Charles Hartwell "Tick" Bonesteel III
General, U.S. Army

Charles Hartwell Bonesteel III was born on 26 September 1909 in New York City, NY. He was the son of Caroline Hudson Bonesteel and Charles Hartwell Bonesteel II, a U.S. Army officer who graduated from the U.S Military Academy and retired as a Major General [Honoree Record ID 306595]. Bonesteel III's grandfather, Charles Hartwell Bonesteel, graduated from the USMA on 14 June 1876 and was a Major in the U.S. Army.

Bonesteel was an Eagle Scout (1925). As an adult, he was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America. A 1931 graduate of the USMA, Bonesteel received the lifelong nickname of "Tick" while at the Academy. Bonesteel was also a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.

He served in the U.S. and Europe during World War II in a number of senior staff assignments. With the surrender of Japan imminent, Bonesteel, General George A. Lincoln, and Colonel Dean Rusk of the Strategy Policy Committee at the Pentagon, were tasked with drawing up General Order No. 1 to define the areas of responsibility for U.S., Soviet and Chinese forces. On 10 August 1945, with Soviet forces already moving through Manchuria into northern Korea, Bonesteel proposed the 38th Parallel as the Division of Korea. The draft General Order was cabled to the Soviets on 15 August and accepted by them the following day.

In the postwar era, Bonesteel served as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State. In November 1958, in an official capacity, he visited the city of Saigon, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

He served as Commanding General of the 24th Infantry Division (1961-62), and Commanding General of VII Corps (1962-63).

In post-World War II, he is chiefly known as the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea (and Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command Korea; Commanding General, Eighth Army) from 1966-69. During this period, he defended against North Korean infiltration during the Korean DMZ Conflict (1966-69) and dealt with the tensions arising from the Pueblo Incident.

He retired from the Army in 1969.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)
Legion of Merit (2 Awards)
American Defense Medal with Bronze Star
American Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de guerre (France)

Death and Burial

General Charles Hartwell Bonesteel III died on 13 October 1977. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 3, Site 1519-C. His father is buried nearby.