Thomas J. H. Trapnell
Encyclopedia
Thomas John Hall "Trap" Trapnell (November 23, 1902 - February 13, 2002) was a United States Army
general. Trapnell survived the Bataan Death March
and the sinking of two transportation ships during
World War II
, put down a rebellion of POW
's in the Korean War
, was the top US advisor to the
French during the French Indochina War, and advised against US involvement in Vietnam
. He
rose to the rank of Lt. General
before retirement and, at the time of his
death, was the oldest living member of the Philippine Scouts
. Trapnell was also an uncle of noted hijacker, Garrett Brock Trapnell
.
to Joseph Trapnell and Laura Kennedy. Trapnell's was a
prosperous and distinguished family originally from the Chesapeake
area whose roots stretched
back to early Colonial America
. One brother, Walter Scott Kennedy Trapnell, rose to the rank of
Commander
in the U. S. Navy during World War II, while another brother, William Holmes
Trapnell, was a prominent attorney. A cousin, Frederick M. Trapnell
, was a famous naval test pilot
who
retired from the Navy as a Vice Admiral
. Several other cousins also served as
commissioned officers in the Armed Forces.
After graduating from Episcopal High School
in Alexandria
,
Virginia
in 1923, Trapnell attended the United States Military Academy
at West Point, NY. Known
as the "warhorse of the West Point backfield," he was an All-America
halfback in football- where he teamed with future Hall of Famer
Chris Cagle. In 1926, in one of West Point's best years, Trapnell participated in a memorable game against Navy that
tied at 21-21. The match was played at Soldier Field
in Chicago
- the only time either team has played that venue. Army suffered only one loss that entire season (to Notre Dame).
Trapnell was also a top rated lacrosse player who rose to the captaincy of the Army team. His first brush with public notoriety came when his crew defeated the highly-rated team from Hobart College
captained by his younger brother, William. The characteristically athletic and competitive Trapnells did their best to outshine each other as evidenced by one report:
Trapnell graduated in 1927 and was commissioned as a platoon leader
in the 11th Cavalry Regiment. During this time, he served under two future generals, Jonathan Wainwright
and George Patton. In 1937, he was promoted to
captain; two years later he was assigned to the Philippine Scouts.
While in the Philippines
, Trapnell was instrumental in recruiting Sofia Adamson
, future founder of the
Pacific Asia Museum
in Los Angeles
and co-founder of Adamson University
in Manila
, to the staff
of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He also became a star polo player. Trapnell was promoted to
major
and was made XO of the 26th Cavalry Regiment
.
U.S.-Filipino defensive forces. During their withdrawal into the Bataan
Peninsula in December, Trapnell,
commanding a unit of the 26th, fought a desperate rear-guard action that included the last tactical cavalry charge
of the U.S. Army. Using a medical truck to block one of the bridges
used by retreating Fil-Am force and setting it afire, Trapnell then remained at this position under constant fire
until it was rendered unpassable. Although
he had a command car with which to beat a hasty retreat, he instead withdrew slowly with a picked force retrieving wounded soldiers along the way. For this engagement he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
and commended by Gen. MacArthur:
Taken prisoner in April 1942 along with remaining U.S. forces, Trapnell endured months of horrific conditions
at Camps O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. While interned, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel
. In December, 1944, he was transported, along with
1,620 other prisoners, on the notorious POW hell ship
, Oryoku Maru
. U.S. dive-bombers,
unaware of the ship's status, attacked and sunk the vessel. Trapnell survived only to fall victim to a repeated
attack the following year. This time, United States Navy
aircraft attacked and disabled the Enoura Maru. He and
the approximate 950 survivors of the two sinkings were placed aboard the Brazil Maru but only 550 survived the
journey to Japan
. In August 1945, Trapnell was liberated from Hoten POW camp in Manchuria
by
Russian troops. At the time, his once athletic, six-foot frame had been reduced to less than 100 pounds.
Upon his return to the United States, Trapnell attended the Command and General Staff College
. Afterward, he
completed Airborne School and assumed command of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina
. On May 8, 1948, Trapnell led the 505th as part of a
record-setting exercise that saw 2,200 paratroopers travel some 500 miles to make a jump at Camp Campbell,
Kentucky
.
and
placed in command of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team
. In
November of that year, the 187th made a "simulated combat drop", landing 3,000 troops and 100,000 lbs of equipment
in South Korea
during 'Operation Showoff,' a demonstration of wartime airlift capability. From May to June, 1952, the 187th under Trapnell
was instrumental in suppressing the rebellion of 80,000 Chinese and North Korean prisoners at the Koje-do
Island POW camp. Some 40 prisoners were killed during the uprising which had been fomented by communist leaders
attempting to disrupt truce negotiations.
From 1952 to 1954, Maj. Gen.
Trapnell headed the U.S. advisory mission in French Indochina
, leaving just before Ho Chi Minh
's victory at Dien Bien Phu
. While
serving as the chief advisor, he issued a series of reports to his superiors in which he predicted that the French
would not be able to defeat the communist insurgency. Trapnell was replaced by Maj. Gen. John W. O'Daniel
and
returned to the United States for a succession of commands: the recently reactivated 4th Armored Division at Ft. Hood, Texas
from 1954 to 1955 and the 82nd Airborne
Division from 1955-1956.
Trapnell returned to South Korea in 1958 commanding I Corps for two years before
becoming the Chief of Staff to Gen. Isaac White
, Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Army Pacific. In 1960, after briefly commanding Third U.S. Army at Ft. McPherson
, Georgia
, he took command of both the XVIII Airborne Corps and the Strategic Army Corps
at
Ft. Bragg.
While there, Trapnell presided over the dedication of the Airborne Trooper statue in September 1961. He also strongly advocated for the joint forces reaction force that became Strike Command
.
In 1961, LT General Trapnell was in South Vietnam
where he advised President John F. Kennedy
against U.S. involvement. Presciently gauging the eventual swing of U.S. public opinion
and weighing the organizational success and popularity of Minh, Trapnell concluded that the Vietnamese communists
were waging a "clever war of attrition
." While he supported holding the line against
communist expansion in Asia, he nevertheless believed that a "military solution in Indochina [was] not possible."
Trapnell's final command came in 1961. In that year, SAC and Tactical Air Command
were unified as Strike
Command; Trapnell once again assumed command of Third Army. He retired in 1962 and was nominated to hold the rank of general
in retirement.
Trapnell later served as an advisory board member of the Center for Internee Rights in Florida
advocating
for just treatment of US POW's and fair compensation from holding nations.
to the Philippines with her husband when he was posted there but returned to the United States "when the Army
wives were evacuated" in May, 1942. His second marriage, to Elizabeth Elder, lasted from 1956 to her death in 2001. He had no children.
Like many other males in his family, Trapnell was known as "Trap" from his last name. As such, Trapnell became
the first person whose nickname appeared in an official War Department
record
(Communiqué 69):
An article in the New York Times implied that this may have been to engender feelings of comradery among U. S.
servicemen.
Although he served as an inspiration for his nephew, Garrett, their relationship was strained. In 1955, the
younger Trapnell joined the army, arriving at the same installation, Ft. Hood, where his famous uncle was then commandant. Afterwards, he was posted with the 187th RCT, the older Trapnell's old unit. However, he did all of this as an enlisted man, causing the general to "[deride] him as the first Trapnell to achieve the rank of private." Lt. Gen. Trapnell would subsequently disown Pvt. Trapnell after the latter's stint as a bank robber, con man, and skyjacker.
Trapnell died of heart failure at the Fairfax retirement facility at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.
He has also been awarded the following non-US decorations:
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...
general. Trapnell survived the Bataan Death March
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
and the sinking of two transportation ships 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...
, put down a rebellion of POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
's in 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...
, was the top US advisor to the
French during the French Indochina War, and advised against US involvement in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He
rose to the rank of Lt. General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
before retirement and, at the time of his
death, was the oldest living member of the Philippine Scouts
Philippine Scouts
The Philippine Scouts was a military organization of the United States Army from 1901 until the end of World War II. Made up of native Filipinos assigned to the United States Army Philippine Department, these troops were generally enlisted and under the command of American officers, however, a...
. Trapnell was also an uncle of noted hijacker, Garrett Brock Trapnell
Garrett Brock Trapnell
Garrett Brock Trapnell was a con man, bank robber, and aircraft hijacker of the 1960s and early 1970s. Trapnell initiated a string of bank robberies across the United States and Canada that netted him in excess of $1,000,000 over time...
.
Early life
Thomas Trapnell was born in Yonkers, New YorkNew 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...
to Joseph Trapnell and Laura Kennedy. Trapnell's was a
prosperous and distinguished family originally from the Chesapeake
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
area whose roots stretched
back to early Colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
. One brother, Walter Scott Kennedy Trapnell, rose to the rank of
Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
in the U. S. Navy during World War II, while another brother, William Holmes
Trapnell, was a prominent attorney. A cousin, Frederick M. Trapnell
Frederick M. Trapnell
Frederick Mackay "Fred" Trapnell was a United States Navy admiral and aviation pioneer. Trapnell was the first Navy pilot to fly a jet aircraft, was considered the best, most experienced naval test aviator of his generation, co-founded the branch's first test pilot school, and played a pivotal...
, was a famous naval test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
who
retired from the Navy as a Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
. Several other cousins also served as
commissioned officers in the Armed Forces.
After graduating from Episcopal High School
Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia)
Episcopal High School , founded in 1839, is a private boarding school located in Alexandria, Virginia. The Holy Hill's campus houses 435 students from 30 states, the District of Columbia and 17 different countries...
in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
,
Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1923, Trapnell attended 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...
at West Point, NY. Known
as the "warhorse of the West Point backfield," he was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
halfback in football- where he teamed with future Hall of Famer
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
Chris Cagle. In 1926, in one of West Point's best years, Trapnell participated in a memorable game against Navy that
tied at 21-21. The match was played at Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
- the only time either team has played that venue. Army suffered only one loss that entire season (to Notre Dame).
Trapnell was also a top rated lacrosse player who rose to the captaincy of the Army team. His first brush with public notoriety came when his crew defeated the highly-rated team from Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
captained by his younger brother, William. The characteristically athletic and competitive Trapnells did their best to outshine each other as evidenced by one report:
- Captain T. J. Hall Trapnell of the Army team and Captain William H. Trapnell, brothers,
- engaged in several sharp scrimmages, the first of which resulted in Captain Trapnell of
- the Army leaving the field under a three-minute penalty.
Trapnell graduated in 1927 and was commissioned as a platoon leader
Platoon leader
A platoon leader or platoon commander is the officer in command of a platoon. This person is usually a junior officer — a second or first lieutenant, or an equivalent rank. The officer is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant...
in the 11th Cavalry Regiment. During this time, he served under two future generals, Jonathan Wainwright
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
Jonathan Mayhew "Skinny" Wainwright IV was a career American army officer and the commander of Allied forces in the Philippines at the time of their surrender to the Empire of Japan during World War II...
and George Patton. In 1937, he was promoted to
captain; two years later he was assigned to the Philippine Scouts.
While 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...
, Trapnell was instrumental in recruiting Sofia Adamson
Sofia Adamson
Sofia Adamson was a Greek immigrant who founded the Pacific Asia Museum in Los Angeles, co-founded Adamson University in the Philippines, and worked for General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines.-Early life:...
, future founder of the
Pacific Asia Museum
Pacific Asia Museum
The Pacific Asia Museum is an Asian art museum located at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California, United States.The museum was founded in 1971 by the Pacificulture Foundation, which purchased “The Grace Nicholson Treasure House of Oriental Art” from the City of Pasadena...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and co-founder of Adamson University
Adamson University
Adamson University is a private university Catholic university in Manila, Philippines, founded on June 30, 1932 by Greek immigrant George Lucas Adamson as the Adamson School of Industrial Chemistry...
in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, to the staff
of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He also became a star polo player. Trapnell was promoted to
major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
and was made XO of the 26th Cavalry Regiment
26th Cavalry Regiment (PS)
The 26th Cavalry Regiment was part of U.S. Army Forces Far East's Philippine Department, during World War II. The 26th engaged in the last cavalry charge in the history of the U.S. cavalry...
.
Service during World War II
In 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines, routing combinedU.S.-Filipino defensive forces. During their withdrawal into the Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
Peninsula in December, Trapnell,
commanding a unit of the 26th, fought a desperate rear-guard action that included the last tactical cavalry charge
Charge (warfare)
A charge is a maneuver in battle in which soldiers advance towards their enemy at their best speed in an attempt to engage in close combat. The charge is the dominant shock attack and has been the key tactic and decisive moment of most battles in history...
of the U.S. Army. Using a medical truck to block one of the bridges
used by retreating Fil-Am force and setting it afire, Trapnell then remained at this position under constant fire
until it was rendered unpassable. Although
he had a command car with which to beat a hasty retreat, he instead withdrew slowly with a picked force retrieving wounded soldiers along the way. For this engagement he 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...
and commended by Gen. MacArthur:
- With complete disregard for his safety, Major Trapnell delayed the
- hostile advance and set an inspiring example to his entire regiment.
Taken prisoner in April 1942 along with remaining U.S. forces, Trapnell endured months of horrific conditions
at Camps O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. While interned, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant 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 December, 1944, he was transported, along with
1,620 other prisoners, on the notorious POW hell ship
Hell Ship
A hell ship is a ship with extremely unpleasant living conditions or with a reputation for cruelty among the crew. It now generally refers to the ships used by the Imperial Japanese Navy to transport Allied prisoners of war out of the Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore during World War II. The...
, Oryoku Maru
Oryoku Maru
was a Japanese passenger cargo ship. In World War II, Oryoku Maru was used as a troop transport and prisoners of war transport ship . She left Manila on December 13, 1944, with 1620 POWs, mostly American, packed in the holds. 1900 Japanese civilians & military personnel occupied the cabins...
. U.S. dive-bombers,
unaware of the ship's status, attacked and sunk the vessel. Trapnell survived only to fall victim to a repeated
attack the following year. This time, United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
aircraft attacked and disabled the Enoura Maru. He and
the approximate 950 survivors of the two sinkings were placed aboard the Brazil Maru but only 550 survived the
journey to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In August 1945, Trapnell was liberated from Hoten POW camp in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
by
Russian troops. At the time, his once athletic, six-foot frame had been reduced to less than 100 pounds.
Upon his return to the United States, Trapnell attended 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...
. Afterward, he
completed Airborne School and assumed command of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment is one of four infantry regiments of the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army.Activated in 1942, the regiment participated in the campaigns of Sicily, Salerno, Normandy, Holland and the Battle of the Bulge during World War II...
, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. On May 8, 1948, Trapnell led the 505th as part of a
record-setting exercise that saw 2,200 paratroopers travel some 500 miles to make a jump at Camp Campbell,
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...
.
Service in Southeast Asia and beyond
In 1951, Trapnell was promoted to the rank of 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
placed in command of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team
Regimental combat team
A regimental combat team was a provisional major infantry unit of the United States Army during the World War II and the Korean War, and of the U.S. Marine Corps to the present day...
. In
November of that year, the 187th made a "simulated combat drop", landing 3,000 troops and 100,000 lbs of equipment
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
during 'Operation Showoff,' a demonstration of wartime airlift capability. From May to June, 1952, the 187th under Trapnell
was instrumental in suppressing the rebellion of 80,000 Chinese and North Korean prisoners at the Koje-do
Island POW camp. Some 40 prisoners were killed during the uprising which had been fomented by communist leaders
attempting to disrupt truce negotiations.
From 1952 to 1954, Maj. Gen.
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...
Trapnell headed the U.S. advisory mission in French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
, leaving just before Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh
Hồ Chí Minh , born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam...
's victory at Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu
Điện Biên Phủ is a city in northwestern Vietnam. It is the capital of Dien Bien province, and is known for the events there during the First Indochina War, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, during which the region was a breadbasket for the Việt Minh.-Population:...
. While
serving as the chief advisor, he issued a series of reports to his superiors in which he predicted that the French
would not be able to defeat the communist insurgency. Trapnell was replaced by Maj. Gen. John W. O'Daniel
John W. O'Daniel
John W. "Iron Mike" O'Daniel was a United States Army general, best known for commanding the Third Infantry Division in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Southern France during World War II. He is also known for being the commanding officer of Audie Murphy.O’Daniel was an athlete, a teacher, a...
and
returned to the United States for a succession of commands: the recently reactivated 4th Armored Division at Ft. Hood, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
from 1954 to 1955 and the 82nd Airborne
Division from 1955-1956.
Trapnell returned to South Korea in 1958 commanding I Corps for two years before
becoming the Chief of Staff to Gen. Isaac White
Isaac D. White
Isaac Davis White commanded the U.S. Army, Pacific from July 1957 to March 1961. He gained his commission into the Cavalry in 1923 and went on to serve in World War II and the Korean War. Because of his extensive experience in tank warfare, Armor magazine dubbed him "Mr...
, Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Army Pacific. In 1960, after briefly commanding Third U.S. Army at Ft. McPherson
Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in East Point, Georgia, on the southwest edge of the City of Atlanta, Ga. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Army Forces Command; the U.S. Army Reserve Command; the U.S...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, he took command of both the XVIII Airborne Corps and the Strategic Army Corps
Strategic Army Corps
The Strategic Army Corps was a command of the United States Army, with a mission of high readiness, active in the 1960s, but later inactivated.-Background:...
at
Ft. Bragg.
While there, Trapnell presided over the dedication of the Airborne Trooper statue in September 1961. He also strongly advocated for the joint forces reaction force that became Strike Command
United States Strike Command
In 1961 the United States Strike Command was established at MacDill Air Force Base as a unified combatant command capable of responding to global crises. The name of the command was originally derived from the acronym for Swift Tactical Reaction In Every Known Environment...
.
In 1961, LT General Trapnell was in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
where he advised President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
against U.S. involvement. Presciently gauging the eventual swing of U.S. public opinion
and weighing the organizational success and popularity of Minh, Trapnell concluded that the Vietnamese communists
were waging a "clever war of attrition
Attrition warfare
Attrition warfare is a military strategy in which a belligerent side attempts to win a war by wearing down its enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and matériel....
." While he supported holding the line against
communist expansion in Asia, he nevertheless believed that a "military solution in Indochina [was] not possible."
Trapnell's final command came in 1961. In that year, SAC and Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
were unified as Strike
Command; Trapnell once again assumed command of Third Army. He retired in 1962 and was nominated to hold the rank of general
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
in retirement.
Trapnell later served as an advisory board member of the Center for Internee Rights in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
advocating
for just treatment of US POW's and fair compensation from holding nations.
Family
Trapnell was married to his first wife, Alys Snow, from 1929 until her death in 1953. Alys had relocatedto the Philippines with her husband when he was posted there but returned to the United States "when the Army
wives were evacuated" in May, 1942. His second marriage, to Elizabeth Elder, lasted from 1956 to her death in 2001. He had no children.
Like many other males in his family, Trapnell was known as "Trap" from his last name. As such, Trapnell became
the first person whose nickname appeared in an official War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
record
(Communiqué 69):
- From his field headquarters in the Philippines General MacArthur today announced
- the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Major Thomas J. H. ("Trap")
- Trapnell, cavalry, for extraordinary heroism in action.
An article in the New York Times implied that this may have been to engender feelings of comradery among U. S.
servicemen.
Although he served as an inspiration for his nephew, Garrett, their relationship was strained. In 1955, the
younger Trapnell joined the army, arriving at the same installation, Ft. Hood, where his famous uncle was then commandant. Afterwards, he was posted with the 187th RCT, the older Trapnell's old unit. However, he did all of this as an enlisted man, causing the general to "[deride] him as the first Trapnell to achieve the rank of private." Lt. Gen. Trapnell would subsequently disown Pvt. Trapnell after the latter's stint as a bank robber, con man, and skyjacker.
Trapnell died of heart failure at the Fairfax retirement facility at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.
Awards
Among Gen. Trapnell's decorations are the following:
Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished 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...
Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished 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...
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with two oak leaf clusterOak leaf clusterAn oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
s
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with "V" device for valor
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Prisoner of War MedalPrisoner of War MedalThe Prisoner of War Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on 8 November 1985...- Master Parachutist Badge
He has also been awarded the following non-US decorations:
- Commander of National Order of VietnamNational Order of VietnamThe National Order of Vietnam was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Vietnam government....
- Order of the Cross with Valor and PalmVietnam Gallantry CrossThe Vietnam Gallantry Cross was a military decoration of South Vietnam which wasestablished in August 1950. Also known as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Gallantry Cross was awarded to any military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an...
- Croix de GuerreCroix de guerreThe 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...
- both French and Vietnam versions