Philip De Witt Ginder
Encyclopedia
Philip De Witt Ginder was an American career soldier who rose to the rank of Major General
during the Korean War
. He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey
and graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1927.
During World War II
, Ginder was among the first ashore during the Normandy Landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was in command of forces which captured the German town of Hürtgen
as part of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest
. It was for this action that he received the Distinguished Service Cross
for actions on November 28, 1944, when then-Colonel Ginder led his reserve company in an attack against the heavily-defended town of Hürtgen, armed only with his pistol and a hand grenade, and led his troops through the town in bitter house-to-house fighting. By the end of the war he was in the Czechoslovakia
n town of Rokycany
near Pilsen.
Following the end of the war, from 1946 to 1949, Ginder attended the National War College
in Washington. He also served in the Far East on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur
.
Before retiring from the Army with the rank of Major General in 1963, Ginder would command the 6th Infantry Regiment (United States), Berlin (1951 through 1952), the 45th Infantry Division (United States), Korea (1953), the 37th Infantry Division (United States), Fort Riley
(1954) and serve as Commander General of the Fifth United States Army in 1955. He went to Korea as a Colonel, and was awarded the two-star rank of Major General in less than two years of service there, making him the youngest American general to command a combat division in Korea. His service in Korea included nearly 18 months spent north of the 38th parallel
.
Ginder was married to Jean Dalrymple
, the head of the City Center Drama and Light Opera Companies, whom he met in 1951 while she organized United States participation at the Berlin Arts Festival on behalf of the United States Department of State
. The couple had an apartment at 150 West 55th Street
and in Danbury, Connecticut
.
Ginder died at age 63 on November 7, 1968 in Trafalgar Hospital after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
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...
during 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...
. He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
and graduated from the United States Military Academy
United 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 1927.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ginder was among the first ashore during the Normandy Landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was in command of forces which captured the German town of Hürtgen
Hürtgenwald
Hürtgenwald is a municipality in the district of Düren in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Eifel hills, approx. 15 km south-west of Düren...
as part of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest
Battle of Hurtgen Forest
The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
. It was for this action that he received 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...
for actions on November 28, 1944, when then-Colonel Ginder led his reserve company in an attack against the heavily-defended town of Hürtgen, armed only with his pistol and a hand grenade, and led his troops through the town in bitter house-to-house fighting. By the end of the war he was in the Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n town of Rokycany
Rokycany
Rokycany , is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It lies to the East from the region capital of Pilsen on the confluence of the River Klabava and the Holoubkov Brook . Alternatively, the Holoubkovský potok is referred to as the Borecký potok and the section of the Klabava River down...
near Pilsen.
Following the end of the war, from 1946 to 1949, Ginder attended the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in Washington. He also served in the Far East on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
.
Before retiring from the Army with the rank of Major General in 1963, Ginder would command the 6th Infantry Regiment (United States), Berlin (1951 through 1952), the 45th Infantry Division (United States), Korea (1953), the 37th Infantry Division (United States), Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
(1954) and serve as Commander General of the Fifth United States Army in 1955. He went to Korea as a Colonel, and was awarded the two-star rank of Major General in less than two years of service there, making him the youngest American general to command a combat division in Korea. His service in Korea included nearly 18 months spent north of the 38th parallel
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
.
Ginder was married to Jean Dalrymple
Jean Dalrymple
Jean Dalrymple was an American theater producer, manager, publicist, author and playwright who was instrumental in the founding of New York City Center and is best known for her productions there.-Biography:...
, the head of the City Center Drama and Light Opera Companies, whom he met in 1951 while she organized United States participation at the Berlin Arts Festival on behalf of the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. The couple had an apartment at 150 West 55th Street
55th Street (Manhattan)
55th Street is a two-mile-long, one-way street traveling east to west across Midtown Manhattan.-Sutton Place South:*The route officially begins at Sutton Place South which is on a hill overlooking FDR Drive....
and in Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
.
Ginder died at age 63 on November 7, 1968 in Trafalgar Hospital after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
External links
- http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/G.html Papers of Phillip De Witt Ginder, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library