James H. Polk

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James H. Polk
1911 – 1992
Place of birth	Batangas, Philippines
Place of death	El Paso, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1933 - 1971
Rank	General
Commands held	U.S. Army Europe 4th Armored Division
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Legion of Merit Silver Star Silver Star

James Hilliard Polk was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Army Europe from 1967 to 1971. He was one of the last senior commanders in the army to have served in the horse cavalry.

1 Military career
2 Post military career
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Military career

Polk was born at Camp McGraw in Batangas in the Philippines on December 13, 1911 to Colonel Harding Polk, and the former Ester Fleming.^[1] He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1933 and was commissioned in the cavalry. Prior to World War II he served in two cavalry regiments, and attended the basic and advanced courses at the cavalry school.

At the outbreak of World War II he was assigned to West Point as a tactical officer. In 1943 he attended a shortened general staff course at Fort Leavenworth, and after graduation joined the 106th Mechanized Cavalry Group at Fort Hood, Texas as a squadron commander, and later as regimental executive officer. In Europe, the group fought in the hedgerows of Normandy and the breakout from Saint Lo.

In early September 1944, Polk assumed command of the 3rd Cavalry Group, then in combat near Metz, France, and commanded it until the end of the war. During theis time the unit was known as "Task Force Polk," and spearheaded many advances by XX Corps.

After brief occupation duty in Germany at the end of World War II, Polk returned to the U.S. and became Chief fo Tactics as the Ground General School at Fort Riley, Kansas, and later attended the Armed Forces Staff College. In 1948 he went to Tokyo in the G-2 (Intelligence) section of the U.S. Far East Command for the next three years.

During the Korean War Polk was assigned to X Corps, and participated in three campaigns. In August 1951 he returned stateside to attend the National War College, and was later assigned as an instructor at the Army War College. He was then made Chief of Staff of the 3rd Armored Division at Fort Knox, participating in their move to Germany. In July 1956 he was promoted to Brigadier General and became assistant division commander.

Following and assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Land Forces Central Euope at NATO Headquarters at Fontainebleau under General Dr. Hans Speidel, Polk returned to the U.S. and became Director of the Policy Planning Staff in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

Upon promotion to Major General, Polk took command of the 4th Armored Division, followed by being the U.S. commandant in Berlin from January 2, 1963 to August 31, 1964 during a time of increased tension.^[2]

Polk became commander of V Corps on September 1, 1964, and in 1966 returned to CONUS to become Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development. He returned to Europe at the end of that year, first as Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Europe, and six months later became Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Europe. He retired from active duty on April 1, 1971.

Polk's awards and decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star , the Croix de Guerre, the Legion of Honor, the American Campaign Medal, the Air Medal, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

[edit] Post military career

Polk retired to El Paso, Texas and became a horse farmer,^[3] and also served as Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Cavalry Association from 1978 to 1992,^[4] and President of Army Emergency Relief from 1975 to 1984.^[5] He died on February 18, 1992 at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas after battling cancer and pneumonia.^[1] He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, and later his wife, Josephine Leavell Polk (1913 - 1999), was buried next to him. His World War II letters were published in 2005 under the title World War II Letters and Notes of Colonel James H. Polk, 1944-1945 ISBN 1932762191. The 3d Cavalry Association has named its scholarship fund for the children of fallen 3ACR soldiers after him.^[6]