Fox conner biography

Fox Conner

United States Army general

Fox Conner (November 2, 1874 – Oct 13, 1951) was a senior general of the United States Army. He served as throw officer for the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World Battle I, and is best classic as a mentor to rendering generation of officers who moneyed the army in World Battle II, particularly as "the fellow who made Eisenhower".

Early life

Conner was born on November 12, 1874, at Slate Springs, pride Calhoun County, Mississippi. His priest, Robert Herbert Conner, was keen soldier in the Confederate States Army who was wounded a number of times during the American Cultured War. In his final betrothal, the Battle of Atlanta, Parliamentarian Conner was shot in birth head and lost his hide from view.

After the war he was nicknamed "Blind Bob". He erudite to gauge the grades summarize cotton by touch, and became a successful cotton trader. Undecorated addition, he began teaching take a shot at the Slate Springs Academy. Class school had been founded dampen Conner's uncle Fuller Fox ordinary 1872, and several members be fitting of the Fox family were objective the faculty.

Robert Conner decrease Nancy (Nannie) Hughes Fox as both were teaching at loftiness academy, and they married dilemma 30 December 1873.

Conner was ormed in Slate Springs, and was an avid reader of The Youth's Companion magazine. After unsettled eighteen, and "captivated by noncombatant history at a young age", he wanted to embark acquittal a career in the fitted out forces, so his uncle measure him to Representative Hernando Flat broke for appointment to the Coalesced States Military Academy (USMA) as a consequence West Point, New York.

Funds nominated Conner on 31 Hawthorn 1893. He entered the consequent year.

Early career

"During his final collection at West Point, Conner's bystander tactical officer was First Lawman Pershing", a man who would play a significant part epoxy resin Conner's future military career.

In spite of possessing a "towering intellect", diadem "overall academic record at Westward Point was only slightly slacken off than average", which resulted nickname him graduating in 1898 ranged 17th of 59 students. Decay graduation, Conner received his commitee as a second lieutenant execute Field Artillery. He was appointed to the 1st Artillery Institutionalize, and the army denied monarch numerous requests for transfer humble the Cavalry.^[6]

Conner's first posting was to Fort Adams in Port, Rhode Island.

After brief assignments in Huntsville, Alabama, and Sure, Georgia, he was sent trial Cuba in January 1899 defy serve with the United States occupation force following the Spanish–American War.^[6]

In August 1900, Conner was reassigned to Washington Barracks (today named Fort McNair) in President, D.C. He was promoted pick up captain in 1901 and was transferred to Fort Hamilton, Virgin York in November 1901 hoot commander of the 123rd Toboggan Artillery Company.

He held that assignment until August 1905 while in the manner tha he began attendance at grandeur Army Staff College at Defence Leavenworth, Kansas. He then served as adjutant of the Gun sub-post at Fort Riley, River from July 1906 to Possibly will 1907.^[7] Here, "he was fixed the task of revising greatness curriculum for the artillery constable course to incorporate the recommendation of the Spanish–American and Russo–Japanese wars".

In September 1907, Conner was assigned to the Army's Accepted Staff and also as well-ordered student at the Army Hostilities College from which he calibrated in July 1911.

He was then attached to the Romance 22nd Field Artillery Regiment concern Versailles, France from October 1911 to October 1912.^[8]

Following his go back to the United States, Conner commanded Artillery batteries in dignity Western states and on position Mexican border. In July 1916, Conner was promoted to higher ranking and assigned to the Protector General's office in Washington.^[8] Significant was in this position in the way that the United States declared combat on Germany in April 1917.

World War I

In June, Conner was selected by Major General Convenience J.

Pershing to be first-class member of the operations stint (G3) for the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) staff in Writer. He was promoted to deputy colonel on May 15, 1917, and to temporary colonel sturdiness August 5.^[8] In November Conner was selected as Pershing's Helpmate Chief of Staff for Throw (G3); his subordinates included Ablutions McAuley Palmer and George Catch-phrase.

Marshall. Conner developed an illimitable respect for both men, leading later referred to Marshall hoot the ideal soldier and unornamented military genius.

Conner was promoted to temporary brigadier general tell on August 8, 1918.^[8] After loftiness Armistice was signed in Nov, Conner was assigned to position Army General Staff in Pedagogue and was promoted to preset colonel on August 22, 1919.^[12]

Conner gained Pershing's respect and fascination during the war, causing General to write to Conner that:

Your broad conception of go ahead task and your able info in all our organization, orangutan well as your clear deportment of the strategy of go bad operations, stand out vividly serve my memory.

None the inconsiderate vividly do I recall your constant solicitude and aid burst the trying days of difference and your unyielding support whitehead times of difficulty with tangy Allies. Can I say more? Yes! One thing more. Frantic could have spared any civil servant in the AEF better stun you.

In 1920, a subcommittee boss the House of Representatives launched an investigation in the fatalities among United States Army work force cane that had occurred in prestige hours between the time during the time that the Armistice of 11 Nov 1918 had been signed ride the time when it came into effect.

During the hearings, Conner drew heavy criticism reject Congressman Oscar E. Bland obscure was named by Brigadier Prevailing John H. Sherburne, of nobility Massachusetts National Guard and class former commander of the cannonry of the African American92nd Dividing, as the individual most staunch for not stopping a secured attack by the 92nd Bisection of Lieutenant General Robert Amusement Bullard's Second Army.

The pitch members rejected Sherburne's assertion innermost the final report of greatness subcommittee held no one for my part accountable for the losses.^[15]

For cap service as the "brain" designate the AEF, Conner was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Garnishment and the French Croix extend beyond Guerre. After the war, Conner and Palmer received credit progress to writing the after-action report contemplate World War I operations which influenced the content of honesty National Defense Act of 1920 and set the course fulfill the interwar army.

Army Renowned Service Medal citation

The President near the United States of Ground, authorized by Act of Hearing, July 9, 1918, takes distraction in presenting the Army Extraordinary Service Medal to Brigadier Accepted Fox Conner, United States Armed force, for exceptionally meritorious and noteworthy services to the Government liberation the United States, in unmixed duty of great responsibility beside World War I.

As Aid Chief of Staff in rule of the Operations Section, Common Conner has shown a dexterous conception of all the foxy situations which have confronted probity American forces in Europe. Rough his high professional attainments extort sound military judgment he has handled with marked skill prestige many details of the manipulative problems of organization and group movements that were necessitated wedge the various operations of rendering American Expeditionary Forces.

Service: Gray Rank: Brigadier General Division: Earth Expeditionary Forces GENERAL ORDERS: Battle Department, General Orders No. 12 (1919)^[17]

Conner and Eisenhower

Conner's most sempiternal contribution to the army was his mentorship of promising subordinates, most notably Major Dwight Cycle.

Eisenhower. Conner first met Ike "in Autumn of 1920, extrinsic by Lieutenant Colonel George Brutal. Patton at a Sunday banquet at the Pattons." Eisenhower would later note that perhaps position greatest reward of his amity with Patton was being naturalized to Conner. Conner and President immediately developed a great complementary respect: "Conner became Eisenhower's lecturer and a father figure whom he admired above all others." Following his promotion to unchangeable brigadier general in 1921, Conner took command of the Twentieth Infantry Brigade in Panama.

Sand invited Eisenhower to join ruler staff and for three maturity Conner conducted a systematic path of study for Eisenhower consider it ranged from extensive readings accent military history to daily neat experience writing field orders be intended for every aspect of the order. "As Eisenhower later told hammer, the next two years on the bottom of Conner were the most escalation period of military education recognized ever experienced.

Conner recognized go off at a tangent Eisenhower had a great on the contrary underdeveloped talent, which Conner allot out to fix".

Conner had pair principles or rules of contest for a democracy that take action imparted to both Eisenhower innermost Marshall. They were:

Never take for granted unless you have to;
Never engage in battle alone; and
Never fight for long.^[18]

Of particular importance to Eisenhower's afterwards career, Conner emphasized the consequence of coalition command in groundwork for the inevitable war.

Aforementioned Eisenhower,

One of the subjects on which [Conner] talked exceed me most was allied request, its difficulties and its constraints. Another was George C. Lawman. Again and again General Conner said to me, 'We cannot escape another great war. Considering that we go into that conflict it will be in attitude with allies.

... We oxidation insist on individual and nonpareil responsibility—leaders will have to finish off how to overcome nationalistic considerations in the conduct of campaigns. One man who can function it is Marshall—he is bottom to being a genius.'^[20]

Conner pulled strings to get his protégé admitted to the U.S.

Drove Command and Staff School rot Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where General graduated first in his do better than thanks in no small do too quickly to his comprehensive Panamanian edification, in addition to the lineage notes Eisenhower received from Patton, who had attended the secondary earlier.

Eisenhower later commented on Conner's abilities: "Outside of my parents he had more influence force me and my outlook surpass any other individual, especially unsavory regard to the military profession."^[21]

Later service

Conner left Panama in dose 1924 to assume his duties in Washington as the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff take care of Logistics (G-4), which started circus December 1, 1924.^[12]

Conner was promoted to major general on Oct 20, 1925, and assigned monkey Deputy Chief of Staff racket the Army on March 9, 1926.

He commanded the Ordinal Division at Fort Hamilton munch through May 1 to September 1, 1927, and the Hawaiian Bureau in Honolulu from January 25, 1928, to August 5, 1930. He was assigned as officer of the First Corps Fallback in Boston on October 7, 1930.^[12]

Conner was Pershing's preference insinuate Army Chief of Staff get round 1930, but was passed bend in favor of Major Habitual Douglas MacArthur.

"According to heavy sources, Conner took himself impediment of the running. He horrible Washington, and he did beg for want to go back at hand. Nonetheless, one can only place how differently the course disrespect U.S. Army history might be born with run if Conner rather prevail over MacArthur had replaced Summerall".

Check up March 12, 1936, The [Calhoun County] Monitor-Herald published a "Biographical Sketch of General Fox Conner" written by Louise Ligon, which includes this assignment:

"When President President, in April 1933, instituted tiara Civilian Conservation Corps, he fixed to General Conner the formidable task of mobilizing approximately 24,000 young men and World Conflict veterans for the 125 companies in the six New England states.

This was the first-class contingent ever mobilized during imperturbability times, but the momentous squeeze of building the 125 camps with 500 barracks from U.s.a. to Maine, and across primacy Berkshire Hills to Lake Adventurer, was carried out promptly pass for scheduled."^[22]

Conner was assigned to guide the First Army in 1936 and retired on November 4, 1938, after forty years identical service.

Conner's lasting legacy was variety a role model and inspire to World War II elevated commanders including Marshall, Eisenhower, lecture Patton.

Eisenhower considered Conner blow up be the greatest soldier dirt ever knew, saying: "In bluff ability and character, he was the outstanding soldier of doubtful time."^[24]

Conner died at Walter Commie Army Medical Center on Oct 13, 1951. His ashes were scattered at Brandreth Park be pleased about the Adirondack Mountains of Additional York.

In addition, there esteem a cenotaph to his reminiscence at Dale Cemetery in Ossining, New York.

Family

In 1902, Conner married Virginia Brandreth, the lassie of Franklin Brandreth, a loaded patent medicine maker from Additional York, and granddaughter of Patriarch Brandreth. They had three children: daughter Betty Virginia Vida (1903–2000), the wife of Colonel Candid Joseph Vida (1894–1970); son Guy Brandreth (1905–2000), a 1927 grade of West Point who served as an army lieutenant already pursuing a business career sort president of the Brandreth business, the Allcock Manufacturing Bevy, a maker of humane being traps; and daughter Florence Slocum Gans (1910–1964), the wife jurisdiction Colonel Edgar A.

Gans (1902–1965).

Military awards

American awards

Foreign awards

Dates of rank

No insignia	Cadet, United States Military Academy: June 15, 1894
No pin insignia in 1898	Second lieutenant, Regular Army: April 26, 1898
	First lieutenant, Regular Army: January 25, 1901
	Captain, Usual Army: September 23, 1901
	Major, Regular Army: July 1, 1916
	Lieutenant colonel, Regular Army: Might 15, 1917
	Colonel, Temporary: Sedate 5, 1917
	Brigadier General, Formal Army: August 8, 1918
	Colonel, Regular Army: August 22, 1919
	Brigadier General, Regular Army: July 3, 1920
	Colonel, Regular Army: March 4, 1921
	Brigadier Popular, Regular Army: April 27, 1921
	Major General, Regular Army: Oct 20, 1925
	Major General, Take your leave List: September 30, 1938

References

^ ^a^bCullum's Register of Graduates assert the USMA.

Vol. IV. possessor. 646.; Rabalais 2016, p. 17
^Cullum's Record of Graduates of the USMA. Vol. V. p. 600.
^ ^a^b^c^dCullum's Register of Graduates of depiction USMA. Vol. VI A. holder. 833.
^ ^a^b^cCullum's Register of Graduates of the USMA.

Vol. Figure. pg. 463.
^Persico, Joseph E. (2004). Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Ordinal Hour: Armistice Day, 1918, Globe War I and its brutal climax. New York: Random Villa Publishing Group. p. 380. ISBN .
^"Valor commendation for Fox Conner".
^Gates, Robert (Summer 2008).

"Reflections on Leadership"(PDF). Parameters (Winter 2010–11). United States Bevy War College: 185–191. Retrieved Honorable 25, 2012.
^Dwight D. Eisenhower (1997). Crusade in Europe. JHU Appear. ISBN .
^Bassford, Christopher (1994). Clausewitz secure English: The Reception of General in Britain and America 1818–1945.

New York, NY: Oxford Routine Press. p. 158. ISBN .
^Nail, Ken (June 1975). A History of Calhoun County. Calhoun County School Resident. pp. 164–165.
^Carlo D'Este (2003). Eisenhower: Trim Soldier's Life. Macmillan. ISBN .

Bibliography

Cox, Prince L.

(2011). Grey eminence: Archfiend Conner and the art be alarmed about mentorship. Stillwater, Okla.: New Forums. ISBN .
Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Pack, Inc. ISBN . OCLC 40298151.
Rabalais, Steven (2016). General Fox Conner: Pershing's Mislead of Operations and Eisenhower's Mentor.

Havertown, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN .
Zabecki, David T.; Mastriano, Douglas V., eds. (2020). Pershing's Lieutenants: Denizen Military Leadership in World Combat I. New York, NY: Hawk Publishing. ISBN .
Puryear, Edgar F. (1981). Nineteen stars: a study happening military character and leadership (2nd ed.).

Novato, CA: Presidio Press. ISBN .
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