George Grunert
Encyclopedia
George Grunert was a United States Army
cavalry officer who retired as a Lieutenant General
in a 47 year career that extended from the Spanish-American War to the end of World War II.
. He enlisted in the Army in 1898 during the Spanish-American War
and served in the Philippines, Cuba and western posts in his early career. As a quartermaster sergeant in an artillery unit at Fort Monroe
, Virginia he obtained a commission at second lieutenant in the cavalry in 1901.
U.S. Census records indicate he was a lieutenant stationed in Cuba in 1908 and at Fort Oglethorpe
, Georgia, a cavalry post in 1910.
In 1919, he attended the Army War College then at Washington Barracks, now Fort Leslie McNair, in Washington, D.C. He served with the 1st Infantry Division (United States) at Camp Dix, returned to Washington, D.C. to serve in the office of the Army Chief of Staff. He returned to the field as a lieutenant colonel of the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in the 1925.
After a second tour of duty in the office of the Army Chief of Staff, Grunert attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas from 1930 to 1932. In 1933, he was Director of Military Intelligence and Espionage Division course at the Army War College and in 1935, he was Director of War Plans Division course.
In 1936, he was posted to the Philippines as commanding officer of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (United States) and at that time, through Army oversight, the only remaining cavalry unit not yet compelled to modernize. He received his promotion to brigadier general in December 1936 likely in preparation for his command of the 23rd Brigade, also stationed in the Philippines.
Grunert succeeded George C. Marshall in command of 5th Brigade at Vancouver Barracks, Washington where he was promoted to major general in 1939.
From May 1940 to November 1941 as a major general, he commanded the Philippine Department
, directing the U.S. Army supervision and control over the Philippine defense force that Douglas MacArthur would come out of retirement to command.
at Fort Sheridan, Illinois and serving as the ranking military officer in the Chicago area. Next stop was Washington, D.C. in two administrative posts with Army Service Forces
as Deputy Chief of Staff for Service Commands (Service of Supply), nine state-side supply and logistics commands, under General Brehon B. Somervell
In August 1943, he became deputy commander for the Eastern Defense Command
, a continental defense command for the eastern United States, and First United States Army at Fort Jay
, Governors Island
in New York City, succeeding General Hugh A. Drum
as he reached mandatory retirement age in October 1943.
, and Second Service Command
for the New York area until his retirement in July 1945.
In 1944, Grunert was appointed by Secretary of War Henry Stimson as the presiding officer of a secret panel that investigated the Army response to events prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor Board report, released after the war, traced the entire military and diplomatic history prior to the attack finding much fault along the way, critical of break downs in communications between Secretary of State Cordell Hull
, George C. Marshall and a failure of appropriate action by Hawaiian Department commander, Walter C. Short. The panel's method of investigation and conclusions are still subject to criticism today.
Grunert died at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas on January 12, 1971 at age 89 and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
. He was survived by his wife Florence Reynolds, daughter Mary and son-in-law, then U.S. First Army commander, Lieutenant General Jonathan O. Seaman
at Fort Meade, Maryland. His son, Colonel George R. Grunert (1908–1969), attended the U.S. Military Academy, graduating with the class of 1930 and played on the Army polo team. He was a veteran of World War II and Korea and preceded his father in death.
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...
cavalry officer who retired as a 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 a 47 year career that extended from the Spanish-American War to the end of World War II.
Education and early career
Grunert, born of German immigrants, was a native of White Haven, PennsylvaniaWhite Haven, Pennsylvania
White Haven is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. White Haven was created in 1824 by industrialist Josiah White. It is located along the Lehigh River which connects White Haven to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,182 at the 2000 census...
. He enlisted in the Army in 1898 during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
and served in the Philippines, Cuba and western posts in his early career. As a quartermaster sergeant in an artillery unit at Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
, Virginia he obtained a commission at second lieutenant in the cavalry in 1901.
U.S. Census records indicate he was a lieutenant stationed in Cuba in 1908 and at Fort Oglethorpe
Fort Oglethorpe
Fort Oglethorpe may refer to:*Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, a town*Fort Oglethorpe , Army base founded in 1904*Fort Oglethorpe , a World War I military facility near the town of Fort Oglethorpe...
, Georgia, a cavalry post in 1910.
World War I and the Inter-War Years
He was sent to France as an observer with British forces in 1917 World War I. During the American build up, he served as assistant chief of staff for I Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his work during the American offensives of 1918.In 1919, he attended the Army War College then at Washington Barracks, now Fort Leslie McNair, in Washington, D.C. He served with the 1st Infantry Division (United States) at Camp Dix, returned to Washington, D.C. to serve in the office of the Army Chief of Staff. He returned to the field as a lieutenant colonel of the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in the 1925.
After a second tour of duty in the office of the Army Chief of Staff, Grunert attended the Command and General Staff School 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...
, Kansas from 1930 to 1932. In 1933, he was Director of Military Intelligence and Espionage Division course at the Army War College and in 1935, he was Director of War Plans Division course.
In 1936, he was posted to the Philippines as commanding officer of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (United States) and at that time, through Army oversight, the only remaining cavalry unit not yet compelled to modernize. He received his promotion to brigadier general in December 1936 likely in preparation for his command of the 23rd Brigade, also stationed in the Philippines.
Grunert succeeded George C. Marshall in command of 5th Brigade at Vancouver Barracks, Washington where he was promoted to major general in 1939.
From May 1940 to November 1941 as a major general, he commanded the Philippine Department
Philippine Department
The Philippine Department was a regular US Army unit, defeated in the Philippines, during World War II. The mission of the Philippine Department was to defend the Philippine Islands and train the Philippine Army...
, directing the U.S. Army supervision and control over the Philippine defense force that Douglas MacArthur would come out of retirement to command.
World War II
He returned to the United States weeks before Pearl Harbor and in rapid succession commanded Sixth Service CommandCorps area
A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
at Fort Sheridan, Illinois and serving as the ranking military officer in the Chicago area. Next stop was Washington, D.C. in two administrative posts with Army Service Forces
Army Service Forces
The Army Service Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces. They were created on February 28, 1942 by Executive Order Number 9082 "Reorganizing the Army and the War Department"...
as Deputy Chief of Staff for Service Commands (Service of Supply), nine state-side supply and logistics commands, under General Brehon B. Somervell
Brehon B. Somervell
Brehon Burke Somervell was a General in the United States Army and Commanding General of the Army Service Forces in World War II. As such he was responsible for the U.S. Army's logistics...
In August 1943, he became deputy commander for the Eastern Defense Command
Eastern Defense Command
Eastern Defense Command was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Atlantic Coast region of the United States. EDC replaced the existing Northeast Defense Command. A second major responsibility of EDC was the training...
, a continental defense command for the eastern United States, and 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...
, 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 City, succeeding General Hugh A. Drum
Hugh A. Drum
Hugh Aloysius Drum September 19, 1879 – October 3, 1951 was a U.S. general.Born in Fort Brady, Chippewa County, Michigan, he graduated from Boston College in 1898.Joining the United States Army, he was made a second lieutenant in the 12th Infantry Regiment...
as he reached mandatory retirement age in October 1943.
Retirement and the Pearl Harbor Investigation
Grunert held interim command over First Army as Omar N. Bradley began assumption of command to take it to Europe in January 1944 for the Normandy Invasion. Grunert continued concurrent command of Eastern Defense Command, which also assumed the duties of Central Defense CommandCentral Defense Command
Central Defense Command was established on 17 March 1941 as the command formation of the U.S. Army responsible for coordinating the defense of the Midwest region of the United States. A second major responsibility of CDC was the training of soldiers prior to their deployment overseas...
, and Second Service Command
Corps area
A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
for the New York area until his retirement in July 1945.
In 1944, Grunert was appointed by Secretary of War Henry Stimson as the presiding officer of a secret panel that investigated the Army response to events prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor Board report, released after the war, traced the entire military and diplomatic history prior to the attack finding much fault along the way, critical of break downs in communications between Secretary of State Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull was an American politician from the U.S. state of Tennessee. He is best known as the longest-serving Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during much of World War II...
, George C. Marshall and a failure of appropriate action by Hawaiian Department commander, Walter C. Short. The panel's method of investigation and conclusions are still subject to criticism today.
Grunert died at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas on January 12, 1971 at age 89 and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2008, had 120,982 interments.- History :...
. He was survived by his wife Florence Reynolds, daughter Mary and son-in-law, then U.S. First Army commander, Lieutenant General Jonathan O. Seaman
Jonathan O. Seaman
-External links:***...
at Fort Meade, Maryland. His son, Colonel George R. Grunert (1908–1969), attended the U.S. Military Academy, graduating with the class of 1930 and played on the Army polo team. He was a veteran of World War II and Korea and preceded his father in death.