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First Name: Manton

Last Name: Eddy

Birthplace: Chicago, IL, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Middle Name: Sprague



Date of Birth: 16 May 1892

Date of Death: 10 April 1962

Rank: Lieutenant General

Years Served: 1916 - 1953
Manton Sprague Eddy

   
Engagements:
•  World War I (1914 - 1918)
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Manton Sprague Eddy
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army

Manton Sprague Eddy was born on 16 May 1892 in Chicago, IL.

Eddy graduated from Shattuck Military School in Faribault, MN, in 1913. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1916. An Infantry Officer, Eddy served in France in World War I in rifle and machine gun units. He saw combat at Aisne-Marne and Vesle River, where he was wounded. Promoted to temporary Major, he served in the Army of Occupation in Germany until 1919, when he returned to the U.S. Reduced to his permanent rank of Captain in 1920, Eddy married Mamie Peabody Buttolph a year later.

During the inter-war period, he served in a variety of assignments, including Professor of Military Science at Riverdale Military Academy and as an Instructor of Tactics at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He was also a member of the Infantry Board.

World War II

He was serving as III Corps Intelligence Officer at the start of World War II when he was selected to Command the 114th Infantry Regiment in 1941. In 1942 he was promoted to Brigadier General as Deputy Commander of the 9th Division. Later the same year, he advanced to Major General as Division Commander, and commanded the 9th Division during campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily, and Normandy.

In 1944, Eddy was named Commander of XII Corps, which became operational as part of General George Patton's Third Army in August and moved rapidly across France forcing the Nazis back towards Germany. In late 1944, his units successfully held the southern shoulder of the German salient in the Battle of the Bulge. In early 1945, his command assaulted into Germany, discovered a cache of art treasures and gold in a salt mine at Merkers, and liberated the Flossenburg concentration camp. In April 1945, he returned to the U.S. because of illness.

Post-World War II

In the postwar period, General Eddy served again at Fort Leavenworth, this time as Commandant of the Command and General Staff College, from January 1948 to July 1950. He was president of a review board which made a thorough examination of officer education and established the progressive branch, staff, and senior service levels of officer schooling. As Commander of Seventh Army, he presided over its transformation from an Army of Occupation to one of deterrence.

He retired with the rank of Lieutenant General.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
World War I Victory Medal
Occupation of Germany World War I Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Distinguished Service Cross (Synopsis of Citation)

Major General Manton Sprague Eddy, United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding General, 9th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 24 to 26 June 1944. Major General Eddy's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 39 (1944)

Death and Burial

Lieutenant General Manton Sprague Eddy died on 10 April 1962 at Fort Benning, GA. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.



Honoree ID: 2458   Created by: MHOH

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