Preston Brown
Encyclopedia
Preston Brown was an American
army officer who saw action with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I
. Brown reached the rank of Major General
, before retiring from active duty in 1936.
, Kentucky
. He graduated from Yale
in 1892 and entered the army as a private.
in 1917. In 1918, he was appointed Colonel
of the National Army and in August of the same year was promoted to be Brigadier General.
He served as Chief of Staff in the 2nd Infantry Division at Château-Thierry
and Saint-Mihiel
in 1918, and was Chief of Staff of the 4th Army Corps. In August 1918, he was appointed Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division, serving in that capacity through the Battle of Meuse-Argonne
. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
for his leadership of the 3rd Infantry Division, as well as his previous efforts as Chief of Staff of the 2nd Infantry Division.
In November 1918, he became Assistant Chief of Staff at General Headquarters in the occupied German
territory. He was appointed instructor in the Army General Staff College in 1919. In 1921, he was acting commander of the U.S. Army War College
and in the same year was appointed Commanding General of the 3rd infantry brigade. Preston Brown was commandant of the Panama Canal Zone
from 1928 until 1932.
He retired to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts in 1936, having reached the rank of Major General
. Brown died on June 30, 1948, and is interred in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville
, Kentucky
.
In 1905, he married Susan Ford Dorrance. They had one child, Dorrance Brown who died in 1936.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
army officer who saw action with the American Expeditionary Forces 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...
. Brown reached the rank of Major General
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...
, before retiring from active duty in 1936.
Early Life
Brown was born in LexingtonLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He graduated from Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1892 and entered the army as a private.
Military Career
He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in 1897 and rose through the ranks; he became a major in 1916 and a Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in 1917. In 1918, he was appointed 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...
of the National Army and in August of the same year was promoted to be Brigadier General.
He served as Chief of Staff in the 2nd Infantry Division at Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry is a commune in northern France about east-northeast of Paris. It is a sub-prefecture of the Aisne department in Picardy.-History:...
and Saint-Mihiel
Saint-Mihiel
Saint-Mihiel is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-History:Saint-Mihiel was captured by the Germans in the first year of World War I, and was re-captured during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel from 12 September to 19 September 1918, during World War...
in 1918, and was Chief of Staff of the 4th Army Corps. In August 1918, he was appointed Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division, serving in that capacity through the Battle of Meuse-Argonne
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
. He was awarded 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...
for his leadership of the 3rd Infantry Division, as well as his previous efforts as Chief of Staff of the 2nd Infantry Division.
In November 1918, he became Assistant Chief of Staff at General Headquarters in the occupied 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...
territory. He was appointed instructor in the Army General Staff College in 1919. In 1921, he was acting commander of the U.S. Army War College
U.S. Army War College
The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks...
and in the same year was appointed Commanding General of the 3rd infantry brigade. Preston Brown was commandant of the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
from 1928 until 1932.
He retired to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts in 1936, having reached the rank of Major General
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...
. Brown died on June 30, 1948, and is interred in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
In 1905, he married Susan Ford Dorrance. They had one child, Dorrance Brown who died in 1936.