Eastern Defense Command
Encyclopedia
Eastern Defense Command (EDC) was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Atlantic Coast region of the United States. EDC replaced the existing Northeast Defense Command. A second major responsibility of EDC was the training of soldiers prior to their deployment overseas. The first Commanding General of EDC was Lieutenant General
Hugh A. Drum
, who continued on in command of the First U.S. Army. EDC headquarters was co-located with the existing First Army headquarters and a soon to be established Second Corps Area
at Fort Jay
, Governors Island
in New York Harbor
. EDC's operational region covered the states of Maine
, New Hampshire
, Vermont
, Massachusetts
, Rhode Island
, Connecticut
, New York, New Jersey
, Pennsylvania
, Delaware
, Maryland
, Virginia
, North Carolina
, South Carolina
, Georgia
and Florida (minus the western half of the Panhandle
)
as well as the District of Columbia.
The headquarters of First U.S. Army moved to Bristol
, England in October 1943 when Lieutenant General Omar Bradley
assumed command. Lieutenant General George Grunert
retained command of Eastern Defense Command.
On 24 December 1941 the name of EDC was changed to Eastern Theater of Operations, but the original name was adopted once again on 11 March 1942. On 15 January 1944 Central Defense Command
was merged into EDC. A year later, Southern Defense Command
was also taken over by EDC. Eastern Defense Command itself was disbanded on 15 March 1946.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Hugh A. Drum
Hugh A. Drum
Hugh Aloysius Drum September 19, 1879 – October 3, 1951 was a U.S. general.Born in Fort Brady, Chippewa County, Michigan, he graduated from Boston College in 1898.Joining the United States Army, he was made a second lieutenant in the 12th Infantry Regiment...
, who continued on in command of the First U.S. Army. EDC headquarters was co-located with the existing First Army headquarters and a soon to be established Second Corps Area
Corps area
A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
at Fort Jay
Fort Jay
Fort Jay is a harbor fortification and the name of the former Army post located on Governors Island in New York Harbor. Fort Jay is the oldest defensive structure on the island, built to defend Upper New York Bay, but has served other purposes...
, Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
in New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
. EDC's operational region covered the states of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, New York, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Florida (minus the western half of the Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
)
as well as the District of Columbia.
The headquarters of First U.S. Army moved to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England in October 1943 when Lieutenant General Omar Bradley
Omar Bradley
Omar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...
assumed command. Lieutenant General George Grunert
George Grunert
George Grunert was a United States Army cavalry officer who retired as a Lieutenant General in a 47 year career that extended from the Spanish-American War to the end of World War II.-Education and early career:...
retained command of Eastern Defense Command.
On 24 December 1941 the name of EDC was changed to Eastern Theater of Operations, but the original name was adopted once again on 11 March 1942. On 15 January 1944 Central Defense Command
Central Defense Command
Central Defense Command was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Midwest region of the United States. A second major responsibility of CDC was the training of soldiers prior to their deployment overseas...
was merged into EDC. A year later, Southern Defense Command
Southern Defense Command
Southern Defense Command was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Gulf of Mexico coastal region of the United States. A second major responsibility of SDC was the training of soldiers prior to their deployment overseas...
was also taken over by EDC. Eastern Defense Command itself was disbanded on 15 March 1946.
Commanders
The following men served as Commanding General, Eastern Defense Command:- Lieutenant General Hugh A. DrumHugh A. DrumHugh Aloysius Drum September 19, 1879 – October 3, 1951 was a U.S. general.Born in Fort Brady, Chippewa County, Michigan, he graduated from Boston College in 1898.Joining the United States Army, he was made a second lieutenant in the 12th Infantry Regiment...
, 18 March 1941 – 8 October 1943 - Lieutenant General George GrunertGeorge GrunertGeorge Grunert was a United States Army cavalry officer who retired as a Lieutenant General in a 47 year career that extended from the Spanish-American War to the end of World War II.-Education and early career:...
, 8 October 1943 – 31 July 1945 - Brigadier General Kenneth P. Lord, Acting Commanding General, 1 August 1945 – 15 March 1946
See also
- Western Defense CommandWestern Defense CommandWestern Defense Command was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Pacific Coast region of the United States. A second major responsibility was the training of soldiers prior to their deployment overseas. The first...
- Central Defense CommandCentral Defense CommandCentral Defense Command was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Midwest region of the United States. A second major responsibility of CDC was the training of soldiers prior to their deployment overseas...
- Southern Defense CommandSouthern Defense CommandSouthern Defense Command was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Gulf of Mexico coastal region of the United States. A second major responsibility of SDC was the training of soldiers prior to their deployment overseas...
- Alaska Defense CommandAlaska Defense CommandAlaska Defense Command was established on 4 February 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Alaska Territory of the United States...
- Caribbean Defense Command