U.S. Fourth Army
Encyclopedia
History
The Fourth United States Army was organized as Fourth Army in the Organized Reserves in 1922 at New York City, NY. It was withdrawn from the Organized Reserves on 9 August 1932 and allotted to the Regular Army as an inactive unit. It was activated 1 October 1933 and headquartered at the Presidio of San FranciscoPresidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
, California. It was redesignated Fourth United States Army on 1 January 1957.
The Fourth United States Army has no combat record. It remained in the Continental United States during World War II, training tactical units to operate efficiently in combat. In addition, Fourth Army was largely responsible for the defense of the West Coast.
During the 1960s, the Fourth Army operated "Tigerland," an infantry training school at Louisiana's 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....
to prepare new recruits for infantry combat in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. In July 1971, the Fourth Army was disbanded and consolidated with Fifth United States Army 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....
.
Some of the past commanders were:
- George S. SimondsGeorge S. SimondsGeorge S. Simonds was a U.S. Army General.He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1899. After graduation he was assigned to the 22d Infantry. He served in the Philippines and China. He returned to West Point in 1904 as an instructor in the Department of Law...
(1936–1938) - Albert Jesse Bowley, Sr.Albert Jesse Bowley, Sr.Albert Jesse Bowley, Sr. was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. He was the son of Freeman S. Bowley, who served in the Civil War as a First Lieutenant with the 30th United States Colored Troops....
(1938–1939) - John L. DeWittJohn L. DeWittJohn Lesesne DeWitt was a general in the United States Army, best known for his vocal support of the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II....
(1939–1943) - William Hood SimpsonWilliam Hood SimpsonGeneral William Hood Simpson was a distinguished U.S. Army officer who commanded the U.S. Ninth Army in northern Europe, during World War II, among other roles....
(1943–1944) - John P. LucasJohn P. LucasJohn Porter Lucas was an American Major General and one of the commanders of VI Corps during the Italian Campaign of the Mediterranean Theater of World War II.-Early career:...
(1944–1945) - Alexander PatchAlexander PatchGeneral Alexander McCarrell "Sandy" Patch was an officer in the United States Army, best known for his service in World War II. He commanded Army and Marine forces during the invasion of Guadalcanal, and the U.S...
(1945) - Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IVJonathan Mayhew Wainwright IVJonathan 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...
(1946–1947) - William M. HogeWilliam M. HogeWilliam Morris Hoge was a General of the United States Army.-Early years:William M. Hoge grew up in Lexington, Missouri, where his father, William McGuffey Hoge, served as principal and superintendent at Wentworth Military Academy. After graduating from Wentworth in 1912, he received an...
(1952–1953) - LeRoy LutesLeRoy LutesGeneral LeRoy Lutes was an American military officer who was in critical staff and supply positions during and after World War II....
(1949–1952) - Donald Prentice BoothDonald Prentice BoothDonald Prentice Booth was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. During World War II he was the US Army's youngest theater commander. After World War II he was known for his commands of the 28th Infantry Division, the 9th Infantry Division and the Fourth United States Army...
(1961–1962) - James R. Hall (1989–1991) *Served as the last Commanding General, through inactivation.
Tenure and Closure at Fort Sheridan
Between 1984 and 1992, Fort Sheridan served as the headquarters of the Fourth Army and U.S. Army Recruiting Command. During that time, Fort Sheridan was the headquarters for activities at 74 U.S. Army Reserve Centers located in northern Illinois, northwest Indiana, and the lower peninsula of Michigan. HQ Fourth US Army, was at "The Army's Biggest Little Post," Fort Sheridan. The Fort was founded in 1887, named for Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, Civil War Union cavalry leader and commanding general of the Army, 1883–1888; It is located on 695 acres on the shore of Lake Michigan, 29 miles north of Chicago loop. The post serves as an Administrative and Logistics Center for Midwest defense installations. It was also home of the Army Recruiting Command, US Military Entrance Processing Command, 425th Trans Bde (USAR), Army Readiness Grp., 4th Recruiting Bde and Recruiting Bn, Chicago. Lieutenant General (United States)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...
James R. Hall, served as the last commanding general of Fort Sheridan. In December 1988, the BRAC Commission recommended closure of Fort Sheridan. The BRAC Commission also recommended relocation of the Headquarters, Fourth Army; and the Headquarters, United States Army Recruiting Command to Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. It is named for the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post being officially named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being...
, Indiana.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
The Distinctive Unit Insignia is a gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a red enamel square one angle up bearing a white enamel four-leaf clover with stem to base in front of and extending over a blue (ultramarine) enamel disc, between at top and in base arced gold motto scrolls, that at top crossing over the square in front of the angle, curving downward and terminating at the upper sides of the square, and that in base crossing over the square in front of the angle and terminating at the lower sides of the square, the scroll at the top inscribed "Leadership" and that in base "And Integrity" all in red enamel letters. The design was suggested by the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Fourth U.S. Army modified by the white four-leaf clover with stem being placed in front of and over a blue disc which alludes to the waters of the Pacific and Pacific Coast and the bluebonnet, the State flower of Texas. The distinctive unit insignia was originally authorized on 16 Jan 1969. It was amended on 25 Sep 1969 to correct the symbolism of the design.External links
- Fourth Army web page at globalsecurity.org
- Unit Profile in Armies, Corps, Divisions and Separate Brigades a publication of the United States Army Center of Military History