George A. White

Infobox Military Person
name=George A. White
lived=18 July 1880 - Death date and age|1941|11|23|1880|7|18|
placeofbirth=Long Branch Township, Saline County, Illinois
placeofdeath=Clackamas, Oregon


caption=Major General George A. White
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=1895-1941
rank=Major General
commands=41st Infantry Division
unit=
battles=Spanish American War
Mexican Expedition
World War I
World War II
awards=Légion d'honneur
Ordre de l'Etoile noire
relations=
laterwork=

Major General George A. White (18 July 1880-23 November 1941) was a American author, journalist and Major General in the first half of the 20th century. He was one of the founders of the American Legion and commanded the 41st Infantry Division in World War II until his death in 1941.

Education and Early Life

George Ared White was born on 18 July 1880 in Long Branch Township, Saline County, Illinois.harvnb|McCartney|1946]

On 1 August 1895 White enlisted in the Utah National Guard as a musician. He was discharged in June 1898 in order to enlist in the Utah Artillery for the Spanish-American War. He remained in Federal service until he was discharged in December 1898.

White re-enlisted in the Utah national Guard in 1899 was promoted to Sergeant and later First Sergeant before being discharged in 1903. He moved to Oregon, where he enlisted in the 3rd Infantry, Oregon National Guard on 4 August 1907. The next day he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain on 21 March 1911.

Great War

White was appointed Adjutant General of Oregon on 1 February 1915. When the Oregon National Guard was Federalized for the Mexican Expedition, White obtained a leave of absence in order to command a troop of Oregon cavalry. After service on the Mexican border from June 1916 to February 1917, he resumed his post in Oregon.

On 23 March 1917, the Oregon National Guard was mobilized. As Adjutant General, White was involved in recruiting efforts to bring National Guard units up to strength, and he directed the establishment of state machinery for conscription.

White re-entered Federal service on 10 September 1917 with the rank of Major and was given the post of Assistant Adjutant General of the 41st Division, a new division being organized from National Guard units from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

He served overseas on the Western Front from January 1918 to June 1919. Initially he was with the 41st Division but it was designated as a replacement division and he was posted to General Headquarters American Expeditionary Force. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 13 November 1918. For his services, he was awarded the Ordre de l'Etoile noire.

Interwar Years

White was one of twenty officers at the Allied Officers' Club, Rue Faubourg St. Honore, on 16 February 1919 who were credited with the founding of the American Legion. [ [http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/4/4/7/14478/14478.htm The Story of The American Legion] ] He subsequently became its first national vice commander. He founded the American Legion magazine and was its first editor. For his services to the American Legion, and for promoting the friendship between the United States and France, he was awarded the Legion d'Honneur on 9 July 1934.

White was separated from Federal service on 23 July 1919 resumed his duties as Adjutant General of Oregon on 15 April 1920. His first task was the reconstruction of the Oregon national Guard, in which he was promoted to Colonel on 23 June 1920. On 23 July 1923, he assumed command of the 82nd Infantry Brigade, a brigade composed of Oregon troops, and was promoted to brigadier general.

White attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth from 1925 to 1926 and took part in training seminars organized by the U.S. Army War College in 1928. On 3 January 1930 he was promoted to Major General and appointed to command the 41st Division.

World War II

The 41st Division's annual summer camp at Fort Lewis in June and July 1940 was extended from two weeks to three, [McCartney, "The Jungleers", p. 1.] and on 1940-09-16 with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, the 41st Division was inducted into Federal service for one year.McCartney, "The Jungleers", p. 3.] Selective service men began to arrive in February 1941. [McCartney, "The Jungleers", p. 5.]

In May 1941, 41st Division moved to the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation where June war games pitted it against Major General Joseph Stilwell's 7th Division and the 40th Division. Large scale maneuvers continued in August on the Olympic Peninsula. [McCartney, "The Jungleers", pp. 9-11.]

General White became ill during the manoeuvres at Hunter Liggett. He died at his home in Clackamas, Oregon on 23 November 1941. His legacy included one of the National Guard's best-trained divisions. In his honour, Camp White was named after him in 1942.

References

Further reading

* Citation
last = McCartney
first = Wiliam F.
authorlink =
title = The Jungleers: A History of the 41st Infantry Division
publisher = Infantry Journal Press
date = 1948
location = Washington, DC
pages = 14–15, 192
isbn = 1432588176

Persondata
NAME = White, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = United States Army general in World War II
DATE OF BIRTH = 18 July 1880
PLACE OF BIRTH = Long Branch Township, Saline County, Illinois
DATE OF DEATH = 23 November 1941
PLACE OF DEATH = Clackamas, Oregon