Karl Truesdell (August 27, 1882 – July 16, 1955) was a career officer in the
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 ...
who attained the rank of major general and was a veteran of 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 ...
. He was most notable for his leadership assignments as commander of the
1st Infantry Division and
VI Corps 6 Corps, 6th Corps, Sixth Corps, or VI Corps may refer to:
France
* VI Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry formation of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars
* VI Corps (Grande Armée), a formation of the Imperial French army dur ...
, and commandant of the
United States Army Command and General Staff College.
A native of
Moorhead, Minnesota, Truesdell was raised 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, ...
, and graduated from
Central High School in 1901. He enlisted in the
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 ...
, and served in the
Coast Artillery Corps until 1904. He attained the rank of
sergeant
Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
, and served until 1904, when he passed the examination for a commission and received appointment 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 ...
of
Infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
. Truesdell served in Infantry assignments until 1912, when he was detailed for service in the
Signal Corps. During
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 ...
, he was the signal officer on the staffs of the
1st Division and
V Corps 5th Corps, Fifth Corps, or V Corps may refer to:
France
* 5th Army Corps (France)
* V Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* V Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army ...
, for which he received the
Army Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...
.
Following his World War I service, Truesdell returned to the Infantry branch and continued to rise through the ranks in command and staff positions, including command of the
16th Infantry Regiment, 12th Infantry Brigade, and
1st Infantry Division. 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 opposin ...
, he commanded the
VI Corps 6 Corps, 6th Corps, Sixth Corps, or VI Corps may refer to:
France
* VI Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry formation of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars
* VI Corps (Grande Armée), a formation of the Imperial French army dur ...
and the
United States Army Command and General Staff College, for which he received a second award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and 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 ...
(Honorary Commander). He retired at the end of 1945.
In retirement, Truesdell was a resident of
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase () is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place (Chevy Chase (CDP), Maryland) that straddle the northwest border of Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Several settlements in th ...
and maintained a summer home in
Silver Lake, New York. He died in Silver Lake on July 16, 1955 and was buried at
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
.
Early life
Karl Truesdell was born in
Moorhead, Minnesota on August 27, 1882, a son of Julius A. Truesdell and Cornelia (Riggs) Truesdell.
His maternal grandfather was
Stephen Return Riggs and his siblings included Stephen Return Truesdell, a U.S. Army
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 ...
and civil engineer with the
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, and Horace Warner Truesdell, a U.S. government agricultural scientist, socialist political activist, and U.S. Army
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 ...
who grew apples on a farm in
Bluemont, Virginia
Bluemont is an unincorporated village in Loudoun County, Virginia located at the eastern base of Snickers Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The village's center is located along Snickersville Turnpike ( Virginia Route 734), west of the incorpor ...
.
Julius Truesdell was a newspaper reporter and editor; he relocated to
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, ...
soon after Truesdell's birth. Truesdell attended the public schools of Washington and was a graduate of Washington's
Central High School.
While in high school he was a member of Washington's
YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...
Corps of Cadets, which was composed of uniformed students who took part in military drill and ceremony competitions.
After his 1901 graduation, Truesdell enlisted in the
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 ...
with the intention of qualifying for an officer's commission.
He quickly advanced from
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
to
corporal to
sergeant
Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
as a member of
Fort Monroe,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
's 73rd and 74th
Coast Artillery Companies.
Early career
In 1903, Truesdell took part in the competitive examination process for appointment as an officer. He passed, and in June 1904 he received his commission 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
5th Infantry Regiment. Truesdell joined his regiment at
Plattsburgh Barracks,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
and his initial assignments included escorting military prisoners from the
Castle Williams
Castle Williams is a circular fortification of red sandstone on the northwest point of Governors Island, part of a system of forts designed and constructed in the early 19th century to protect New York City from naval attack. It is a prominent ...
penitentiary on
Governors Island, New York to the
United States Disciplinary Barracks at
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., an ...
,
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 the ...
.
In August 1907, Truesdell was assigned as quartermaster and commissary officer of the 5th Infantry's 2nd Battalion and posted to
Sagua La Grande
Sagua la Grande (nicknamed ''La Villa del Undoso'', sometimes shortened in Sagua) is a municipality located on the north coast of the province of Villa Clara in central Cuba, on the Sagua la Grande River. The city is close to Mogotes de Juma ...
during the
Second Occupation of Cuba.
Truesdell returned to the United States in 1909, and his duties after rejoining his regiment included assisting in planning and overseeing execution of 1909's annual
Civilian Marksmanship Program National Matches at
Camp Perry
Camp Perry is a National Guard training facility located on the shore of Lake Erie in northern Ohio near Port Clinton. In addition to its regular mission as a military training base, Camp Perry also boasts the second largest outdoor rifle range ...
,
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
. In March 1911, Truesdell 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 ...
in the
15th Infantry Regiment.
In March 1912, Truesdell was detailed to the
Signal Corps. After beginning the Signal Officers Course at Fort Leavenworth's Army Service Schools, he completed the course with
Field Company A, Signal Corps, at
Fort Omaha,
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...
. On May 29 1912, Truesdell was one of several officers taking part in a
hot air balloon flight to learn how balloons facilitated radio communications.
What was supposed to be a short familiarization flight over Fort Omaha became the subject of nationwide headlines on May 29 and 30 when the pilot lost control and the balloon was no longer visible to observers on the ground.
Several hours later, the pilot made a successful nighttime landing in
Burlington Junction, Missouri, about 80 miles from Fort Omaha, which was reported in newspapers throughout the United States on May 30 and May 31.
After serving with Field Company A, Truesdell departed Fort Omaha in November 1912 to assume command of
USAMP ''
Cyrus W. Field
Cyrus West Field (November 30, 1819July 12, 1892) was an American businessman and financier who, along with other entrepreneurs, created the Atlantic Telegraph Company and laid the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean in 1858.
Early ...
'', an army cable laying ship that carried out installation and maintenance of military telegraph and telephone cables along the Atlantic coast. In May 1913, Truesdell relinquished command and was assigned as assistant to the chief signal officer on the staff of the army's
Eastern Department
Eastern may refer to:
Transportation
*China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai
*Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways
*Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991
*Eastern Air Li ...
, which was based at
Fort Jay on Governors Island. In February 1914, was assigned to duty with Field Company I, Signal Corps, at
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in New Mexico and Texas, with its headquarters in El Paso, Texas. Named in honor of William Wallace Smith Bliss, LTC William Bliss (1815–1853), a mathematics professor who was the son-in-law of President ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
. In April 1914, he was reassigned to
Fort Sam Houston, Texas for duty with Field Company H, Signal Corps.
In February 1915, Truesdell was assigned to the
25th Infantry Regiment with duty at
Texas City, Texas
Texas City is a city in Galveston County, Texas, Galveston County in the U.S. state of Texas. Located on the southwest shoreline of Galveston Bay, Texas City is a busy deepwater port on Texas's Gulf Coast, as well as a petroleum-refining and pe ...
. In July 1915, he returned to Plattsburgh Barracks as inspector of training for an army instruction encampment. In December 1915, Truesdell rejoined the 25th Infantry at
Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
. He was promoted to
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 ...
in November 1916 and assigned as commander of the regiment's Company I.
World War I
In the summer of 1917, Truesdell was promoted to temporary
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 ...
and assigned to signal duty with the
33rd Division. In the fall of 1917, Truesdell was with the 33rd Division as it completed organization and training at
Camp Logan
Camp Logan was a World War I-era army training camp in Houston, Texas named after U.S. Senator and Civil War General John A. Logan. The site of the camp is now primarily occupied by Memorial Park where it borders the Crestwood neighborhood, n ...
, Texas prior to departing for service in France.
After arrival in France, Truesdell served as signal officer for first the
1st Division, and later the
V Corps 5th Corps, Fifth Corps, or V Corps may refer to:
France
* 5th Army Corps (France)
* V Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* V Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army ...
.
He was commended for his work to establish telephone and radio networks that enabled
American Expeditionary Forces units to communicate with each other, which facilitated success in combat by making it easier to gain and maintain situational awareness, transmit orders and reports, and coordinate for artillery support, logistics and transportation, and combat health support.
During the war, Truesdell was promoted to temporary
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 ...
and then temporary
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 ...
, and after the war he received the
Army Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...
in recognition of his superior performance.
Following the
Armistice of November 11, 1918, which ended the war, Truesdell remained in France as the U.S. member of the Inter-Allied Radio Conference, which considered regulations intended to facilitate the development of radio for commercial use.
Post-World War I
Upon returning to the United States in late summer 1919, Truesdell was assigned as assistant commandant of the Signal School. In June 1920, now returned to his permanent rank of captain, Truesdell was assigned to the Fort Leavenworth School of the Line as a student. Now a major, he completed the course in June 1921 and attained distinction as an honor graduate. After graduating, Truesdell remained at Fort Leavenworth to attend the
United States Army Command and General Staff College. While attending the staff college, Truesdell served concurrently as an instructor. He graduated in 1922, and remained at the school as a faculty member. In 1926, he graduated from the
United States Army War College
The United States Army War College (USAWC) is a U.S. Army educational institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500-acre (2 km2) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks. It provides graduate-level instruction to senior military offic ...
.
In December 1926, Truesdell was assigned to duty at the
War Department as a member of the Army General Staff. In 1927, he completed the course at the
Naval War College.
Now a lieutenant colonel, in October 1931 Truesdell began attendance at a refresher course for Infantry officers which was offered at the Fort Benning Infantry School. From 1932 to 1935, Truesdell was executive officer of the 15th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in
Tientsin,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. After returning to the United States, Truesdell was promoted to colonel and assigned to command the
16th Infantry Regiment at
Fort Jay on Governors Island.
Truesdell was 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 ...
in April 1938. After his promotion, Truesdell was assigned to command the
6th Infantry Division 6th Division may refer to:
Infantry divisions
* 6th Division (Australia)
* 6th Division (Austria)
*6th (United Kingdom) Division
* Finnish 6th Division (Winter War)
*Finnish 6th Division (Continuation War)
* 6th Division (Reichswehr)
* 6th Divisi ...
's 12th Infantry Brigade at
Fort Sheridan, Illinois. From October 1939 to December 1940, Truesdell served as commander of the
1st Infantry Division, first at Fort Benning, and later on Governors Island and at
Fort Hamilton. During his command, Truesdell oversaw the division's individual and collective training in anticipation of U.S. entry into
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 ...
. He was promoted to
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 a ...
in October 1940.
World War II
In January 1941, Truesdell was assigned to command
VI Corps 6 Corps, 6th Corps, Sixth Corps, or VI Corps may refer to:
France
* VI Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry formation of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars
* VI Corps (Grande Armée), a formation of the Imperial French army dur ...
with headquarters in
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...
. While in this position, Truesdell oversaw the training of units in New York and
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
, including the 1st Infantry Division and the
26th Infantry Division, as they prepared to travel overseas for combat.
In January 1942, Truesdell was assigned to the
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone ( es, Zona del Canal de Panamá), also simply known as the Canal Zone, was an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the Isthmus of Panama, that existed from 1903 to 1979. It was located within the terr ...
as deputy commander of the
Caribbean Defense Command
The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), located in Doral, Florida in Greater Miami, is one of the eleven unified combatant commands in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, op ...
. He served in Panama only briefly because in March 1942 he was assigned to Fort Leavenworth as commandant of the Command and General Staff College. While serving as commandant, Truesdell oversaw modernization of the curriculum, which ensured that officers learning skills that would enable them to serve on staffs at division level and higher worked with the geography, scenarios, and techniques of World War II rather than outdated scenarios and information. In addition, women attended staff college courses for the first time when officers of the
Women's Army Corps detailed to the
Services of Supply were enrolled as students in courses on logistics management.
Truesdell remained in command through the end of the war and retired in November 1945. His wartime service was recognized with a second award of the
Army Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...
. In addition, Truesdell received 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 ...
(Honorary Commander) to recognize his efforts to educate British officers at the Command and General Staff College and conduct student and instructor exchanges with the British staff college.
Later life
In retirement, Truesdell was a resident of
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase () is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place (Chevy Chase (CDP), Maryland) that straddle the northwest border of Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Several settlements in th ...
and maintained a summer home in
Silver Lake
Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...
, a hamlet in the village of
Perry, which is in the town of
Castile.
He died at his summer home on July 16, 1955.
Truesdell was buried at
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
.
Family
In April 1907, Truesdell married married Mary Maurice Smith (1886–1960). They were the parents of a son, Karl Truesdell Jr. (1908–1978) and a daughter, Cecile Olive (1910–1997). The younger Karl Truesdell was a career officer in the
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
and
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
, and attained the rank of major general.
Cecile Truesdell was the wife of army Brigadier General Edgar Thomas Conley Jr.
Conley was the son of Major General
Edgar Thomas Conley.
References
External links
Karl Truesdell (1882–1955)at Arlington National Cemetery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Truesdell, Karl
1882 births
1955 deaths
United States Army Infantry Branch personnel
United States Army Signal Corps personnel
United States Army Coast Artillery Corps personnel
People from Moorhead, Minnesota
Military personnel from Washington, D.C.
People from Chevy Chase, Maryland
People from Castile, New York
United States Army personnel of World War I
United States Army personnel of World War II
United States Army generals
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
United States Army War College alumni
Naval War College alumni
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery