Robert A. McClure
| Robert Alexis McClure | |
|---|---|
 McClure as a Brigadier General | |
| Born |
March 4, 1897 Mattoon, Illinois |
| Died |
January 1, 1957 (aged 59) Fort Huachuca, Arizona |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917-1956 |
| Rank |
 Major General |
| Unit |
 Office of Psychological Warfare |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II Cold War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal |
Robert Alexis McClure (March 4, 1897 – January 1, 1957) was an American general and psychological warfare specialist, who is considered as a Father of U.S. Army Special Warfare.
Biography
Born in Mattoon, Illinois, he graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1915. He initially joined the Philippine Constabulary before joining the regular army in 1917.
In 1941 he served as military attaché to the American Embassy in London before being appointed by general Dwight D. Eisenhower to chief of intelligence for the European theater of operation in 1942. Eisenhower next placed him in charge of the Allied Forces Information and Censorship Section which was responsible for the operation of twelve radio stations as well as the censorship of troop mails and cables.
McClure was appointed director of the newly created Psychological Warfare Division of SHAEF in 1944. With the end of the war in Europe he was responsible for the Information Control Division which controlled broadcasting and newspapers in Germany during the early stage of the occupation.
After the invasion of Korea in 1950, beginning the Korean War, the Office of the Chief of Psychological Warfare was formed in Washington, D.C., headed by McClure. During his tenure, the Psychological Warfare Center was established at Fort Bragg, North Carolina which centralized the newly formed Psychological Warfare School and 10th Special Forces Group at a single location.
In 1953, McClure was assigned to Iran as chief of the U.S. Military Mission where he formed a close relationship with the Shah.
He retired from the Army in 1957 and died of a heart attack soon after at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
Decorations
During his 39 years of the military career, Major General McClure received a number of military awards, including some foreign decorations.
Here is his ribbon bar:
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| 1st Row | Army Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster | Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster | Bronze Star Medal | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row | World War I Victory Medal | American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp | American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Service Stars | ||||||||||||||
| 3rd Row | World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp | National Defense Service Medal | Order of the British Empire, Commander | ||||||||||||||
| 4th Row | Legion of Honor, Officer (France) | Croix de guerre 1939–1945, with Palm (France) | Order of the Crown, Officer (Belgium) | Order of the Crown of Italy, Grand Officer | ||||||||||||||
| 5th Row | Order of Glory, Knight of First Class (Tunisia) | El Alonena (Morocco) | Order of the Chin Hsin, with Rosette Special Class (China) | Military Order of Merit, (Iran) | ||||||||||||||
| 6th Row | Polonia Restituta, Officer (Poland) | Order of the Lion and the Sun, Grand Officer (Iran) | Order of the Crown, Grand Officer (Iran) | |||||||||||||||
External links
- Colonel Alfred H. Paddock, Jr. "Major General Robert Alexis McClure: Forgotten Father of US Army Special Warfare". www.psywarrior.com.