Robert C. Macon

Robert Chauncey Macon
Born July 12, 1890
Washington, D.C.
Died October 20, 1980
Washington, D.C.
Allegiance United StatesUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1916-1952
Rank Major General
Commands held 83rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars World War II
*Battle of Normandy
*Drive to the Siegfried Line
*Battle of the Bulge
*Central Europe Campaign
Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star (2)

Robert Chauncey Macon (July 12, 1890 – October 20, 1980) was a general in the United States Army during World War II. He commanded the 83rd Infantry Division during the drive across Europe and later served as military attaché in Moscow.

Early life

Macon graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1912 with a B.S. degree and received an M.E. from the same institution the following year. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1916. He served in China as the commander of Company I, 15th Infantry Regiment from 1919 to 1921. He was then a professor of military science and tactics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1924 to 1928. After graduation from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School on June 19, 1931, he served in the Panama Canal Department until 1933. He then attended the U.S. Army War College and from 1934 to 1939 was an instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School. Macon served as assistant chief of staff for plans in VII Corps from March to August 1940, and then served with the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment until 1941. He was then assigned as assistant chief of staff for supply of the 4th Armored Division.[1]

World War II

In April 1942, Macon, now a colonel, took command of the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He commanded the regiment during Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, and the subsequent occupation of French Morocco. In February 1943, he was promoted to brigadier general.

In April 1943, Brigadier General Macon was appointed as assistant division commander of the 83rd Infantry Division. He succeeded Frank W. Milburn as commanding general of the division in January 1944 and was promoted to major general on June 1, 1944.[1]

Major General Macon commanded the 83rd Infantry Division during operations in Normandy, including Operation Cobra and the drive on Saint-Malo. The division then screened the Allied advance along the Loire River Valley, and accepted the surrender of 20,000 German troops at Beaugency. The division drove through Lorraine and into Luxembourg, and then fought in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1945, the division advanced through Germany and linked up with Soviet troops on the Elbe in April.

Later years

Major General Macon remained in command of the 83rd Division until 1946, when he became military attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, USSR. He served there from 1946 to 1948, and then became Deputy Chief, U.S. Army Field Forces from 1949 to 1952. He retired in July 1952.

Decorations

Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit

Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Silver star
Bronze star

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with six Service Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Officer of the French Order of the Legion of Honor
French Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm

Promotions

Source - Register of the Army of the United States for 1946. United States Government Printing Office Washington: U.S. Secretary of War. 1946. p. 430

No pin insignia in 1915 Second Lieutenant of Infantry, Regular Army: November 30, 1916*
First Lieutenant, Regular Army: November 30, 1916*
Captain, Regular Army: August 3, 1917
Major, Regular Army: December 13, 1928
Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army: October 1, 1938
Colonel, Army of the United States: October 20, 1941
Brigadier General, Army of the United States: February 2, 1943
Major General, Army of the United States: June 1, 1944

Note - Macon accepted his commission December 1, 1916

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 83rd Infantry Division, PRO (25 September 1944). "Know Your Leaders" (PDF). 83rd Spearhead (London). pp. Volume 1, Number 2, Page 2.