the State's units up to strength, and he directed the establishment of state machinery for conscription. He re-entered federal service on September 10, 1917, with the rank of major and assigned as Assistant Adjutant General of the 41st Division, a new division being organized from National Guard units from Oregon,

and

. White served in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

from January 1918 to June 1919. Initially, he was with the 41st but subsequently posted to the General Headquarters,

American Expeditionary Forces The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought along ...

(A. E. F.). He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on November 13, 1918. For his services, White was appointed Knight of the French

Order of the Black Star The Order of the Black Star (''Ordre de l'Étoile Noire'') was an order of knighthood established on 1 December 1889 at Porto-Novo by Toffa, future king of Dahomey (today the Republic of Benin). Approved and recognised by the French government ...

Later years

White was separated from Federal service on July 23, 1919, resumed his duties as Adjutant General on April 15, 1920. His first task was the reconstruction of the Oregon National Guard, in which he was promoted to

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

on June 23, 1920. He assumed command of the 82nd Infantry Brigade, a brigade composed of Oregon troops, the same day and was later promoted to

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

. White attended the

Command and General Staff School The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

from 1925 to 1926 and took part in training seminars organized by the

War College A war college is a senior military academy which is normally intended for veteran military officers and whose purpose is to educate and 'train on' senior military tacticians, strategists, and leaders. It is also often the place where advanced tact ...

in 1928. On January 3, 1930, he was promoted to major general and appointed to command the 41st Division. The 41st Division's annual summer camp at Fort Lewis in June and July 1940 was extended from two weeks to three, and on September 16, 1940, with

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

's signing of the

Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, also known as the Burke–Wadsworth Act, , was the first peacetime conscription in United States history. This Selective Service Act required that men who had reached their 21st birthday b ...

, the 41st Division was inducted into Federal service for one year. Selective service men began to arrive in February 1941. In May 1941, the 41st Division moved to the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation where June war games pitted it against Major General

Joseph Stilwell Joseph Warren "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell (March 19, 1883 – October 12, 1946) was a United States Army general who served in the China Burma India Theater during World War II. An early American popular hero of the war for leading a column walking o ...

's 7th Infantry Division and the 40th Infantry Division. Large scale maneuvers continued in August on the

Olympic Peninsula The Olympic Peninsula is a large arm of land in western Washington that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle, and contains Olympic National Park. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and th ...

. George A. White would become Oregon's longest-serving adjutant general, having served from 1915-1918 and 1920-194
Historical Outreach Foundation
White was also a pulp writer under the name Ared White, writing the following stories (with magazine name and date)according to http://www.philsp.com/: White, (George) Ared (1880-1941) (about) (chron.) * Across the Lines, (ss) Adventure July 15 1929 * The Agent from Berlin, (ss) Adventure December 1937 * At Sunrise, (ss) Adventure December 15 1931 * Attack on America, (sl) Adventure Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep 1939 * Baited Cipher, (nv) Argosy March 23 1935 * Buzzards, (ss) Everybody’s March 1928 * By Command of, (ss) Adventure December 1 1932 * Caissons, (ss) Everybody’s July 1927 * The Cipher Trail, (ss) Adventure September 15 1929 * Citizen Fouché, (ss) Adventure June 15 1932 * The Courier from Spa, (nv) Argosy June 15 1935 * Crooked Dice, (ss) Adventure May 1 1930 * Devil Buster, (ss) Adventure February 15 1931 * Diamond in Spain, (nv) The Blue Book Magazine December 1937 * The Duel at Charleville, (ss) Adventure December 1 1930 * Dungeon of Spies, (nv) Argosy May 23 1936 * The Emperor’s Agent, (ss) Argosy December 29 1934 * Escape, (sl) Adventure Feb 1, Feb 15, Mar 1 1933 * General Yu Died Gloriously, (ss) Adventure August 1938 * Gold Bars, (nv) Everybody’s May 1928 * The Herr Kapitan, (sl) Adventure Aug, Sep 1933 * The House on Rue Carnot, (nv) Adventure November 15 1929 * The Imperial Code, (nv) Argosy February 15 1936 * Imperial Shadows, (nv) Argosy April 13 1935 * Intercepted by Radio, (ss) Everybody’s January 1927 * Lilies of the Battlefield, (nv) Munsey’s Magazine December 1926 * The Loyal Grenadier, (ss) Everybody’s October 1927 * A Matter of Geometry, (ss) The Popular Magazine May 7 1915 * Mlle. Belgique, (ss) Everybody’s February 1927 * Monsieur Dix, (ss) Everybody’s September 1927 * Monsieur Le Falcon, (sl) Adventure Aug 1, Aug 15, Sep 1, Sep 15 1931 * The Monster of St. Gobain, (nv) Adventure September 1936 * The Order of St. Peter, (ss) Adventure June 1934 * Orders, (ss) Everybody’s November 1928 * O’Vane’s Chevrons, (ss) Everybody’s May 1927 * O’Vane’s Epa’lettes, (nv) Everybody’s June 1927 * Over Paris, (nv) Adventure August 15 1932 * The Parachute Courier, (ss) Adventure October 1933 * Parachute Spy, (nv) Adventure January 1936 * The Phantom Muscovite, (nv) Adventure February 1934 * The Prisoner of Vincennes, (na) Adventure March 15 1930 * The Prussian Spymaster, (nv) Adventure June 15 1930 * Pursuit, (ss) Adventure June 1937 * Secret Agent B-7, (sl) Adventure Sep 1, Sep 15, Oct 1, Oct 15, Nov 1 1934 * Secret Orders, (ss) Everybody’s December 1927 * Seven Tickets to Singapore, (sl) Short Stories Nov 10, Nov 25, Dec 10, Dec 25 1938 * Silhouettes, (ss) Everybody’s January 1928 * Sons of Allah, (nv) Everybody’s October 1928 * The Spy at Charleville, (nv) Argosy July 21 1934 Argosy (Canada) July 21 1934 * The Spy at Lyons, (ss) Adventure April 1 1932 * Spy Cargo, (nv) Adventure July 1 1935 * The Spy Double, (nv) Argosy August 15 1936 * Spy Master, (nv) Adventure September 1 1935 * Spy Nest, (na) Complete Stories 2nd December 1929 * The Spy Net, (sl) Adventure Aug 1, Aug 15, Sep 1 1930 * The Spy Trap, (na) Adventure April 15 1929 * Submarine Bait, (ss) Adventure January 15 1931 * Sun Cipher, (ss) Short Stories February 10 1938 Short Stories (UK) mid May 1938 * Thumbs Down, (ss) Adventure May 15 1931 * To the Colors, (ss) Everybody’s April 1928 * The Trail for Jolo, (ss) Adventure November 15 1931 * Under Paris, (ss) Adventure July 1 1931 * Under the Front Lines, (nv) Adventure February 1 1935 * War Bars, (ss) Short Stories May 25 1929 Short Stories (UK) early October 1929 * The Watch on the Rhine, (ss) Everybody’s March 1927 * Zeppelin Raider, (ss) Adventure September 1937

The American Legion

White was one of 20 officers at the Allied Officers' Club, Rue Faubourg St. Honore, on February 16, 1919, who were credited with the founding of The American Legion. He subsequently became its first national vice commander. He founded ''The American Legion'' magazine and was its first editor. For his services to The American Legion, and for promoting friendship between the United States and

, he was awarded the French Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor on July 9, 1934. He also wrote several short stories for both pulp magazines and "slick" magazines, such as ''Adventure'', ''

Everybody's Magazine ''Everybody's Magazine'' was an American magazine published from 1899 to 1929. The magazine was headquartered in New York City. History and profile The magazine was founded by Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker in 1899, though he had little role ...

'' and ''

The Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...

''.

Illness and death

White contracted

dysentery Dysentery (UK pronunciation: , US: ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications ...

during the maneuvers at Hunter Liggett. He died from complications of the infection at his home in

Clackamas, Oregon Clackamas is an unincorporated community and former census-designated place (CDP) in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, and is a suburb of Portland. The population was approximately 7,000 . Clackamas is home to Camp Withycombe, which is ...

, on November 23, 1941.

Honors

White's legacy included one of the National Guard's best-trained World War II era divisions. In his honor, Camp White was named after him in 1942.

References

Bibliography

External links

Maj. Gen. George A. White
at

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, George A. 1880 births 1941 deaths 20th-century American male writers Adjutants General of Oregon United States Army personnel of World War I American magazine editors American magazine founders American military personnel of the Spanish–American War Burials in Oregon Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Journalists from Illinois Military personnel from Illinois National Guard (United States) generals Organization founders People from Saline County, Illinois Pulp fiction writers United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni United States Army War College alumni 20th-century American writers United States Army generals of World War II United States Army generals