Major General Charles T. Lanham
Encyclopedia
Major General Charles T. Lanham known as "Buck" was born September 14, 1902 in Washington D. C. He graduated from West Point in 1924. He included among his many military adventures the command of the U.S. 22d Infantry Regiment
in Normandy
in July 1944, and was the first American officer to lead a break through the Siegfried Line
on September 14, 1944. He led a breakout in the Battle of the Bulge
after surviving a bloody ordeal in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest
. It was in the Normandy battles that Lanham and Ernest Hemingway
first met. Hemingway was doing battlefield stories for the American audience for Collier's and sought assignment with Lanham's regiment. Hemingway described Lanham as,
Colonel "Buck" Lanham was the model for Colonel Cantwell in Hemingway's Across the River and Into the Trees
. He was a short story writer and poet. Colonel Lanham was brave under fire earning the Distinguished Service Cross
in the Huertgen Forest. He retired from the military at the end of 1954, as a Major General, to join the Pennsylvania-Texas Corporation of Colt's Patent Firearms. He resigned in 1958 and joined Xerox
in 1960 as Vice President for Government Relations, retiring from that post at the end of 1970. He died July 20, 1978 in Chevy Chase, Maryland
from cancer at the age of 76.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSmid=47162573&GRid=10933381&
U.S. 22d Infantry Regiment
The 22nd Infantry Regiment is a parent regiment of the United States Army. Currently the 1st and 2nd Battalions are activated. The 3rd and 4th Battalions have been deactivated.-Regiment:...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in July 1944, and was the first American officer to lead a break through the Siegfried Line
Siegfried Line
The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defences built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916–1917 in northern France during World War I...
on September 14, 1944. He led a breakout in the 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...
after surviving a bloody ordeal in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest
Battle of Hurtgen Forest
The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
. It was in the Normandy battles that Lanham and Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
first met. Hemingway was doing battlefield stories for the American audience for Collier's and sought assignment with Lanham's regiment. Hemingway described Lanham as,
Colonel "Buck" Lanham was the model for Colonel Cantwell in Hemingway's Across the River and Into the Trees
Across the River and Into the Trees
Across the River and Into the Trees is a novel by American writer Ernest Hemingway, published by Charles Scribner's Sons in September 1950. Prior to publication the novel was serialized in Cosmopolitan magazine. The title is derived from the last words of Confederate General Thomas J...
. He was a short story writer and poet. Colonel Lanham was brave under fire earning the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
in the Huertgen Forest. He retired from the military at the end of 1954, as a Major General, to join the Pennsylvania-Texas Corporation of Colt's Patent Firearms. He resigned in 1958 and joined Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
in 1960 as Vice President for Government Relations, retiring from that post at the end of 1970. He died July 20, 1978 in Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
from cancer at the age of 76.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSmid=47162573&GRid=10933381&