Horace L. McBride
Encyclopedia
Horace Logan McBride was a US Army General
during World War II
. He commanded American forces in the Ardennes
(Battle of the Bulge
), the Rhineland
, and Central Europe
during that conflict.
as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. He took part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive
. Later he was Assistant Military Attaché at The Hague
, Belgium
, and then in Warsaw
Poland
in 1919. McBride was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Yale University
from 1923 until 1927. In 1928 he attended and graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was an instructor at the Field Artillery School from 1928 to 1932, then served in the Philippines
from 1932 until 1935. After graduating from the Army War College in 1936, he served as an instructor at the Command and General Staff College from 1926 until 1940. He was stationed at the Panama Canal Zone
from 1940 to 1942.
from 1945 until 1946.
as its Commander-in-Chief, whereafter he retired in June 1954.
, two Silver Star
s, the Legion of Merit
, the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
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...
. He commanded American forces in the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
(Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
), the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, and Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
during that conflict.
Early Professional Life
He attended the University of Nebraska from 1910 to 1911, and then attended and graduated from West Point in 1916. On commissioning, he served as a battery commander in the 347th Field Artillery in World War IWorld 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...
as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. He took part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
. Later he was Assistant Military Attaché at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and then in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1919. McBride was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
from 1923 until 1927. In 1928 he attended and graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was an instructor at the Field Artillery School from 1928 to 1932, then served 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...
from 1932 until 1935. After graduating from the Army War College in 1936, he served as an instructor at the Command and General Staff College from 1926 until 1940. He was stationed at 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...
from 1940 to 1942.
World War II
From April 1942 to March 1943, he served as Commander of the 80th Infantry Division Artillery. McBride was promoted to Brigadier General in May 1942. He assumed command of the entire 80th Infantry Division in 1943 and was promoted to Major General March 1943. He served as Commanding General of the XX CorpsXX Corps (United States)
The XX Corps of the United States Army fought from northern France to Austria in World War II. Constituted by redesignating the IV Armored Corps, which had been activated at Camp Young, California on 5 September 1942, XX Corps became operational in France as part of Lieutenant General George S....
from 1945 until 1946.
Post World War II and the Cold War
From 1946 until 1947, McBride served as Commanding General of the 9th Division. He was Commandant of the Command and General Staff College from 1950 until 1952. From 1953 until 1954, he oversaw the Caribbean CommandUnited States Southern Command
The United States Southern Command , located in Miami, Florida, is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning and operations in Central and South America, the Caribbean The United States Southern Command...
as its Commander-in-Chief, whereafter he retired in June 1954.
Decorations
His awards included the 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...
, two Silver Star
Silver Star
The 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....
s, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The 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...
, the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.
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 oak leaf cluster
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...
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...
Army Commendation Ribbon