Donald Prentice Booth
Encyclopedia
Donald Prentice Booth was a Lieutenant General
in the United States Army
. During World War II
he was the US Army's youngest theater commander. After World War II he was known for his commands of the 28th Infantry Division, the 9th Infantry Division and the Fourth United States Army. In addition, he served as High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands from 1958 to 1961.
and World War I
. Donald Booth attended Hawaii's
Punahou School
, and high schools in San Antonio, Texas
, Albany, New York
, and Patchogue, New York
before graduating from Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas
in 1921. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1926 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Engineers
.
.
Booth graduated from the Army Engineer Officer Course in 1930.
From 1935 to 1939 he was an Instructor at the US Military Academy.
Booth graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1940. Later that year, he served with the 2nd Engineers
at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and was then transferred to be Assistant to the District Engineer in Seattle from 1940-1942.
, receiving promotion to Brigadier General in May 1944. The Persian Gulf Command was responsible for transporting supplies to the U.S.S.R. after the it joined the Allied war effort. Booth served as Chief of Staff from 1944 to 1945, and commanded the organization from early 1945 until the end of the war.
From 1953 to 1954 General Booth was commander of the 28th Infantry Division in Germany
when this National Guard
organization was activated to replace active duty units sent to Asia
during the Korean War
.
Booth commanded the 9th Infantry Division, also in Germany, from May to November, 1954.
From 1955 to 1958 Booth was the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1.
General Booth served as US High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands from 1958 to 1961.
From 1961 to 1962 Booth was commander of the Fourth United States Army.
. In 1961 he received the Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class to recognize his efforts as High Commissioner for the Ryukyu Islands
.
Donald Prentice Booth page, Find A Grave web site
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was the US Army's youngest theater commander. After World War II he was known for his commands of the 28th Infantry Division, the 9th Infantry Division and the Fourth United States Army. In addition, he served as High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands from 1958 to 1961.
Early life
Donald Prentice Booth was the son of an Colonel Alfred James Booth (1875–1937), a career Army officer and veteran of the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Donald Booth attended Hawaii's
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
, and high schools in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and Patchogue, New York
Patchogue, New York
-Notable citizens:* Franc D'Ambrosio, Broadway Actor, best known for being the longest running Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. Graduated Pat-Med HS 1981* Michael Fagan, professional bowler...
before graduating from Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
in 1921. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1926 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
.
Early military career
After receiving his commission Booth pursued graduate studies in engineering at Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
Booth graduated from the Army Engineer Officer Course in 1930.
From 1935 to 1939 he was an Instructor at the US Military Academy.
Booth graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1940. Later that year, he served with the 2nd Engineers
2nd Engineer Battalion (United States)
The 2nd Engineer Battalion is an engineering battalion in the United States Army which can trace its lineage back to 1861.-Lineage:Organized 31 December 1861 in the Regular Army at Washington, D.C., from new and existing companies of engineers as a provisional engineer battalion Expanded 14 March-7...
at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and was then transferred to be Assistant to the District Engineer in Seattle from 1940-1942.
World War II
From 1942 to 1944, Booth served as Director of Ports for the Persian Gulf CommandPersian Gulf Command
The Persian Gulf Command was a United States Army service command established in December 1943 to assure the supply of U.S. lend-lease war material to the Soviet Union. Its history originated in September 1941, when the U.S. Military Iranian Mission led by Engineer officer COL Raymond A. Wheeler ...
, receiving promotion to Brigadier General in May 1944. The Persian Gulf Command was responsible for transporting supplies to the U.S.S.R. after the it joined the Allied war effort. Booth served as Chief of Staff from 1944 to 1945, and commanded the organization from early 1945 until the end of the war.
Post World War II
Following World War II Booth served in positions of increasing visibility and responsibility, including a posting as Executive Assistant to the Undersecretary of WarFrom 1953 to 1954 General Booth was commander of the 28th Infantry Division in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
when this National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
organization was activated to replace active duty units sent to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Booth commanded the 9th Infantry Division, also in Germany, from May to November, 1954.
From 1955 to 1958 Booth was the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1.
General Booth served as US High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands from 1958 to 1961.
From 1961 to 1962 Booth was commander of the Fourth United States Army.
Awards and Decorations
General Booth's awards included multiple presentations of the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
. In 1961 he received the Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class to recognize his efforts as High Commissioner for the Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
.
Retirement and Death
In retirement General Booth lived in Santa Barbara, California, where he died on October 30, 1993. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3-HH, Row 2, Site 3.External Resources
Donald Prentice Booth page, Arlington National Cemetery web siteDonald Prentice Booth page, Find A Grave web site