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 ...
Harold Francis Loomis (19 June 1890 – 21 October 1970) was a
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
officer who served in both
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
and
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. A graduate of the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
at
West Point, New York
West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the Ame ...
, he was ranked 50th in the class of 1914. During World War II he was in charge of the French rearmament program in the North African Theater of Operations (NATOUSA) and later at
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF; ) was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the commander in SHAEF th ...
(SHAEF). The French units he helped re-equip played an important role in the
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
and the
Southern France campaigns.
Early life
![Harold Francis Loomis (1890–1970) at West Point in 1914](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Harold_Francis_Loomis_%281890%E2%80%931970%29_at_West_Point_in_1914.png)
Harold Francis Loomis was born in
Rockville, Connecticut
Rockville is a census-designated place and a village of the town of Vernon in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,474 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1889, it has been consolidated with the town of Vernon ...
, on 19 June 1890. On 1 March 1910, he entered the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
at
West Point, New York
West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the Ame ...
, where he acquired the nickname "Loomy". He graduated on 12 June 1914, and was commissioned as a
second lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
in the
Coast Artillery Corps
The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps (CAC) was an Corps#Administrative corps, administrative corps responsible for coastal defence and fortification, coastal, harbor, and anti-aircraft Seacoast defense in the United States, defense of the United S ...
on 8 July 1914. His fellow graduates included future
general officer
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...
s such as
Carl Spaatz
Carl Andrew Spaatz (born Spatz; June 28, 1891 – July 14, 1974), nicknamed "Tooey", was an American World War II general. As commander of Strategic Air Forces in Europe in 1944, he successfully pressed for the bombing of the enemy's oil product ...
,
Brehon B. Somervell,
Harold R. Bull
Lieutenant General Harold Roe "Pink" Bull (January 6, 1893 – November 1, 1976) was a general in the United States Army and served as Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) from 1943 to 19 ...
,
John B. Anderson
John Bayard Anderson (February 15, 1922 – December 3, 2017) was an American lawyer and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 16th congressional district from 1961 to 1981. A member o ...
,
Jens A. Doe,
James L. Bradley,
Frank W. Milburn
Lieutenant General Frank William Milburn (January 11, 1892 – October 25, 1962) was a senior United States Army officer who served during World War II and the Korean War.
Military career
Milburn attended the United States Military Academy and ...
,
Ralph Royce
Ralph Royce (28 June 1890 – 7 August 1965) was a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II. A West Point graduate who learned to fly in 1915–16, he served with the 1st Aero Squadron in the Pancho Villa Expedition an ...
,
Orlando Ward
Major General Orlando Ward (November 4, 1891 – February 4, 1972) was a career United States Army officer who fought in both World War I and World War II. During the latter, as a major general, he commanded the 1st Armored Division during Opera ...
,
Charles P. Gross
Major General Charles Philip Gross (14 March 1889 – 18 July 1975) was a United States Army officer who served in World War I and World War II. During World War II he was the Chief of the United States Army Transportation Corps.
A graduate of Si ...
,
Vicente Lim
Vicente Podico Lim (February 24, 1888 – December 31, 1944) was a Filipino brigadier general and World War II hero. Lim was the first Filipino graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point (Class of 1914). Prior to the establish ...
, and
Harry C. Ingles
Harry Clyde Ingles (March 12, 1888 – August 15, 1976) was a United States Army Major general (United States), major general, who served during World War II and commanded the United States Army Signal Corps.
Early years
Harry C. Ingles was bor ...
.
World War I
Loomis's first assignment was in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, France, as an assistant to US
military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission, often an embassy. This type of attaché post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer, who retains a commission while serving with an embassy. Opport ...
there from 8 August to 8 September 1914, the outbreak of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. On returning to the United States he was assigned to
Fort Monroe, Virginia
Fort Monroe, managed by partnership between the Fort Monroe Authority for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the National Park Service as the Fort Monroe National Monument, and the City of Hampton, is a former military installation in Hampton, Virg ...
. He married Elizabeth Kimberly in September 1915; they had no children. He was then posted to
Fort Ruger
Fort Ruger is a fort on the island of Oahu that served as the first military reservation in the Territory of Hawaii. Named after Civil War General Thomas H. Ruger and built in and around Diamond Head Crater, the fort was established by the Unite ...
in the
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory ( Hawaiian: ''Panalāʻau o Hawaiʻi'') was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 30, 1900, until August 21, 1959, when most of its territory, excluding ...
, where 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 s ...
on 1 July 1916 and
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
on 1 July 1917, and served as
aide-de-camp 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 ...
s
Charles Treat
Charles Gould Treat (December 30, 1859 – October 11, 1941) was a major general in the United States Army.
Biography
Charles Gould Treat was born in Dexter, Maine, on December 30, 1859, and was a direct descendant of Governor Robert Treat. He w ...
and
John Philip Wisser, the commanders of the
Hawaiian Department
Hawaiian may refer to:
* Native Hawaiians, the current term for the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants
* Hawaii state residents, regardless of ancestry (only used outside of Hawaii)
* Hawaiian language
Historic uses
...
.
In April 1918, Loomis returned to United States, where he commanded a company at Fort Monroe, and then became an instructor in administration and
military law
Military justice (also military law) is the legal system (bodies of law and procedure) that governs the conduct of the active-duty personnel of the armed forces of a country. In some nation-states, civil law and military law are distinct bodie ...
at the Coast Artillery School there. He was promoted to
major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
on 10 September 1918 and
lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
on 19 October 1918. He was the director of the
non-commissioned officers
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
school at the Coast Artillery School from 8 April 1919 to 11 June 1919. He served briefly with the
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 alon ...
in France until 6 October 1919, and then returned to the Coast Artillery School as an instructor.
Between the wars
Loomis reverted to his substantive rank of captain on 11 February 1920, but was promoted to major again on 1 July. From 24 August 1920 to 1 July 1924 he was an instructor in modern languages at West Point. He attended the Advanced Course at the Coast Artillery School from 15 September 1924 to 15 June 1925, and served with the
7th Coast Artillery
7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube.
As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion, mythology, s ...
from 17 June 1925 until 1 August 1927.
After attending 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 ...
at
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., and the oldest perman ...
, from 24 August 1927 to 15 June 1928, Loomis he returned to the Coast Artillery School as an instructor in tactics. From 30 June 1932 to 17 October 1934 he was a student at the ''
École supérieure de guerre The ''École supérieure de guerre'' ("Superior School of Warfare") was the most senior military education institute and staff college of the French Army, from 1876 until 1993, when it was merged into the inter-service ' (Joint Defense College), wh ...
'' in Paris. He served with the
62nd Coast Artillery at
Fort Totten, New York
Fort Totten is a former active United States Army installation in the New York City borough of Queens. It is located on the Willets Point peninsula on the north shore of Long Island. Fort Totten is at the head of Little Neck Bay, where the E ...
, where he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 September 1935, and then with the
2nd Coast Artillery. From 1 August 1938 to 30 June 1939 he attended the
Army War College at
Fort Humphreys, DC.
World War II
Now qualified as a general staff officer, Loomis was assigned to the War Plans Division of the
War Department War Department may refer to:
* War Department (United Kingdom)
* United States Department of War (1789–1947)
See also
* War Office, a former department of the British Government
* Ministry of defence
* Ministry of War
* Ministry of Defence
* Dep ...
General Staff in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
In this role he surveyed the coastal defences of the western hemisphere and chose sites for coastal defence guns. 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 of ...
on 1 July 1941 and brigadier general on 5 November. On 22 November he assumed command of the
Harbor Defenses of Portland
The Harbor Defenses of Portland was a United States Army Coast Artillery Corps harbor defense command. It coordinated the coast defenses of Portland, Maine, the mouth of the Kennebec River, and surrounding areas from 1895 to 1950, beginni ...
. On 17 May 1942, he moved to
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
, as the commanding general of the Southern Sector of the
Eastern Defense Command
The Eastern Defense Command was first established as the Northeast Defense Command on 17 March 1941 as one of four U.S. Army continental defense commands to plan and prepare for and execute defense against enemy attack in the months before Americ ...
.
On 10 October 1943, Loomis became the chairman of the Joint Rearmament Commission (JRC) in the North African Theater of Operations (NATOUSA). As such, he was responsible for the rearmament of French Army units to enable them to participate in subsequent campaigns. There were doubts at the War Department about the reliability and efficiency of the French forces, but Loomis resisted proposals to equip them with cast off World War I-era weapons, and insisted on their being equipped to the same standard as American units. At the same time, he struggled to persuade the French to cut back on combat units, and form a balanced force with sufficient logistical units to support itself. In the latter he was less successful than he hoped, for despite frantic efforts, the French were unable to find sufficient skilled personnel. However, the exemplary performance of the
French Expeditionary Corps There have been several French Expeditionary Corps (French ''Corps expéditionnaire'' 'français'':
* Expeditionary Corps of the Orient 'Corps expéditionnaire d'Orient'', CEO(1915), during World War I
* Expeditionary Corps of the Dardanelles 'Co ...
in the
Italian campaign amply vindicated Loomis's faith in the French Army and the rearmament program.
For his services in NATOUSA, Loomis was awarded the
Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation.
Examples include:
*Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action
* Distinguishe ...
. His citation read:
After the successful Allied
invasion of Southern France, in which rearmed French Army units participated, the rearmament program officially ended, and the JRC was disbanded. Loomis moved to Paris, where he joined the
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF; ) was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the commander in SHAEF th ...
(SHAEF) as the head of its Rearmament Division. He was able to establish an excellent working relationship with the reconstituted French General Staff, particularly Colonel , who had been a classmate at the ''École supérieure de guerre''. Loomis was subsequently awarded the
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
for his service at SHAEF.
Post-war
After the war, Loomis was chief of the Budget and Fiscal Section at
Army Ground Forces
The Army Ground Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Service Forces. Throughout their existence, Army Ground Forces were the larges ...
headquarters from 15 October 45 until June 1946, for which he received the
Commendation Ribbon
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...
. In addition to his American decorations, he was awarded the French
Croix de Guerre with palm, and made an honorary
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
,
Officer of the Legion of Honor
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...
and
Grand Officer of the Tunisian Order of Nichan-Iftikar.
Loomis retired from the Army with the rank of brigadier general on 30 November 1946. In retirement he was the director of American Aid to France, Inc. Loomis lived in Washington, D.C., with his wife Elizabeth "Bessie" (Kimberly) Loomis. He died on 21 October 1970 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the
Walter Reed Medical Center and was interred in
West Point Cemetery
West Point Cemetery is a historic cemetery in the eastern United States, on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. It overlooks the Hudson River, and served as a burial ground for Revolutionary War soldiers and early ...
.
Dates of rank
References
Bibliography
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External links
Generals of World War II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Loomis, Harold Francis
1890 births
1970 deaths
People from Rockville, Connecticut
United States Military Academy alumni
Military personnel from Connecticut
United States Army Coast Artillery Corps personnel
United States Army personnel of World War I
United States Military Academy faculty
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
United States Army War College alumni
United States Army generals of World War II
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
United States Army generals
Military personnel from Washington, D.C.
Burials at West Point Cemetery