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 ...
James Leon Baldwin (February 28, 1921 – November 8, 1979) was a career
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
officer who served as commander of the
23rd (Americal) Infantry Division from 1970 to 1971.
Early life and start of career
James Leon Baldwin was born in
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...
on February 28, 1921. He attended schools in
Wichita and
Ness City,
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...
and graduated from
high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
in Ness City in 1938.
Baldwin attended
Kansas State Teachers College
Emporia State University (Emporia State or ESU) is a public university in Emporia, Kansas, United States. Established in March 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School, Emporia State is the third-oldest public university in the state of Kansas. E ...
from 1938 to 1939, and enlisted in the
National Guard
National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards.
Nat ...
in 1939. When National Guard units started to be federalized in anticipation of
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 opposing ...
, he served with the
35th Division in
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...
and
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
until attending
Officer Candidate School
An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country. How OCS is run differs between countries and services. Ty ...
in 1942.
World War II
After receiving his commission Baldwin served in Europe with the
99th Infantry Division
The 99th Infantry Division was formed in 1942 and deployed overseas in 1944. The "Checkerboard" or "Battle Babies" division landed at the French port of Le Havre and proceeded northeast to Belgium. During the heavy fighting in the Battle of the ...
during
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 opposing ...
, taking part in the
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...
,
Rhineland
The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section.
Term
Historically, the Rhinelands ...
, and
Central Europe campaigns. While serving as Intelligence Staff Officer, S-2 for the
395th Infantry Regiment
The 395th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army, part of the 99th Infantry Division during World War II. It was organized with the rest of the 99th on 16 November 1942 at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. During the Bat ...
, Baldwin investigated the massacre by German soldiers of 11 African-American members of the
333rd Artillery Battalion, who had been killed after they surrendered.
Post-World War II
Baldwin remained in the Army after the war, serving in
West Germany
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
with the
16th Infantry Regiment of the
1st Infantry Division, including an assignment as regimental Plans, Operations and Training Officer, S-3.
Korean War
During the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
Baldwin, by now a
lieutenant colonel, commanded 1st Battalion,
21st Infantry Regiment, a unit of the
24th Infantry Division.
He later served as the division's assistant chief of staff for personnel, G-1.
Post-Korean War
In 1954 Baldwin received a
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...
degree from
George Washington University
The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress, GWU is the largest Higher educat ...
. He graduated from the
Army Command and General Staff College
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 ...
in 1955, and undertook graduate studies at
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
from 1957 to 1958.
[United States Congress, House Committee on Appropriations]
Testimony, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1969
page 1968, pages 604 to 605
From 1958 to 1961 Baldwin served in the International Plans and Policy Division of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, G-3.
In 1962 he graduated from the
National War College.
Baldwin was assigned as Executive Officer in the
Office of the Secretary of the Army
The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, insta ...
from 1962 to 1964. From 1964 to 1966 he served as Commander of 3rd Brigade 4th Armored Division.
In 1966 Baldwin, now a
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 ...
, served as the
4th Armored Division's Assistant Division Commander for Support. Later in 1966 he took command of the
Berlin Brigade
The Berlin Brigade was a US Army brigade-sized garrison based in West Berlin during the Cold War. After the end of World War II, under the conditions of the Yalta and Potsdam agreements, the Allied forces occupied West Berlin. This occupat ...
, where he served until late 1967.
From 1967 to 1968 Baldwin was director of plans and programs for the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development
and from 1968 to 1970 he was Director of Force Planning Analysis for the
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
Vietnam War
In July, 1970 Baldwin was assigned as Deputy Commander of the
XXIV Corps in
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
. In November, 1970 he was assigned as Commander of the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division. He commanded the division until July, 1971, when he was reassigned.
Baldwin was removed from command and received a letter of admonishment as the result of the attack on
Fire Support Base Mary Ann. The Commander of the
196th Light Infantry Brigade
The 196th Infantry Brigade ("Chargers"), also known as the Charger Brigade was first formed on 24 June 1921 as part of the United States Army Reserve's 98th Division with the responsibility of training soldiers.
World War II
During World War II, ...
, Colonel William Hathaway, was removed from the promotion list for Brigadier General and received a letter of reprimand. The commander of 1st Battalion
46th Infantry
The 46th Infantry Regiment ("The Professionals") is a unit in the United States Army that served in World War II and Vietnam.
History
During World War II, the 46th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 5th Armored Division. Landing at Norman ...
, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Doyle, also received a letter of reprimand. All three commanders received these reprimands for not having ensured that standard operating procedures were followed with regard to perimeter security at FSB Mary Ann, thus facilitating the attack.
Baldwin, Hathaway and Doyle protested their reprimands, but they were upheld by
General
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 ...
William Westmoreland
William Childs Westmoreland (March 26, 1914 – July 18, 2005) was a United States Army general, most notably commander of United States forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from ...
, then the
Army Chief of Staff. Westmoreland and the Commander in Vietnam,
Creighton Abrams
Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. (September 15, 1914 – September 4, 1974) was a United States Army general who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972, which saw United States troop strength in South Vietnam reduced ...
, wanted Baldwin reduced in rank to Brigadier General, and for him to receive a letter of reprimand. They were overruled by
Secretary of the Army Robert Froehlke, and Baldwin received the less severe letter of admonishment and no reduction in rank.
Post-Vietnam War
Baldwin served as an assistant to the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4 before retiring in 1972.
Awards and decorations
Baldwin's awards included the
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of colonel and below, who fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of e ...
,
Legion of Merit,
Bronze Star
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
,
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...
and
Army Commendation Medal
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 ...
.
Later career
After retiring in 1972, Baldwin resided in
Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...
and was a consultant on foreign policy for the
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government responsible for the country's fore ...
.
Death and burial
He died in
River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is adjacent to the Town of River Falls in Pierce County and the Town of Kinnickinnic in St. Croix County. River Falls is the most populous city in Pierc ...
on November 8, 1979. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 60, Site 645.
Family
Baldwin married Margaret Albright of
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
in 1945.
They had met in Germany during World War II when Margaret was employed by the
American Red Cross. They had three sons – Robert, Timothy and John, and a daughter, Margaret.
Baldwin's surviving children, especially his son Timothy, later conducted research on the FSB Mary Ann attack in an effort to clear their father's name.
Cited in ''The Generals''
In
Thomas Ricks’ 2012 book ''The Generals'' he cites Baldwin's removal from division command and letter of admonishment as the last instance of a US Army general being held accountable for combat ineffectiveness, as opposed to being punished for personal failings such as adultery. Ricks contrasts Baldwin's removal and the World War II relief of corps and division commanders who proved ineffective (many of whom performed well when given second chances) with the wars in
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
. In the post-Vietnam Army, Ricks argues that a culture of mediocrity exists because generals may be punished for personal misconduct, but are not held accountable for poor job performance.
[Mark Thompson, Time Magazine]
Generally Mediocre
October 29, 2012
Sources
External links
Arlington National Cemetery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baldwin, James L.
1921 births
1979 deaths
United States Army generals
United States Army personnel of World War II
United States Army personnel of the Korean War
United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
People from Ness City, Kansas
Military personnel from Arlington County, Virginia
George Washington University alumni
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
National Defense University alumni