Robert L. Eichelberger

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Robert L. Eichelberger as a Lieutenant Colonel

Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (9 March 1886 – 26 September 1961) was a general in the United States Army, who commanded the US Eighth Army in the South West Pacific Area during World War II.

Eichelberger was born at Urbana, Ohio. He entered the Army as an infantry lieutenant from the U.S. Military Academy in 1909. For the next several years, he saw service in Panama and the U.S.-Mexico border before joining the American Expeditionary Force Siberia. In the years 1918 to 1920, Major Eichelberger observed the Japanese incursion into Siberia and became aware of Japanese methods. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for repeated acts of bravery while assigned to the Expeditionary Force.

After further overseas duty in the Philippines and China, Eichelberger returned to the U.S. attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and the Army War College, progressing through promotions to Brigadier General in October 1940. Major General Eichelberger became superintendent of West Point before being appointed Commanding General of US I Corps and left for Australia in 1942.

Eichelberger soon became a temporary Lieutenant General, and General Douglas MacArthur ordered him to "take Buna, or don't come back alive". Eichelberger led the Australian-US Advanced New Guinea Force to victory over the Japanese at Buna, in early 1943.

In 1944, Eichelberger also had notable victories at Hollandia and Biak, in Dutch New Guinea.

As Commanding General of the newly formed Eighth Army, he led the invasion of the Philippines clearing the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Panay, Negros, Cebu and Bohol. By July 1945, Eichelberger's forces had defeated the Japanese on Mindanao.

In August 1945, Eichelberger's Eighth Army began a three-year stint as part of the Occupation of Japan.

After nearly 40 years service, he retired in 1948. Congress, in recognition of his service, promoted Eichelberger to full General in 1954 (Public Law 83-508, July 19, 1954).

He died at Asheville, North Carolina, on 26 September 1961 and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.