Frank W. Milburn
Encyclopedia
Frank William Milburn was a general in the United States Army
during World War II
and the Korean War
.
Milburn attended the United States Military Academy
and was commissioned as a lieutenant
in June 1914. During World War I
, Milburn served in the Panama Canal Zone
. Subsequently, Milburn served in a variety of infantry
assignments, among them the 5th, 33rd, 15th, and 28th Infantry Regiments.
A 1933 graduate of the Command and General Staff School (the school for higher command in U.S. Army), Milburn was promoted to Brigadier
in early 1942 and selected to command the U.S. 83rd Infantry Division in August 1942. He was again promoted in September 1942 to the rank of Major General
. Milburn commanded the 83rd Division until December 1943, when he took over the U.S. XXI Corps
.
Milburn commanded the XXI Corps for the remainder of World War II
in Europe as part of General Patch's U.S. Seventh Army. Milburn's XXI Corps played a decisive role in collapsing the Colmar Pocket
in February 1945.
In his The History of the French First Army, General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
described General Milburn in this manner:
Postwar, Milburn's tour of command of the XXI Corps ended in July 1945. Subsequently Milburn served briefly as the acting commander for the Seventh Army and then the XXIII Corps. Milburn commanded the U.S. V Corps from November 1945 until June 1946. From June 1946 until May 1949, Milburn commanded the U.S. 1st Infantry Division
. Promoted to Lieutenant General
in 1949, Milburn served as the deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe until 1950.
During the Korean War, Milburn temporarily commanded the U.S. IX Corps in August 1950. From September 1950 until June 1951, Milburn commanded the U.S. I Corps during the Korean War. For two days in December 1950, Milburn was the acting commander of the U.S. Eighth Army.
Milburn's career is remarkable for having commanded five army corps of the U.S. Army. He retired from military service in April 1952 and worked briefly as the athletic director at Montana State University
.
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...
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...
and 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...
.
Milburn 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...
and was commissioned as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in June 1914. 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...
, Milburn served in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
. Subsequently, Milburn served in a variety of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
assignments, among them the 5th, 33rd, 15th, and 28th Infantry Regiments.
A 1933 graduate of the Command and General Staff School (the school for higher command in U.S. Army), Milburn was promoted to Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in early 1942 and selected to command the U.S. 83rd Infantry Division in August 1942. He was again promoted in September 1942 to the rank of Major General
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...
. Milburn commanded the 83rd Division until December 1943, when he took over the U.S. XXI Corps
XXI Corps (United States)
Initially constituted on 2 December 1943 in the Army of the United States, the XXI Corps was activated on 6 December 1943 at Camp Polk, Louisiana. XXI Corps fought for 116 days in the European Theater of Operations, fighting from Alsace through southern Germany and into Austria. The corps was...
.
Milburn commanded the XXI Corps for the remainder of 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...
in Europe as part of General Patch's U.S. Seventh Army. Milburn's XXI Corps played a decisive role in collapsing the Colmar Pocket
Colmar Pocket
The Colmar Pocket ; in Alsace, France, was the site of an operation during the Second World War, between 20 January and 9 February 1945, where the French First Army and the U.S...
in February 1945.
In his The History of the French First Army, General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, GCB, MC was a French military hero of World War II and commander in the First Indochina War.-Early life:...
described General Milburn in this manner:
When I saw Maj.-Gen. Frank W. Milburn arrive at Rothau at 10.00 on the 25th January, lean and muscular and straight of eye, with the energetic features of a fighter, it did not take me long to know that I would find in him the most careful and loyal of subordinates. The steadfastness of his character, his clear view of realities and his leader-like authority, were apparent to me at once, and I felt that I could have complete confidence in him to bring to a successful conclusion the rough task which was going to fall to his U.S. 21st Army Corps.
Postwar, Milburn's tour of command of the XXI Corps ended in July 1945. Subsequently Milburn served briefly as the acting commander for the Seventh Army and then the XXIII Corps. Milburn commanded the U.S. V Corps from November 1945 until June 1946. From June 1946 until May 1949, Milburn commanded the U.S. 1st Infantry Division
U.S. 1st Infantry Division
The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army is the oldest division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917...
. Promoted to Lieutenant 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...
in 1949, Milburn served as the deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe until 1950.
During the Korean War, Milburn temporarily commanded the U.S. IX Corps in August 1950. From September 1950 until June 1951, Milburn commanded the U.S. I Corps during the Korean War. For two days in December 1950, Milburn was the acting commander of the U.S. Eighth Army.
Milburn's career is remarkable for having commanded five army corps of the U.S. Army. He retired from military service in April 1952 and worked briefly as the athletic director at Montana State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
.