John L. DeWitt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| John Lesesne DeWitt | |
|---|---|
| January 9, 1880 - June 20, 1962 | |
 LTG John L. DeWitt |
|
| Place of birth | Fort Sidney, Nebraska |
| Place of death | Washington, D.C. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Years of service | 1898-1947 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Quatermaster General of the U.S. Army; Commandant of the Army War College; Fourth Army Commanding General; Commandant of the Army and Navy Staff College |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal |
John Lesesne DeWitt is an American Army general, best known for his role in the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
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[edit] Military career
DeWitt was born at Fort Sidney, Nebraska on January 9, 1880. On October 10, 1898, he was appointed as a Second Lieutenant with the U.S. Army infantry. He would go on to serve twenty years within the infantry in various posts.
[edit] World War I
In 1918, he set out with the 42nd Infantry Division to the battlefields of World War I. At this time, he was already a Lieutenant Colonel, and continued duties as a Quartermaster in the General Staff Headquarters. In July of 1918, DeWitt was promoted to full Colonel, and continued Quartermaster duties for the 1st Army. He received the Distinguished Service Medal at the end of World War I.
[edit] Post-WWI
Between 1919 and 1930, DeWitt served in various Quartermaster positions at posts such as Assistant Commandant of the General Staff College, Chief of the Storage and Issue Branch, and the supply division. In 1930, he was promoted to the rank of Major General, Quatermaster General of the U.S. Army. As well as his regular duties as Quartermaster General, DeWitt also assumed control of the Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage. General DeWitt was responsible for all logistics involving this Congress-approved event.
After returning to the Infantry, DeWitt assumed control of the Philippine Division. In July of 1937, he became Commandant of the Army War College. Two years later, in December of 1939, DeWitt was promoted to Lieutenant General, and then assumed command of the Fourth Army as well as the Western Defense Command with responsibilities for the West Coast area of the United States.
[edit] World War II
From December 5, 1939 to June 15, 1943, DeWitt commanded the Western Defense Command. During this time, he ordered the removal and internment of 110,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry (75% of whom were American-born citizens) from their homes in Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona, having them placed in internment camps.
Less known is DeWitt's role in supervising the combat operations in the Aleutian Islands, some of which had been invaded by Japanese forces. At the end of his tenure as head of Western Defense Command, he was appointed as the Commandant of the Army and Navy Staff College in Washington. He retired from the Army in 1947.
[edit] Post-retirement
In 1954, DeWitt became a full General by order of Congress for his services in World War II. General DeWitt died of a heart attack at the age of 82 in Washington, D.C. on June 20, 1962, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
