Herbert B. Powell
Encyclopedia
Herbert Butler Powell was a U.S. Army General
, and Commanding General of the U.S. Continental Army Command, and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.
on July 13, 1903. He joined the Oregon National Guard as a Private in 1919, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He received his commission in 1927 after graduating from the University of Oregon
.
During World War II, Powell was chief of staff of the 75th Infantry Division, fighting in Europe. In the Korean War
, Powell commanded the only U.S. regiment, the 17th Infantry
, to reach the Yalu River
. Prior to coming to Fort Shafter
, General Powell commanded the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks where he was known as the "Soldier's General." He briefly commanded the U.S. Army, Pacific for three months, from April to July 1956, as an interim commander for General Blackshear M. Bryan. Following his Command at U.S. Army, Pacific, he later received promotions to lieutenant general and general. Subsequent commands included Commanding General for the Third United States Army in Fort McPherson
, Georgia, and Commanding General of the U.S. Continental Army Command, Fort Monroe
, Virginia.
Other significant duties for General Powell were Commandant of the United States Army Infantry School
at Fort Benning
, Georgia, and Deputy Commanding General for Reserve Forces at Fort Monroe
. After his retirement in 1963, President John F. Kennedy
appointed him U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, a post he filled from 1963 to 1967. He died on 3 April 1998 in a nursing home in Williamsburg, Virginia
.
, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit
with oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star
with two oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart
, and the Air Medal
. He was also a qualified Army aviator. Powell was inducted posthumously into the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication Hall of Achievement on October 14, 2004.
Combat Infantryman Badge
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
, and Commanding General of the U.S. Continental Army Command, and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.
Early live & career
Powell was born in Monmouth, OregonMonmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
on July 13, 1903. He joined the Oregon National Guard as a Private in 1919, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He received his commission in 1927 after graduating from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
.
During World War II, Powell was chief of staff of the 75th Infantry Division, fighting in Europe. In 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...
, Powell commanded the only U.S. regiment, the 17th Infantry
17th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 17th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment. While the 17th Infantry Regiment was organized on January 11, 1812, it was consolidated with the 3rd Infantry due to extremely heavy losses at Frenchtown, and lost its identity two years later until May 3, 1861, when it was...
, to reach the Yalu River
Yalu River
The Yalu River or the Amnok River is a river on the border between North Korea and the People's Republic of China....
. Prior to coming to Fort Shafter
Fort Shafter
Fort Shafter is in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawai‘i, extending up the interfluve between Kalihi and Moanalua valleys, as well as onto the coastal plain at Māpunapuna. Fort Shafter is the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific Command, the MACOM of U.S. Army forces in...
, General Powell commanded the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks where he was known as the "Soldier's General." He briefly commanded the U.S. Army, Pacific for three months, from April to July 1956, as an interim commander for General Blackshear M. Bryan. Following his Command at U.S. Army, Pacific, he later received promotions to lieutenant general and general. Subsequent commands included Commanding General for the Third United States Army in Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in East Point, Georgia, on the southwest edge of the City of Atlanta, Ga. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Army Forces Command; the U.S. Army Reserve Command; the U.S...
, Georgia, and Commanding General of the U.S. Continental Army Command, Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
, Virginia.
Other significant duties for General Powell were Commandant of the United States Army Infantry School
United States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...
at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia, and Deputy Commanding General for Reserve Forces at Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
. After his retirement in 1963, President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
appointed him U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, a post he filled from 1963 to 1967. He died on 3 April 1998 in a nursing home in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
.
Awards and decorations
Powell's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with two oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, and the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
. He was also a qualified Army aviator. Powell was inducted posthumously into the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication Hall of Achievement on October 14, 2004.
Combat Infantryman BadgeCombat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
| Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross (United States) The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree... |
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| Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (United States) The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United... |
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| Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... (oak leaf cluster) |
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| Bronze Star Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the... (two oak leaf clusters) |
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| Purple Heart Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York... |
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| Air Medal Air Medal The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:... |
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| Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | |