Manton S. Eddy
Encyclopedia
Manton Sprague Eddy was a lieutenant general of the United States Army
.
in 1913. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1916. Thoroughly the infantry
man, Manton Eddy served in France
in World War I
in rifle
and machine gun
units. Promoted to major, he served in the army of occupation in Germany until 1919 when he returned to the USA. Relegated to captain's rank in 1920, Eddy married Mamie Peabody Buttolph a year later. During the interwar period, he was a member of the Infantry Board and an instructor of tactics at the Command and General Staff College
.
and given command of the 9th Infantry Division
in campaigns in Tunisia
, Sicily
, and Normandy
. As Commander of XII Corps
, his units successfully held the southern shoulder of the German
salient in the Battle of the Bulge
. In April 1945, he returned to the USA because of illness. For his role in the capture of Cherbourg, Eddy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
.
, this time as Commandant of the college, from January 1948 to July 1950. He was president of a review board which made a thorough examination of officer education and established the progressive branch, staff, and senior service levels of officer schooling. As Commander of Seventh Army, he presided over its transformation from an army of occupation to one of deterrence. He retired with the rank of lieutenant general.
Manton S. Eddy is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
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...
.
Early life
Eddy graduated from Shattuck Military School in Faribault, MinnesotaFaribault, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.8 people per square mile . There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 605.8 per square mile...
in 1913. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1916. Thoroughly the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
man, Manton Eddy served in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 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...
in rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
and machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
units. Promoted to major, he served in the army of occupation in Germany until 1919 when he returned to the USA. Relegated to captain's rank in 1920, Eddy married Mamie Peabody Buttolph a year later. During the interwar period, he was a member of the Infantry Board and an instructor of tactics at the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
.
World War II
The years of preparation and training returned great dividends to the Army. In 1941 Eddy became commanding officer of the 114th Infantry Regiment. one year later he was promoted to brigadier generalBrigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
and given command of the 9th Infantry Division
U.S. 9th Infantry Division
The 9th Infantry Division was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. Later, the division was an important unit of the United States Army in World War II and the Vietnam War...
in campaigns in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, and Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. As Commander of XII Corps
XII Corps (United States)
The XII Corps fought from northern France to Austria in World War II. Constituted in the Organized Reserves in 1933, it was activated on 29 August 1942 at Columbia, South Carolina. XII Corps became operational in France as part of Lieutenant General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army on 1 August...
, his units successfully held the southern shoulder of the German
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...
salient in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. In April 1945, he returned to the USA because of illness. For his role in the capture of Cherbourg, Eddy was awarded the 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...
.
Post World War II
In the postwar period, General Eddy served again at Fort LeavenworthFort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, this time as Commandant of the college, from January 1948 to July 1950. He was president of a review board which made a thorough examination of officer education and established the progressive branch, staff, and senior service levels of officer schooling. As Commander of Seventh Army, he presided over its transformation from an army of occupation to one of deterrence. He retired with the rank of lieutenant general.
Manton S. Eddy is buried 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...
.