Thomas Leonard Harrold
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leonard Harrold was a United States Army
Lieutenant General
. He was commander of the 9th Armored Division, U.S. Army Armor School, 1st Cavalry Division
, 8th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, III Corps, and the U.S. Army Caribbean Command. From 1958 to 1961 he served as commandant of the National War College
.
in 1925 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry
.
for the 7th Cavalry Regiment.
He graduated from the Cavalry Officers Course in 1930.
Harrold served as an instructor at West Point in the early 1930s.
In the early 1940s Harrold was in charge of Army recruiting for the area that included Connecticut
.
In 1942 Harrold graduated from the Command and the General Staff College.
during the Battle of the Bulge
.
Harrold commanded the 9th Armored Division from 1945 to 1946.
in West Germany
.
Harrold served as Director of Civil Affairs for the U.S. Army European Command
from 1947 to 1949.
From 1949 to 1951 Harrold served as commander of the U.S. Army Armor School and Fort Knox.
and leading the division the Korean War
. Harrold commanded the division during its stationing at Hokkaido
, the northernmost island in Japan
, where it carried out combat training, electronic surveillance and defense of Japan from potential attacks by the Soviet Union
or China
.
Harrold commanded the 8th Infantry Division from August to November, 1954.
General Harrold served as commander of the III Corps at Fort Hood
from 1954 to 1956
From 1956 to 1958 Harrold served as commander of the U.S. Army Caribbean Command.
Harrold was Commandant of the National War College from 1958 until his 1961 retirement.
(two awards), Silver Star
(two awards), Legion of Merit
, and Bronze Star Medal
(three awards).
, where he died on June 16, 1973. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
, Section 2 Site E-508.
. They had one child, Sally, who was born in 1937.
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...
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...
. He was commander of the 9th Armored Division, U.S. Army Armor School, 1st Cavalry Division
1st Cavalry Division
1st Cavalry Division can refer to several cavalry units:* 1st Cavalry Division * 1st Cavalry Division * 1st Cavalry Division * 1st Cavalry Division * 1st Indian Cavalry Division...
, 8th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, III Corps, and the U.S. Army Caribbean Command. From 1958 to 1961 he served as commandant of the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
.
Early life
Harrold was born in San Diego, California on June 21, 1902. He graduated from the United States Military AcademyUnited 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 1925 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
.
Early career
From 1926 to 1927 Harrold was the adjutantAdjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
for the 7th Cavalry Regiment.
He graduated from the Cavalry Officers Course in 1930.
Harrold served as an instructor at West Point in the early 1930s.
In the early 1940s Harrold was in charge of Army recruiting for the area that included Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
In 1942 Harrold graduated from the Command and the General Staff College.
World War II
During World War II Harrold commanded Combat Command A, 9th Armored Division, serving from August 27, 1944 to May 3, 1945. Harrold led his command during combat in Europe, including a key role in repelling the GermansHistory of Germany during World War II
The history of Germany during World War II closely parallels that of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. He came to power in Germany in 1933. From that point onward, Germany followed a policy of rearmament and confrontation with other countries...
during 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...
.
Harrold commanded the 9th Armored Division from 1945 to 1946.
Post World War II
From 1946 to 1947 Harrold served as commander of the 3rd Constabulary BrigadeUnited States Constabulary
The United States Constabulary was a United States Army military Constabulary force. From 1946 to 1952, in the aftermath of World War II, it acted as an occupation and security force in the U.S...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Harrold served as Director of Civil Affairs for the U.S. Army European Command
United States Army Europe
United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and the land component of United States European Command. It is the largest American formation in Europe.-Invasion of Sicily:...
from 1947 to 1949.
From 1949 to 1951 Harrold served as commander of the U.S. Army Armor School and Fort Knox.
Korean War
Harrold briefly served as deputy commander of I Corps in 1951, but was soon transferred to commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. He served from from July, 1951 to March, 1952, receiving promotion to Major GeneralMajor 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...
and leading the division 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...
. Harrold commanded the division during its stationing at Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, the northernmost island in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where it carried out combat training, electronic surveillance and defense of Japan from potential attacks by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
or China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Post Korean War
From February, 1953 to June, 1954 Harrold was commander of the 10th Mountain Division.Harrold commanded the 8th Infantry Division from August to November, 1954.
General Harrold served as commander of the III Corps at Fort Hood
Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
from 1954 to 1956
From 1956 to 1958 Harrold served as commander of the U.S. Army Caribbean Command.
Harrold was Commandant of the National War College from 1958 until his 1961 retirement.
Awards and decorations
General Harrold's decorations included the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
(two awards), 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....
(two awards), 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...
, and Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The 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...
(three awards).
Retirement and death
In retirement General Harrold resided at Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, where he died on June 16, 1973. He 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...
, Section 2 Site E-508.
Personal
General Harrold was married to Emily Draper of Troy, New YorkTroy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
. They had one child, Sally, who was born in 1937.