Geoffrey Keyes
Geoffrey Keyes | |
---|---|
Born |
Fort Bayard, New Mexico | October 30, 1888
Died |
September 17, 1967 78) Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C | (aged
Place of burial | West Point Cemetery |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1913–1950 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held |
3d Armored Division 9th Armored Division II Corps Seventh United States Army Third United States Army |
Battles/wars |
Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II |
Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit Silver Star (2) Bronze Star |
Geoffrey Keyes (October 30, 1888 – September 17, 1967) was a highly decorated officer of the U.S. Army with the rank of Lieutenant General, who commanded the II Corps during World War II.
Early life
Geoffrey Keyes was born on October 30, 1888 in Fort Bayard, New Mexico as a son of U.S. Army officer, Captain Alexander S. B. Keyes and his wife, Virginia Maxwell Keyes. Like his father, Geoffrey Keyes enrolled as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point on March 2, 1908 and graduated on June 12, 1913 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. His first assignment was with the 6th Cavalry Regiment, where he served until October, 1916 and participated in the Pancho Villa Expedition.
His next assignment was at United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as an instructor of French language. He was also head football coach for one season in 1917. compiling a record of 7–1.
His interwar service included duty with Panama Canal Division as an Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3), instructor at United States Military Academy at West Point and at Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas and Chief of Supply of Supply Division within War Department. He also graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1926 and the Army War College in 1937.
World War II
In 1940, he was Chief of Staff of the 2nd Armored Division. Keyes became Commanding General of the 3d Armored Division in 1942. From June to September 1942, he commanded the 9th Armored Division before going to North Africa as Deputy Commanding General of the I Armored Corps. From 1943 to 1945, he was Commanding General of II Corps. He commanded the Seventh United States Army from 1945 to 1946 and the Third United States Army from 1946 to 1947. In 1947, Keyes was appointed U.S. High Commissioner on the Allied Council for Austria. He served as Director, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group (WSEG) from 1951 to 1954. Keyes retired in 1954 and died on September 17, 1967 at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C..[1] He is interred at West Point.
Decorations
Lieutenant general Keyes's ribbon bar:
1st Row | Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ two Oak Leaf Clusters | Silver Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star Medal | ||||||||||||
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2nd Row | Mexican Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | ||||||||||||
3rd Row | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ one silver and two bronze service stars | World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | National Defense Service Medal | ||||||||||||
4th Row | Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom) | Commandeur of the Legion of Honour | French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 w/ palm | Grand Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite | ||||||||||||
5th Row | Grand Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy) | Silver Medal of Military Valor (Italy) | Grand Officer of the Military Order of the White Lion | Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 | ||||||||||||
5th Row | Military Order of Savoy (Italy) | Papal Lateran Cross (Vatican) | Officer of the Legion of Honour | |||||||||||||
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Army Cadets (Independent) (1917) | |||||||||
1917 | Army | 7–1 | |||||||
Army: | 7–1 | ||||||||
Total: | 7–1 |
References
- ↑ AP (September 19, 1967). "GEOFFREY KEYES, COMBAT LEADER; Commanding General of 2d Corps in Italy Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
External links
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Wade H. Haislip |
Commanding General of the Seventh United States Army September 1945 – March 31, 1946 |
Succeeded by Oscar Griswold |
Preceded by Lucian K. Truscott |
Commanding General of the Third United States Army 1 April 1946 – 10 January 1947 |
Succeeded by Ernest N. Harmon |
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