James Millikin Bevans
Encyclopedia
James Millikin Bevans was a Major General
in the United States Air Force
.
in 1899. It cannot be confirmed who his parents were, though it has been considered possible that his parents were United States Army
Colonel
James Lung Bevans of Platteville, Wisconsin
and Dessie Millikin Bevans of Decatur, Illinois
, judging by the similarity of the names and the fact that their graves are adjacent to each other at Arlington National Cemetery
. He would marry Lorna Downs, who died in 1999. Bevans died on May 1, 1977.
in 1917, but would not graduate. However, he enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps at Princeton University
. Bevans would complete his officer training at Camp Lee and be commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in the Army. In 1922 Bevans graduated from the United States Army Field Artillery School
. Bevans would become Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Iowa State College
in October 1924. In 1927 Bevans was transferred to the United States Army Air Corps
and assigned to March Field
. Bevans would be assigned to serve at France Field
in 1930 and would become its Adjutant in 1931. In 1937 Bevans graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School
. The following year he would graduate from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and be assigned as the Adjutant of Mitchel Field
. In 1940 he was named Assistant Executive Officer in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps. He was named Chief of the Enlisted Section of the Military Personnel in June 1941 and Chief of the Officer's Section in October of the same year. Bevans served as Assistant for Personnel from January to March 1942 when he was appointed Director of Personnel of the United States Army Air Forces
Headquarters. Soon after he was named Assistant Chief of Air Staff. He would be appointed as Deputy for Administration of the U.S. Army Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
in February 1945. In June of the same year he was named Commanding General of the Air Force in the Mediterranean Theater. That August he became Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel of the U.S. Forces in Europe
. In 1947 he became Director of Personnel and Administration of the U.S. Forces in Europe. He was named Chief of Personnel and Administration of Air Material Command
in 1948.
Awards he received include the Distinguished Service Medal
, the Legion of Merit
, and the Bronze Star Medal
.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Biography
Bevans was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1899. It cannot be confirmed who his parents were, though it has been considered possible that his parents were 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...
Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
James Lung Bevans of Platteville, Wisconsin
Platteville, Wisconsin
Platteville is the largest city in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin. The population was 11,224 at the 2010 census, growing 12% since the 2000 Census. Much of this growth is likely due to the enrollment increase of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville...
and Dessie Millikin Bevans of Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
, judging by the similarity of the names and the fact that their graves are adjacent to each other at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. He would marry Lorna Downs, who died in 1999. Bevans died on May 1, 1977.
Career
Bevans entered the United States Military AcademyUnited 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 1917, but would not graduate. However, he enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Bevans would complete his officer training at Camp Lee and be commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Army. In 1922 Bevans graduated from the United States Army Field Artillery School
United States Army Field Artillery School
The United States Army Field Artillery School trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander...
. Bevans would become Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Iowa State College
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
in October 1924. In 1927 Bevans was transferred to the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
and assigned to March Field
March Joint Air Reserve Base
March Joint Air Reserve Base is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 4th Air Force Headquarters and the 452d Air Mobility Wing , the largest air mobility wing of the 4th Air Force...
. Bevans would be assigned to serve at France Field
Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport
Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport is a commercial airport located in Colón, Panama, offering scheduled airline flights to the national capital, Panama City, and to other destinations....
in 1930 and would become its Adjutant in 1931. In 1937 Bevans graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School
Air Corps Tactical School
The Air Corps Tactical School, also known as ACTS and "the Tactical School", was a military professional development school for officers of the United States Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps, the first such school in the world. Created in 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia, it...
. The following year he would graduate from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and be assigned as the Adjutant of Mitchel Field
Mitchel Air Force Base
Decommissioned in 1961, Mitchel Field became a multi-use complex currently home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.-Origins:...
. In 1940 he was named Assistant Executive Officer in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps. He was named Chief of the Enlisted Section of the Military Personnel in June 1941 and Chief of the Officer's Section in October of the same year. Bevans served as Assistant for Personnel from January to March 1942 when he was appointed Director of Personnel of the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
Headquarters. Soon after he was named Assistant Chief of Air Staff. He would be appointed as Deputy for Administration of the U.S. Army Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
in February 1945. In June of the same year he was named Commanding General of the Air Force in the Mediterranean Theater. That August he became Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel of the U.S. Forces in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 1947 he became Director of Personnel and Administration of the U.S. Forces in Europe. He was named Chief of Personnel and Administration of Air Material Command
Air Force Logistics Command
Air Force Logistics Command was a United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...
in 1948.
Awards he received include the 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...
, 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...
, and the Bronze Star Medal
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...
.