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 ...
William Willis Eagles (January 12, 1895 − February 19, 1988) was a decorated officer in the
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 ...
. 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 ...
(USMA), he is most noted for his service 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 ...
as
Commanding General
The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitud ...
(CG) of the
45th Infantry Division from 1943 to 1944.
Following the end of the war, Eagles remained in the army and served as CG of the
9th Infantry Division, following by CG Ryukyus Command, Okinawa or Inspector-General of the Army’s European Command, before retiring from military service in 1953.
Early life and military career
William Willis Eagles was born on January 12, 1895, in
Albion, Indiana
Albion is a town in Albion and Jefferson townships, Noble County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 2,349 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Noble County.
History
Albion was laid out in 1846. The town was named ...
, as the son of Edward and Maud Eagles. He graduated from Albion High School in May 1913 and received an appointment to 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 ...
(USMA) 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 ...
, soon afterwards. He graduated from there in April 1917, shortly after the
American entry into World War I
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
, with a
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
and was
commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the
Infantry Branch of the
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 ...
.
He was a member of the class which produced more than 55 future general officers, including two
Army Chiefs of Staff
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
Joseph L. Collins and
Matthew B. Ridgway. Other classmates include:
Clare H. Armstrong,
Aaron Bradshaw Jr.,
Mark W. Clark
Mark Wayne Clark (May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984) was a United States Army officer who saw service during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He was the youngest four-star general in the US Army during World War II.
During World War I ...
,
John T. Cole,
Norman D. Cota,
John M. Devine,
Theodore L. Futch,
Charles H. Gerhardt
Major general (United States), Major General Charles Hunter Gerhardt (June 6, 1895 – October 9, 1976) was a senior United States Army Officer (armed forces), officer who fought in both World War I and World War II. During the latter, he commande ...
,
Augustus M. Gurney
Augustus Milton Gurney (February 18, 1895 – April 10, 1967) was an officer in the United States Army with the rank of brigadier general during World War II. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he served mostly in the staff positio ...
,
Ernest N. Harmon,
William Kelly 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 Medal, ...
,
Frederick A. Irving,
Laurence B. Keiser
Major General Laurence B. "Dutch" Keiser (June 1, 1895 – October 20, 1969) was an American officer who served in both World War I and World War II. During the early stages of the Korean War, he commanded the 2nd Infantry Division.
Early life ...
,
Charles S. Kilburn,
Bryant E. Moore,
Daniel Noce,
Onslow S. Rolfe
Onslow S. Rolfe (January 16, 1895 – January 29, 1985) was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of brigadier general during World War II as commander of the Mountain Training Center at Camp Hale, Colorado, and the 7 ...
,
Herbert N. Schwarzkopf,
Albert C. Smith,
George D. Wahl,
Raymond E. S. Williamson, and
George H. Weems.
Eagles did not go overseas 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 remained stateside. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant and assumed duty as an Instructor at the
Army Infantry School at
Fort Benning,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
in early 1921. He then served as Professor of Military Science & Tactics at
Ripon College in
Ripon, Wisconsin, for five years and returned to the Infantry School as an Instructor with the rank of captain. He was promoted to major on October 1, 1932, while in this capacity.
He was ordered to the instruction at
Army 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
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 perma ...
,
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 ...
, in June 1935. One year later, Eagles was ordered to
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.
"Fort Sam Houston, TX • About Fort Sam Houston" (overview),
US Army, 2007, webpageSH-Army.
Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the U.S. Senator from Texas, U.S. Represen ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
, where he joined the headquarters of 8th Corps Area under Major General
Herbert J. Brees
Herbert Jay Brees (June 12, 1877 – December 22, 1958) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army.
Early military career
Brees was born in Laramie, Wyoming on June 12, 1877. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor o ...
as Officer-in-Charge of Supply, Construction & Budget. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on July 1, 1940.
World War II
By the beginning of November 1940, Eagles was attached to the headquarters,
VIII Corps 8th Corps, Eighth Corps, or VIII Corps may refer to:
* VIII Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars
* VIII Army Corps (German Confederation)
* VIII Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Ar ...
, commanded by Major General
George V. Strong and located at Fort Sam Houston. Eagles was promoted to the temporary rank of colonel on December 11, 1941, just four days after the
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii ...
and the
German declaration of war against the United States
On 11 December 1941, four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States declaration of war against the Japanese Empire, Nazi Germany declared war against the United States, in response to what was claimed to be a serie ...
, which brought the country into World War II.
Eagles was ordered to
Camp Gruber
Camp Gruber is an Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKARNG) training facility. It covers a total of .
The base is named after Brigadier General Edmund L. Gruber, a noted artillery officer and the original composer of the U.S. Field Artillery Marc ...
,
Oklahoma, and in May 1942 he assumed command of the
351st Infantry Regiment, part of the newly raised
88th Infantry Division. He held that command for just less than two months, however, as he was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general on July 23, 1942, and succeeded Brigadier General
Eugene M. Landrum as the assistant division commander (ADC) of the
3rd Infantry Division, then commanded by Major General
Jonathan W. Anderson
Jonathan may refer to:
*Jonathan (name), a masculine given name
Media
* ''Jonathan'' (1970 film), a German film directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer
* ''Jonathan'' (2016 film), a German film directed by Piotr J. Lewandowski
* ''Jonathan'' (2018 ...
.
While attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, he was co-responsible for the training and preparation of men for combat deployment overseas. Eagles accompanied his division to
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
during
Operation Torch, the
Allied invasion of North Africa, at the beginning of November 1942 and participated in the combats in
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...
and
Tunis
''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois
, population_note =
, population_urban =
, population_metro = 2658816
, population_density_km2 =
, timezone1 = CET
, utc_offset1 ...
. The 3rd Infantry Division, now commanded by Major General
Lucian Truscott
General Lucian King Truscott Jr. (January 9, 1895 – September 12, 1965) was a highly decorated senior United States Army officer, who saw distinguished active service during World War II. Between 1943–1945, he successively commanded the 3rd ...
, later
landed on Sicily in July 1943 and participated in the liberation of
Palermo and
Messina. For his service with the 3rd Infantry Division, Eagles received the
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 ...
.
The division then took part in the early stages of the bitter
Italian campaign, which the Allies had
invaded in September 1943, helping to breach the
Volturno Line
The Volturno Line (also known as the Viktor Line; , ) was a German defensive position in Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II.
The line ran from Termoli in the east, along the Biferno River through the Apennine Mountains to the ...
in October.
Eagles was promoted to the rank of major general on November 4, 1943, and relieved Major General
Troy H. Middleton in command of the
45th Infantry Division, an
Army National Guard formation recruiting largely from
Oklahoma, who was promoted to the command of
VIII Corps 8th Corps, Eighth Corps, or VIII Corps may refer to:
* VIII Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars
* VIII Army Corps (German Confederation)
* VIII Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Ar ...
in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
in preparation for the
Normandy landings
The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and ...
. Brigadier General
John W. O'Daniel
Lieutenant General John Wilson O'Daniel (February 15, 1894 – March 27, 1975), nicknamed " Iron Mike", was a senior United States Army officer who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He is perhaps best known for serving wit ...
succeeded Eagles as ADC of the 3rd Division. Aided by Brigadier General
Paul C. Paschal as his ADC, Eagles led the 45th Division during the latter phases of the
Anzio landings (codenamed Operation Shingle) in late January 1944. This was followed in the next few weeks by severe static fighting, similar to the
trench warfare
Trench warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied lines largely comprising military trenches, in which troops are well-protected from the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery. Trench warfare became ar ...
which had characterized so much of the fighting on the
Western Front during most of World War I, in the
Anzio
Anzio (, also , ) is a town and ''comune'' on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.
Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands ...
beachhead, and then during the
breakout from the Anzio beachhead towards the end of May and which ultimately led to the subsequent liberation of 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 ...
capital of
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
in early June. After having endured so much heavy fighting, the division was withdrawn from combat soon afterwards. For his services so far during the campaign in Italy, Eagles was decorated with the
Army Distinguished Service Medal, together with the
Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and the
Bronze Medal of Valor by the
government of Italy
The government of Italy is in the form of a democratic republic, and was established by a constitution in 1948. It consists of legislative, executive, and judicial subdivisions, as well as a Head of State, or President.
The Italian Constituti ...
.
The citation for the Army DSM reads:
After being withdrawn, the 45th Division, under Eagles, began conducting training in
amphibious warfare, having been selected to participate in the Allied invasion of Southern France (codenamed
Operation Dragoon). The operation began on August 15, 1944, with the 45th landing at
St. Maxime. Eagles commanded his 45th Division during the liberation of
Epinal and
Rambervillers
Rambervillers () is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France.
Inhabitants are called ''Rambuvetais''.
Geography
The town is built on the banks of the Mortagne, some to the west of Saint-Dié and to the north-e ...
in September of that year, before advancing on to the
Vosges mountains
The Vosges ( , ; german: Vogesen ; Franconian and gsw, Vogese) are a range of low mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a single ...
. On November 30, Eagles was seriously wounded when the jeep in which he was riding struck a land mine and forced his evacuation to the United States, with his position as
commanding general
The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitud ...
(CG) of the 45th going to Brigadier General
Robert T. Frederick
Major General Robert Tryon Frederick (March 14, 1907 – November 29, 1970) was a senior United States Army officer who fought in World War II. During the war, he commanded the 1st Special Service Force, the 1st Allied Airborne Task Force, and t ...
, formerly the commander of the
First Special Service Force
The 1st Special Service Force was an elite American–Canadian commando unit in World War II, under the command of the United States Fifth Army. The unit was organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana i ...
. For his service during Operation Dragoon, Eagles received his second Army Distinguished Service Medal, as well as a
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, ...
. The
government of France bestowed him with the
Legion of Honour
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 ...
, rank Commander and
''Croix de guerre 1939-1945'' with Palm.
Postwar service
Eagles spent next six months in hospital stateside and was pronounced fit for duty in June 1945, a month after the
surrender of Germany
The German Instrument of Surrender (german: Bedingungslose Kapitulation der Wehrmacht, lit=Unconditional Capitulation of the "Wehrmacht"; russian: Акт о капитуляции Германии, Akt o kapitulyatsii Germanii, lit=Act of capit ...
. He was ordered to
Camp Hood
Fort Hood is a United States Army post located near Killeen, Texas. Named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, it is located halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas. The post is the headquarters ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
, and succeeded Brigadier General
Thomas F. Bresnahan as commanding general of
Infantry Replacement Training Center
The United States Replacement and School Command was a training and receiving formation of the United States Army during World War II.
History
It was established as part of the Army Ground Forces in March 1942, after it was noted that divis ...
there. He was reverted to the peacetime rank of colonel by the end of December 1945, but promoted shortly thereafter to brigadier general.
He was appointed President of Interview Boards, Regular Army Integration Program and held that assignment until August 1946, when he was promoted back to major general and assumed command of
9th Infantry Division at
Fort Dix,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
. Eagles also held additional duty as commanding general,
Fort Dix and was tasked with the demobilization of the troops returning from overseas service.
Eagles was ordered to the
Far East
The ''Far East'' was a European term to refer to the geographical regions that includes East and Southeast Asia as well as the Russian Far East to a lesser extent. South Asia is sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.
The ter ...
in April 1948 and assumed duty as commanding general,
Ryukyus Command on
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
. While in this capacity, he was responsible for the civil administration of the Ryukyus Islands, reconstruction of infrastructure, repatriation of refugees or prisoners-of-war and held that command until October 1949.
Following his arrival stateside and brief leave at home, he was ordered 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, ...
, where he joined Army Personnel Board and served in this capacity until July 1951, when he was ordered to
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
for duty as Inspector-General,
U.S. European Command under his West Point classmate,
Matthew Ridgway
General Matthew Bunker Ridgway (March 3, 1895 – July 26, 1993) was a senior officer in the United States Army, who served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1952–1953) and the 19th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1953–1955). Altho ...
. In February 1952, he was appointed Director of Military Posts Division at the headquarters U.S. European Command and remained in that capacity until January 31, 1953, when he retired from active duty after almost 36 years of commissioned service.
Retirement and death
Upon his retirement from the army, Eagles settled 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, ...
, where he lived until his death. Major General William W. Eagles died on February 19, 1988, aged 93, in
Suburban Hospital
Suburban Hospital is a community-based, not-for-profit hospital serving Montgomery County, Maryland, and the surrounding area since 1943. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, Suburban is the designated trauma center for Montgomery County. Suburban Hos ...
in
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda () is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland. It is located just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in ...
. He was buried with full military honors 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 ...
,
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 ...
. His wife, Dorothy Van Slyck (1897-1997) is buried beside him.
Arlington National Cemetery
/ref> They have a son, Edward, and a daughter, Anne.
Decorations
The ribbon bar of Major General William W. Eagles:
References
External links
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eagles, William W.
1895 births
1988 deaths
People from Albion, Indiana
United States Military Academy alumni
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
United States Army personnel of World War I
United States Army Infantry Branch personnel
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
Recipients of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
United States Army generals of World War II
United States Army generals
Military personnel from Indiana
Ripon College (Wisconsin) faculty
United States Army Command and General Staff College faculty