LeRoy Lutes
Encyclopedia
General LeRoy Lutes was an American military officer who was in critical staff and supply positions during and after World War II.
Born in Cairo
, Illinois
, Lutes was a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy. He joined the Illinois National Guard
in 1906 and received a commission in the Regulars in 1917 while serving on the Mexican border. He spent 1922-1939 in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps
, with the last four years spent at the National Guard Bureau. In January 1940 he became assistant chief of staff for the Third Army in Atlanta, and he participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers
in 1940-1941. Brehon Somervell, impressed with Lutes' talents as a staff officer, helped advance his career. Lutes was appointed Director of Operations, Headquarters Services of Supply in 1942. In succession he became Acting Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Army Service Forces
; Chief of Staff and Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Service Forces; and on January 1, 1946, Commanding General, Army Service Forces. On June 11, 1946, he was assigned to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
’s General Staff as Director of the Service, Supply and Procurement Division. In 1947 he became Director of Staff of the Munitions Board and in 1949 he was made Commanding General of the Fourth Army. He retired from the Army in 1952. In 1955 he was appointed to a committee to advise the Office of Defense Mobilization
on the availability of commodities related to national defense.
For his services during World War II and its aftermath, Lutes received the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
.
.
Born in Cairo
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Lutes was a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy. He joined the Illinois National Guard
Illinois National Guard
The Illinois National Guard comprises both Army National Guard and Air National Guard components. The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and...
in 1906 and received a commission in the Regulars in 1917 while serving on the Mexican border. He spent 1922-1939 in the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps
U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps
The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps was a Corps level organization responsible for coastal and harbor defense of the United States between 1901 and 1950.-History:...
, with the last four years spent at the National Guard Bureau. In January 1940 he became assistant chief of staff for the Third Army in Atlanta, and he participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers
Louisiana Maneuvers
The Louisiana Maneuvers were a series of military exercises held all over north and west-central Louisiana, including Fort Polk, Camp Claiborne and Camp Livingston, in August and September 1941...
in 1940-1941. Brehon Somervell, impressed with Lutes' talents as a staff officer, helped advance his career. Lutes was appointed Director of Operations, Headquarters Services of Supply in 1942. In succession he became Acting Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Army Service Forces
Army Service Forces
The Army Service Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces. They were created on February 28, 1942 by Executive Order Number 9082 "Reorganizing the Army and the War Department"...
; Chief of Staff and Deputy to the Commanding General, Army Service Forces; and on January 1, 1946, Commanding General, Army Service Forces. On June 11, 1946, he was assigned to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
’s General Staff as Director of the Service, Supply and Procurement Division. In 1947 he became Director of Staff of the Munitions Board and in 1949 he was made Commanding General of the Fourth Army. He retired from the Army in 1952. In 1955 he was appointed to a committee to advise the Office of Defense Mobilization
Office of Defense Mobilization
The Office of Defense Mobilization was an independent agency of the United States government whose function was to plan, coordinate, direct and control all wartime mobilization activities of the federal government, including manpower, economic stabilization, and transport operations...
on the availability of commodities related to national defense.
For his services during World War II and its aftermath, Lutes received the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
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Family life
Lutes married three times; his wives were Martha M. Mulvihill (1893-1953), Charlotte Townsend Lutes (1902-1955), and Mildred Speas Lutes (1911-1966). His son LeRoy Lutes Jr. (1914-1992) graduated from West Point and was a US Army colonel. He also received the Army Distinguished Service Medal, for service in VietnamVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
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