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Leonard Townsend Gerow

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Leonard Townsend Gerow Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Petersburg, Petersburg City, Virginia, USA
Death
12 Oct 1972 (aged 84)
Petersburg, Petersburg City, Virginia, USA
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 4, Lot 5634
Memorial ID
View Source
United States Army General. He began his military career as an officer in the Regular Army, serving in the Mexican Campaign and in France during World War I. After returning to America, he served in various command post and was promoted Brigadier General in 1940. He is most noted for his duties in World War II, when he was promoted Major General in command of the US V Corps, the largest unit of troops in the European Theater of Operations. He played a major part in the planning of the invasion of Europe and he was the first corps commander ashore on Normandy, D-Day June 6, 1944. He kept close to his advancing V Corps troops and was the first American general officer to enter Paris after its liberation by the 2nd French Armored and US 4th Infantry. In January 1945, he was given command of the US 15th Army and promoted Lieutenant General. After the war, he was appointed Commanding General of the US 2nd Army in 1948 and retired a full General by special Act of Congress, in 1954.
United States Army General. He began his military career as an officer in the Regular Army, serving in the Mexican Campaign and in France during World War I. After returning to America, he served in various command post and was promoted Brigadier General in 1940. He is most noted for his duties in World War II, when he was promoted Major General in command of the US V Corps, the largest unit of troops in the European Theater of Operations. He played a major part in the planning of the invasion of Europe and he was the first corps commander ashore on Normandy, D-Day June 6, 1944. He kept close to his advancing V Corps troops and was the first American general officer to enter Paris after its liberation by the 2nd French Armored and US 4th Infantry. In January 1945, he was given command of the US 15th Army and promoted Lieutenant General. After the war, he was appointed Commanding General of the US 2nd Army in 1948 and retired a full General by special Act of Congress, in 1954.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Sep 9, 2002
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6766708/leonard_townsend-gerow: accessed ), memorial page for Leonard Townsend Gerow (13 Jul 1888–12 Oct 1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6766708, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.