Theodore Leslie Futch (January 19, 1895 – January 18, 1992) was a

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

officer with the rank of brigadier general. He spent his whole army career in the Field Artillery Branch.

Early life

Theodore Leslie Futch was born on January 19, 1895, in

Monroe, North Carolina Monroe is a city in and the county seat of Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population increased from 32,797 in 2010 United States census, 2010 to 34,551 in 2020 United States census, 2020. It is within the rapidly growing Charlot ...

. He attended the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...

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 (state), New York, General George Washington stationed his headquarters in West Point in the summer and fall of 1779 durin ...

and graduated there on August 30, 1917. He was also commissioned Second Lieutenant of

Field Artillery Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support army, armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, short range, long range, and extremely long range target engagement. Until the ear ...

on the same date. Many of his West Point classmates later became general officers during World War II. For example:

J. Lawton Collins General Joseph Lawton Collins (1 May 1896 – 12 September 1987) was a senior United States Army officer. During World War II, he served in both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operations, one of a few senior American commanders to do so. H ...

Mark W. Clark Mark Wayne Clark (1 May 1896 – 17 April 1984) was a United States Army officer who fought in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He was the youngest four-star general in the U.S. Army during World War II. During World War I, he wa ...

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, Ernest N. Harmon, Laurence B. Keiser, Milton B. Halsey, Charles H. Gerhardt, William K. Harrison, Jr.,

Robert W. Hasbrouck Robert W. Hasbrouck (February 2, 1896 – August 19, 1985) was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of major general and was a recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including the Army Distinguished Service Med ...

Bryant Moore Major General Bryant Edward Moore (June 6, 1894 – February 24, 1951) was a United States Army officer who commanded the 8th Infantry Division during and after World War II, and the IX Corps in the Korean War. Biography Early life and militar ...

, Harris M. Melasky,

William W. Eagles Major General William Willis Eagles (January 12, 1895 − February 19, 1988) was a decorated officer in the United States Army. A graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA), he is most noted for his service during World War II as Com ...

Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr. Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf ( , ; August 28, 1895 – November 25, 1958) was the first superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. He is best known for his involvement in the Lindbergh kidnapping case. He was the father of General Norman ...

, Miles A. Cowles, Henry A. Barber, Jr., Theodore E. Buechler, John T. Cole, Harold A. Nisley, Horace Harding,

Charles S. Kilburn Charles S. Kilburn (January 2, 1895 – December 28, 1978) was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of brigadier general and was most notable for his World War II command of the 11th Armored Division from 1944 to 1945 ...

, George H. Weems or William O. Reeder. Futch served in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and was appointed an aide de camp to Brigadier General Harry G. Bishop, who served as commander of the 3rd Artillery Brigade. He served in this capacity until 1919, when he was transferred back to the States, where he was appointed a professor of military science and tactics at

Iowa State College Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State be ...

. In 1926, Futch attended the Battery Officer's Course at

United States Army Field Artillery School The United States Army Field Artillery School (USAFAS) trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander. The school further devel ...

Fort Sill Fort Sill is a United States Army post north of Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Oklahoma City. It covers almost . The fort was first built during the Indian Wars. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark a ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

. Subsequently, served there as an instructor until 1930. While serving as a captain with the

13th Field Artillery Regiment The 13th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army first formed in 1916. History The 13th Field Artillery was constituted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army at Camp Stewart, Texas. Lineage Constituted 1 ...

Oahu, Hawaii Oahu (, , sometimes written Oahu) is the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands and of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu's southeast coast. The island of Oahu and the uninhabited Northw ...

, he saved a life from drowning of Private First Class Alexander J. Kaye of the Service Battery. For this action, Futch was awarded with the

Soldier's Medal The Soldier's Medal is an individual decoration of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926., Appendix 5, p. 126. The Soldier's Medal is equivalent ...

. In 1935, Futch graduated from 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 ...

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 landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

. Then he served as a professor of military science and tactics at

Alabama Polytechnic Institute Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a public land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a total enrollment of more than 34,000 students ...

until 1939.

World War II

During the year of 1939, Futch was transferred back to Hawaii, where he served with the 11th Field Artillery Brigade. In 1940, Futch was appointed commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion,

18th Field Artillery Regiment The 18th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army first formed in 1916. History The 18th Field Artillery was organized 1 June 1917 in the Regular Army. Lineage Distinctive unit insignia *Description A ...

. His next service assignment was back at

, where he was appointed executive officer of the

Field Artillery School The United States Army Field Artillery School (USAFAS) trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander. The school further develo ...

. In 1942, he was appointed an assistant commander of the Field Artillery School. In December 1942, Futch was transferred to the XIII Corps under command of Major General

Emil F. Reinhardt Emil Fred Reinhardt (October 27, 1888 – July 24, 1969) was a United States Army officer who served from 1910 to 1946 and attained the rank of major general. He is most noted during World War II as commander of the 69th Infantry Division, whic ...

, where he was appointed the corps' artillery commander. He spent his time with the corps in the states, and in November 1943, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. In 1944, he was transferred to the 35th Infantry Division under the command of Major General

Paul W. Baade Major General Paul William Baade (April 16, 1889 – October 9, 1959) was a highly decorated United States Army officer. An alumnus of the United States Military Academy (USMA) alumni and veteran of World War I and World War II, he is most note ...

as its artillery commander. Then, he was sent to the

European Theater The European theatre of World War II was one of the two main Theater (warfare), theatres of combat during World War II, taking place from September 1939 to May 1945. The Allies of World War II, Allied powers (including the United Kingdom, the ...

. With 35th Division, Futch participated in many battles of World War II, including in

Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...

, the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. Futch stayed with the 35th Division until September 1945, where the Division returned to the states. For his service with the 35th Infantry Division during the war, Futch was awarded with the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

, four

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious a ...

s and multiple foreign decorations.

Postwar life

On September 25, 1945, Futch was appointed the commanding general of

Fort Bragg Fort Bragg (formerly Fort Liberty from 2023–2025) is a United States Army, U.S. Army Military base, military installation located in North Carolina. It ranks among the largest military bases in the world by population, with more than 52,000 m ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

and stayed in this capacity until the beginning of January 1946. Futch then served as executive officer of the Civilian Components at

Fort McPherson Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in Atlanta, Georgia, bordering the northern edge of the city of East Point, Georgia. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Ar ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

, before he was transferred to

The Citadel The Citadel Military College of South Carolina (simply known as The Citadel) is a public senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1842, it is the third oldest of the six senior military colleges ...

, where he was a professor of Military Science & Tactics until 1950. His last military assignment was as commanding general of the

Fort Indiantown Gap Fort Indiantown Gap, also referred to as "The Gap" or "FIG", is a census-designated place and National Guard Training Center primarily located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. A portion of the installation is located in eastern ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, where he retired on August 31, 1954. Following his retirement, he served as the commandant of cadets at Lyman Ward Military Academy in

Camp Hill, Alabama Camp Hill is a town in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. It was incorporated in 1895. At the 2010 census the population was 1,014, down from 1,273 in 2000. Camp Hill is the home to Southern Preparatory Academy (formerly known as "Lyman ...

, from 1959 through 1967.

Personal life

Futch married three times: He married his second wife in 1925 to Ida Reid Calhoun, with whom he had a daughter, Ida. They divorced in 1929, but Futch married again in 1931 to Margaret McLean Chase and had a son, David, and two daughters, Ellen and Katherine.

Decorations

Here is Brigadier General Futch's ribbon bar:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Futch, Theodore Leslie 1895 births 1992 deaths United States Army Field Artillery Branch personnel People from Monroe, North Carolina Military personnel from North Carolina United States Military Academy alumni United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Soldier's Medal American recipients of the Legion of Honour American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) United States Army generals of World War II United States Army generals Auburn University faculty Iowa State University faculty