Alfred Gruenther

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Alfred Maximilian Gruenter
1899-1983
Gen Alfred Gruenter, SACEUR (NATO Photo 1251)
Place of birth	Platte Center, Nebraska
Place of death	Washington, DC
Allegiance	U.S. Army
Years of service	1917-1956
Rank	General
Commands	Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1953-1956)
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (4)
Other work	American Red Cross president (1957-1964)

Alfred Maximilian Gruenther (March 3, 1899-May 30, 1983) was the youngest World War II Major General and after the war, as a four-star General, served as the Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR) in Europe from 1953 to 1956.

Gruenther was born in Platte Center, Nebraska. He attended St. Thomas Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated fourth in his class at the U.S. Military Academy in 1917. He was the youngest four-star general in U.S. history, advisor and planner to top generals in World War II. He served as chief of staff of the Third Army, Fifth Army, Fifteenth Army Group, and was principal American planner of the allied invasions of North Africa in 1942 and Italy in 1943.

After World War II, he became deputy commander of U.S. forces in Austria in 1945, and was appointed supreme allied commander in Europe/commander-in-chief of the U.S. European Command in 1953, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1956. He appeared on the cover of Time, February 6, 1956. General Gruenther retired from military service in 1956.

After retiring from the Army, he served as president of American Red Cross from 1957 to 1964 and was a member of the Draper Committee. Gruenther received a Litt.D. from Bates College in 1958.

Gruenther was the recipient of many nations' medals, including the Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters [1] and honorary degrees from American universities.

[edit] References

Alfred Maximiliam Gruenter, General, Arlington National Cemetery biography.
Biography, Nebraska State Historical Society.
Dwight D. Eisenhower - American Presidency Project: Citation Accompanying the Distinguished Service Medal Presented to General Gruenther