Stanley Dunbar Embick
Encyclopedia
Stanley Dunbar Embick was a Lieutenant General
in the United States Army
.
Embick was born in Greencastle
, Franklin County, Pennsylvania on January 22, 1877. He attended Dickinson College
before enrolling at the United States Military Academy
in West Point, New York
, from which he graduated in 1899. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Artillery, he served in Cuba
during the Spanish-American War
. After the war he served in a variety of assignments, including the staff of the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia and Assistant to the Chief of Artillery in Washington, D.C.
During World War I
he served on the staff of the Supreme War Council, and then the Commission to Negotiate Peace, for which he received the Distinguished Service Medal.
In December, 1919 he was assigned to the staff of the War Department's War Plans Division, where he served until attending the Army War College. After serving as a War College instructor, Embick served in the Philippines, afterwards returning to Washington to serve as Executive Officer of the War Plans Division. In 1930 he became commandant of the Coast Artillery School.
In 1932 he was appointed commander of harbor defenses in the Philippines
as a Brigadier General
, where he was responsible for constructing Corregidor's Malinta Tunnel, which was used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker and hospital during World War II
, and is now the venue for a historical audio-visual presentation about the war.
Embick became Director of the War Plans Division as a Major General
in 1936, and later that year was named the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff. He was appointed IV Corps commander in 1938, and later the same year took command of the Third Army as a Lieutenant General, where he served until his 1940 retirement.
Embick was recalled for World War II, serving as Chief of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee
, Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board
, and a delegate to the Dumbarton Oaks Conference
that created the United Nations
. He retired again in 1946, receiving a second Distinguished Service Medal.
In the late 1940s he served on the commission that proposed reforms to America's military and intelligence agencies, including creation of the Department of Defense by merging the War and Navy Departments.
General Embick died at Washington, D.C.'s Walter Reed Army Hospital on October 23, 1957, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
. He was the father in law of General Albert Coady Wedemeyer
.
Citation of first Distinguished Service Medal:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Signal Corps) Stanley D. Embick, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As a member of the American Section of the Supreme War Council, by his sound military judgment, qualifications, his breadth of vision, and his sound military judgment, Colonel Embick has rendered invaluable aid in solving the many complex problems that have come before the Supreme War Council. Service: Army. Rank: Colonel. War Department, General Orders No. 69 (1919)
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 the United States Army
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...
.
Embick was born in Greencastle
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Greencastle is a borough in Franklin County in south-central Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,722 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Franklin County, Pennsylvania on January 22, 1877. He attended Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
before enrolling at 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...
in West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, from which he graduated in 1899. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Artillery, he served in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
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...
. After the war he served in a variety of assignments, including the staff of the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia and Assistant to the Chief of Artillery in Washington, D.C.
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...
he served on the staff of the Supreme War Council, and then the Commission to Negotiate Peace, for which he received the Distinguished Service Medal.
In December, 1919 he was assigned to the staff of the War Department's War Plans Division, where he served until attending the Army War College. After serving as a War College instructor, Embick served in the Philippines, afterwards returning to Washington to serve as Executive Officer of the War Plans Division. In 1930 he became commandant of the Coast Artillery School.
In 1932 he was appointed commander of harbor defenses 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...
as a Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, where he was responsible for constructing Corregidor's Malinta Tunnel, which was used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker and hospital 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 is now the venue for a historical audio-visual presentation about the war.
Embick became Director of the War Plans Division as a 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...
in 1936, and later that year was named the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff. He was appointed IV Corps commander in 1938, and later the same year took command of the Third Army as a Lieutenant General, where he served until his 1940 retirement.
Embick was recalled for World War II, serving as Chief of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee
Joint Strategic Survey Committee
The Joint Strategic Survey Committee was an extraordinary committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during World War II that existed from 1942 until 1947. It was "one of the most influential planning agencies in the wartime armed forces."-Members:...
, Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board
Inter-American Defense Board
The Inter-American Defense Board is an international committee of nationally appointed defense officials who develop collaborative approaches on common defense and security issues facing countries in North, Central, and South America...
, and a delegate to the Dumbarton Oaks Conference
Dumbarton Oaks Conference
The Dumbarton Oaks Conference or, more formally, the Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization was an international conference at which the United Nations was formulated and negotiated among international leaders...
that created the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He retired again in 1946, receiving a second Distinguished Service Medal.
In the late 1940s he served on the commission that proposed reforms to America's military and intelligence agencies, including creation of the Department of Defense by merging the War and Navy Departments.
General Embick died at Washington, D.C.'s Walter Reed Army Hospital on October 23, 1957, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. He was the father in law of General Albert Coady Wedemeyer
Albert Coady Wedemeyer
General Albert Coady Wedemeyer was a United States Army commander who served primarily in Asia during World War II. His most notable command was the China theater in the South-East Asia Theater. During the Cold War, Wedemeyer was a chief supporter of the Berlin Airlift.-Early Life and military...
.
Citation of first Distinguished Service Medal:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Signal Corps) Stanley D. Embick, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As a member of the American Section of the Supreme War Council, by his sound military judgment, qualifications, his breadth of vision, and his sound military judgment, Colonel Embick has rendered invaluable aid in solving the many complex problems that have come before the Supreme War Council. Service: Army. Rank: Colonel. War Department, General Orders No. 69 (1919)
External links
- Military Times, Awards and Citations, http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=17508
- United States Army in World War II, by Mark Skinner Watson, Published by US War Department, 1950, Chapter 3, http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/csppp/ch03.htm
- HistoryNet.com. Louisiana Maneuvers, (1940–41), by Mark Perry, http://www.historynet.com/louisiana-maneuvers-1940-41.htm
- China, The New Army, Time Magazine, Monday, June 4, 1945, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,775748,00.html