Roscoe B. Woodruff
Encyclopedia
Roscoe Barnett Woodruff (February 9, 1891 – April 24, 1975) was a career U.S. Army officer who served in World War I and as a combat division and corps commander in both European and Pacific theaters of World War II.
, often referred to as "the class the stars fell on" for the large number of World War II generals from its ranks. His classmates included future World War II generals and commanding officers, Dwight Eisenhower and Omar N. Bradley.
After graduation, he served on the Mexican border and with the 2nd Infantry Division (United States) in World War I. Major Woodruff attended various Service Schools and served as an instructor in the Department of Tactics at the U.S. Military Academy. In 1938, Lieutenant Colonel Woodruff served in the War Department General Staff operations and tactics section.
then posted at Fort Sam Houston
, Texas from July 1941 to January 1942. His West Point classmate, Dwight Eisenhower also arrived there as newly appointed Third United States Army Chief of Staff in June 1941 and promoted to brigadier general in September 1941. Both men were at Fort Sam Houston during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
With the nation now at war, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assistant division commander of the 77th Infantry Division (United States). From June 1942 to May 1943, Woodruff took full command of the division during its pre-deployment training in Fort Jackson
, South Carolina prior to its assignment to the Pacific Theater in the spring of 1944.
In 1943, he took command of VII Corps (United States) in England. Eisenhower, now Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, initially selected Woodruff as one of three corps commanders along with Leonard T. Gerow
and Willis D. Crittenberger
commander of XIX Corps (United States)
for the 1944 Allied or D-Day invasion of France. All three were well known and trusted by Eisenhower. When Woodruff's West Point classmate, General Omar Bradley was selected as commander for the invasion in October 1943, Bradley's concern was that Gerow and Woodruff both lacked experience in amphibious landings or combat command of divisions and corps. Gerow was retained, but Crittenberger moved to command a reserve corps in the Italian campaign and Woodruff, shuffled off to command XIX Corps (United States)
, Crittenberger's former command for a several weeks, then returned to the United States to command the 84th Infantry Division (United States), then in training at Camp Claiborne
, Louisiana, from March to June 1944.
In November 1944, Woodruff's chance at large-scale combat command finally came as commander in the Southwest Pacific of the X Corps (United States), 24th Infantry Division (United States). His welcoming reception in theater was celebrated at the division's paratroop headquarters, fueled with five gallons of torpedo alcohol, furnished by Navy patrol boat sailors, as the key ingredient for liquid refreshments. He led his command in the five month Battle of Mindanao
to liberate that island of Philippine archipelago from Japanese occupation in the closing phases of the Leyte campaign.
From February 1948 to March 1951, Woodruff was deputy commanding general of U.S. First Army at Fort Jay
, Governors Island
, New York. Woodruff assumed the role of commanding general in January to March 1949 upon the retirement of General Courtney Hodges
and again from October to November 1950 after the General Walter Bedell Smith
was appointed the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
.
In 1951, he took command of XV Corps
at Camp Polk (now Fort Polk)
, Louisiana where he retired as a major general in January 1953 after 41 years of active duty.
He and his wife, Alice Gray Woodruff retired to San Antonio, Texas where he died on July 24, 1975. He was buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
.
Education and early career
Woodruff was the first captain of the corps of cadets and 1915 graduate of 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...
, often referred to as "the class the stars fell on" for the large number of World War II generals from its ranks. His classmates included future World War II generals and commanding officers, Dwight Eisenhower and Omar N. Bradley.
After graduation, he served on the Mexican border and with the 2nd Infantry Division (United States) in World War I. Major Woodruff attended various Service Schools and served as an instructor in the Department of Tactics at the U.S. Military Academy. In 1938, Lieutenant Colonel Woodruff served in the War Department General Staff operations and tactics section.
World War II
As a colonel, he commanded the 2nd Infantry Division's 23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
then posted at Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
, Texas from July 1941 to January 1942. His West Point classmate, Dwight Eisenhower also arrived there as newly appointed Third United States Army Chief of Staff in June 1941 and promoted to brigadier general in September 1941. Both men were at Fort Sam Houston during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
With the nation now at war, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assistant division commander of the 77th Infantry Division (United States). From June 1942 to May 1943, Woodruff took full command of the division during its pre-deployment training in Fort Jackson
Fort Jackson
Fort Jackson can refer to several places or things:*Fort Jackson , also called Fort Toulouse, a War of 1812 fort*Fort Jackson , a frontier trading post located near present-day Ione, Colorado...
, South Carolina prior to its assignment to the Pacific Theater in the spring of 1944.
In 1943, he took command of VII Corps (United States) in England. Eisenhower, now Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, initially selected Woodruff as one of three corps commanders along with Leonard T. Gerow
Leonard T. Gerow
Leonard Townsend Gerow was a United States Army general.-Early life:Gerow was born in Petersburg, Virginia. The name Gerow is derived from the French name "Giraud". Gerow attended high school in Petersburg and then attended the Virginia Military Institute. He was three times elected class...
and Willis D. Crittenberger
Willis D. Crittenberger
Willis Dale Crittenberger was a United States Army officer whose career served as a World War II combat commander of IV Corps during the later part of Italian campaign from 1944 to the end of the war....
commander of XIX Corps (United States)
XIX Corps (United States)
XIX Corps started as the III Armored Corps at Camp Polk, Louisiana on 20 August 1942 under the command of Major General Willis D. Crittenberger....
for the 1944 Allied or D-Day invasion of France. All three were well known and trusted by Eisenhower. When Woodruff's West Point classmate, General Omar Bradley was selected as commander for the invasion in October 1943, Bradley's concern was that Gerow and Woodruff both lacked experience in amphibious landings or combat command of divisions and corps. Gerow was retained, but Crittenberger moved to command a reserve corps in the Italian campaign and Woodruff, shuffled off to command XIX Corps (United States)
XIX Corps (United States)
XIX Corps started as the III Armored Corps at Camp Polk, Louisiana on 20 August 1942 under the command of Major General Willis D. Crittenberger....
, Crittenberger's former command for a several weeks, then returned to the United States to command the 84th Infantry Division (United States), then in training at Camp Claiborne
Camp Claiborne
Camp Claiborne was a U.S. Army military camp during World War II located in Rapides Parish in central Louisiana. The camp was under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Eighth Service Command, and included 23,000 acres ....
, Louisiana, from March to June 1944.
In November 1944, Woodruff's chance at large-scale combat command finally came as commander in the Southwest Pacific of the X Corps (United States), 24th Infantry Division (United States). His welcoming reception in theater was celebrated at the division's paratroop headquarters, fueled with five gallons of torpedo alcohol, furnished by Navy patrol boat sailors, as the key ingredient for liquid refreshments. He led his command in the five month Battle of Mindanao
Battle of Mindanao
The Battle of Mindanao was fought by United States forces and allied Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese from 10 March-15 August 1945 at Mindanao island in the Philippine Archipelago, in a series of actions officially designated as Operation VICTOR V, and part of the campaign for the...
to liberate that island of Philippine archipelago from Japanese occupation in the closing phases of the Leyte campaign.
Post-War and Cold War Era
In November 1945, Woodruff became commander of Eighth United States Army's I Corps, part of the allied occupation force in southern Japan.From February 1948 to March 1951, Woodruff was deputy commanding general of U.S. First Army at Fort Jay
Fort Jay
Fort Jay is a harbor fortification and the name of the former Army post located on Governors Island in New York Harbor. Fort Jay is the oldest defensive structure on the island, built to defend Upper New York Bay, but has served other purposes...
, Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
, New York. Woodruff assumed the role of commanding general in January to March 1949 upon the retirement of General Courtney Hodges
Courtney Hodges
General Courtney Hicks Hodges was an American military officer, most prominent for his role in World War II, in which he commanded the First United States Army in Northwest Europe.-Early life and military career:...
and again from October to November 1950 after the General Walter Bedell Smith
Walter Bedell Smith
Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith was a senior United States Army general who served as General Dwight D. Eisenhower's chief of staff at Allied Forces Headquarters during the Tunisia Campaign and the Allied invasion of Italy...
was appointed the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
.
In 1951, he took command of XV Corps
XV Corps (United States)
The XV Corps of the US Army was initially constituted on 1 October 1933 as part of the Organized Reserves, and was activated on 15 February 1943 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. During the Second World War, XV Corps fought for 307 days in the European Theater of Operations, fighting from Normandy...
at Camp Polk (now Fort Polk)
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
, Louisiana where he retired as a major general in January 1953 after 41 years of active duty.
He and his wife, Alice Gray Woodruff retired to San Antonio, Texas where he died on July 24, 1975. He was buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2008, had 120,982 interments.- History :...
.
External links
- I Corps - A Brief History 1862-1953
- Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Securing the Surrender: Marines in the Occupation of Japan by Charles R. Smith
- The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 Combat Chronicle- 84th Infantry Division
- History of the 23rd Regiment in World War II
- Roscoe B. Woodruff Manuscript of The World War II of Major General Roscoe B. Woodruff, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library