Withers A. Burress
Encyclopedia
Withers A. Burress was a graduate and commandant of the Virginia Military Institute
as well as a career U.S. Army officer and combat commander in World War I
and World War II
.
as a regimental operations officer. In November 1919, he returned with the permanent rank of captain.
He attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning
, Georgia, the Command and General Staff College
at Fort Leavenworth
and the Army War College at Washington Barracks in Washington, D.C.
From 1935 to 1940, Burress was a professor of military science and served as commandant of the Virginia Military Institute
. In 1940, he was assigned to the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C.
Burress continued in his command, taking the division to France in October 1944. As part of Seventh United States Army's VI Corps, the division went into combat in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France then through the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central European campaigns until November, 1945, making Burress one of eleven generals to command one of the U.S. Army's 90 divisions from mobilization to the end of the war. On September 22, 1945, he was promoted to command of the 100th Division's corps, the VI Corps (United States) then served as Inspector General for European Command [EURCOM].
In May 1947, he was one of three commanders of the U.S. Constabulary, the post-war occupation police force in West Germany. In 1949, he returned to EURCOM as its intelligence director, then later took command of VII Corps (United States) .
In 1952, his final posting was as commander of First United States Army at Fort Jay
at Governors Island
in New York, New York. In November 1954, he retired from the U.S. Army after 38 years of active duty.
He died in an Arlington, Virginia nursing home at age 83 on June 13, 1977.
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
as well as a career U.S. Army officer and combat commander 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...
and 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...
.
Education and early career
Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1894, Burress attended and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1914. On November 30, 1916, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In World War I, he saw combat with the 2nd Infantry Division (United States)'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...
as a regimental operations officer. In November 1919, he returned with the permanent rank of captain.
He attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia, 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...
at 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...
and the Army War College at Washington Barracks in Washington, D.C.
From 1935 to 1940, Burress was a professor of military science and served as commandant of the Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
. In 1940, he was assigned to the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C.
World War II and Cold War
In 1941, with the outbreak of World War II, Burress had returned to Fort Benning as Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School. In early 1942, he assigned to the Puerto Rican Department. He was given command of the 100th Division (United States) upon its mobilization at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in November 1942.Burress continued in his command, taking the division to France in October 1944. As part of Seventh United States Army's VI Corps, the division went into combat in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France then through the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central European campaigns until November, 1945, making Burress one of eleven generals to command one of the U.S. Army's 90 divisions from mobilization to the end of the war. On September 22, 1945, he was promoted to command of the 100th Division's corps, the VI Corps (United States) then served as Inspector General for European Command [EURCOM].
In May 1947, he was one of three commanders of the U.S. Constabulary, the post-war occupation police force in West Germany. In 1949, he returned to EURCOM as its intelligence director, then later took command of VII Corps (United States) .
In 1952, his final posting was as commander of First United States 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...
at 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...
in New York, New York. In November 1954, he retired from the U.S. Army after 38 years of active duty.
He died in an Arlington, Virginia nursing home at age 83 on June 13, 1977.