Stuart Heintzelman
Encyclopedia
Major General
Stuart Heintzelman (19 November 1876-6 July 1935) was an American
soldier
.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry
from the United States Military Academy
in 1899. For the first five years of his career, he served with the 6th Cavalry in Kansas
and Idaho
, the 4th Cavalry in the Philippines
, and as part of the international force putting down the Boxer uprising
in China
. In 1904, Heintzelman began what would become a long and distinguished association with Fort Leavenworth
when he was selected as the Infantry and Cavalry School honor graduate. After service in the Philippines, Heintzelman returned to Fort Leavenworth
as an instructor followed by another academic assignment as the Professor of Military Art and Science at Princeton University
.
During World War I
, as a general staff officer with the American Expeditionary Force
, Heintzelman was responsible for planning the St. Mihiel Offensive
. He also served with the French
in the Chemin des Dames offensive in October 1917, and in winter operations in northern Italy
with the French Tenth Army. He concluded his tour in France as Chief of Staff for both IV Corps and later Second Army. From 1921 to 1929, he held numerous command and staff positions including command of the 22nd Infantry Brigade, commander of the Eastern Defenses of New York
, and Assistant Chief of Staff
for War Plans. In 1929, he again returned to Fort Leavenworth to serve as the Commandant and was promoted to Major General in 1931. As Commandant, Heintzelman was influential in updating the curriculum and actively participated in the classroom. He died in 1935 while in command of the VII Corps Area, Fort Omaha
, Nebraska
and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
with his wife, who died a few months before him.
Heintzelman's awards include the Commander of the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre
with palm from France, the Commander of the Order of the Crown
by the Italian Government, and the Distinguished Service Medal.
The , named in his honor, was launched in April 1945.
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...
Stuart Heintzelman (19 November 1876-6 July 1935) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
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 1899. For the first five years of his career, he served with the 6th Cavalry in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, the 4th Cavalry in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and as part of the international force putting down the Boxer uprising
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 1904, Heintzelman began what would become a long and distinguished association with Fort Leavenworth
Fort 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...
when he was selected as the Infantry and Cavalry School honor graduate. After service in the Philippines, Heintzelman returned to Fort Leavenworth
Fort 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...
as an instructor followed by another academic assignment as the Professor of Military Art and Science at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
During 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...
, as a general staff officer with the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
, Heintzelman was responsible for planning the St. Mihiel Offensive
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
. He also served with the French
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 the Chemin des Dames offensive in October 1917, and in winter operations in northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
with the French Tenth Army. He concluded his tour in France as Chief of Staff for both IV Corps and later Second Army. From 1921 to 1929, he held numerous command and staff positions including command of the 22nd Infantry Brigade, commander of the Eastern Defenses of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Assistant Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
for War Plans. In 1929, he again returned to Fort Leavenworth to serve as the Commandant and was promoted to Major General in 1931. As Commandant, Heintzelman was influential in updating the curriculum and actively participated in the classroom. He died in 1935 while in command of the VII Corps Area, Fort Omaha
Fort Omaha
Fort Omaha, originally known as Sherman Barracks and then Omaha Barracks, is an Indian War-era United States Army supply installation. Located at 5730 North 30th Street, with the entrance at North 30th and Fort Streets in modern-day North Omaha, Nebraska, the facility is primarily occupied by ...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
and is buried in 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...
with his wife, who died a few months before him.
Heintzelman's awards include the Commander of the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with palm from France, the Commander of the Order of the Crown
Order of the Crown
The Order of the Crown is the name of a number of decorations issued by several countries. The following nations either presently, or in the past, have issued Orders of the Crown:* Order of the Crown * Order of the Crown of India...
by the Italian Government, and the Distinguished Service Medal.
The , named in his honor, was launched in April 1945.