Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company
7th Armored Division
Bookmark this page as http://www.7thArmdDiv.org/7ad-hq.htm
Last updated: April 26, 2021 - What's New?
This page contains:
And the following are links to other pages:
Or you can see an active overview of all pages at the 7th Armored Division web site.
ELEMENTS AND OFFICERS OF THE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS:
The Table of Organization had 164 men in an Armored Division Headquarters. I have not been able to obtain the exact distribution of these men and their ranks nor a list of all of the sections. Thus the following list is my current best guess at the organization, based on After Action Reports and other documents that I have thus far found.
- Headquarters Section
- Commanding General
- Maj. Gen. Lindsay McDonald Silvester (1 March 1942 [activation of 7AD] - 1 November 1944, relieved)
- Senior Aide-de-Camp: Capt. Fred O. Jackson (???? - 18 November 44, relieved as Aide and on 6 December 1944 became CO of Division Headquarters Company)
- Brig. Gen. (promoted to Major General 4 January 1945) Robert W. Hasbrouck (312400 October 1944 - 6 August 1945)
CCB After Action Report October 1944: "On 2400 31st October Brig. Gen., HASBROUCK was relieved as commander of Combat Command "B" and assumed command of 7th Armored Division. Lt. Col. RICHARD D CHAPPUIS assumed command of Combat Command "B"."
- Senior Aide-de-Camp: Capt. William C. Arthur, Jr. (1 November 1944 - Duration)
- Junior Aide-de-Camp: 1st Lt. Jim Fox (?? -- Duration)
- Col. John L. Ryan (6 August 1945 - 28 August 1945)
7AD GO #130 (6 Aug 1945): "the undersigned hereby assumes command of the 7th Armored Division, this date"
- Col. Orville W. Martin (28 August 1945 - 6 September 1945)
7AD GO #143 (28 Aug 1945): "the undersigned hereby assumes command of the 7th Armored Division, this date"
- Brig. Gen. Truman E. Boudinot (6 September 1945 - 18 September 1945)
7AD GO #145 (6 Sep 1945): "the undersigned hereby assumes command of the 7th Armored Division, this date"
- Brig. Gen. John E. Lewis (18 September 1945 - ?inactivation of Division?)
7AD GO #149 (18 Sep 1945): "the undersigned hereby assumes command of the 7th Armored Division, this date"
- Aide-de-Camp: 1st Lt. Virgil D. Walter (18 September 1945 - ?inactivation of Division?)
7AD GO #150 (18 Sep 1945): "announced as Aide-de-Camp"
- Chief of Staff
- Col. George H. Molony (13 June 1944 - 4 September 1944, assumed command of CCR)
Source: 7AD G-1 Journal - Sep 44
- Col. Pete T. Heffner (4 September 1944 - 14 September 1944, assumed command of CCR)
Source: 7AD G-1 Journal - Sep 44
- Col Andrew J Adams (15 September 1944 - 30 September 1944 - ?? [had become Division Trains CO by December 1944])
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report, 7AD G-1 Journal - Sep 44
- Col. Church Matthews (13 November 1944 (joined 5 Nov 1944) - killed in action 17 December 1944 near Recht, Belgium [went 5 December 1944 sick to 111th Evacuation Hospital, returned to duty 12 December 1944])
- Col. John Ryan (17 December 1944 - Duration)
- Commandant
- Maj. Otto L. McBride (?? - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- G-1 Section (Administration)
- G-1 Officer
- Lt. Col John V. Maxwell (13 June 1944 - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Maj. Charles R. Grant (24 Jan 1945 - Duration, promoted to Lt. Col. 1 Mar 1945)
- Assistant G-1
- Capt. Cooley (?? - 2 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 G-1 Journal
- Control Officer
- 2nd Lt. Howard E. Peterson (?? - 10 August 1944 - promoted to 1st Lt. 15 September 1944 - 28 September 1944)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 G-1 Journal -- 28 Sep 44: "1st Lt Peterson left G-1 Section to resume duty at AG Secion>" -- not clear when his time at G-1 began, but the 10 Aug 44 G-1 roster shows him with G-1
- G-2 Section (Intelligence)
- G-2 Officer
- Lt. Col. Everett W. Murray (13 June 1944 - Duration)
- Assistant G-2
- Major Charles New (?? - at St. Vith in December 1944 - ??) -- interviewed after St. Vith
- G-2 Staff
- Lt. I. Kornbloom (?? - at St. Vith in December 1944 - ??) -- provided report to combat interviewers after St. Vith
- G-3 Section (Operations)
- G-3 Officer
- Lt. Col. Alvin L. Mente Jr. (13 June 1944 - 1 September 1944, transferred to CCA)
Source: 7AD G-1 Journal for September 1944
- Lt. Col. Charles E. Leydecker (1 September 1944, transferred from CCA - Duration)
Source: 7AD G-1 Journal for September 1944
- Assistant G-3
- Major Werner J. Moeller (?? - at St. Vith in December 1944 - ??) -- interviewed after St. Vith
- Capt. John E. Kennedy (after St. Vith in December 1944 - ??) -- provided information to combat interviewers after St. Vith
- Air Liaison G-3
- Capt. Walter L. Maxwell (?? - at St. Vith in December 1944 - ??) -- interviewed after St. Vith
- G-4 Section (Logistics: Maintenance and Supply)
- Maj. Reginald H. Hodgson (13 June 1944 - Duration, promoted to Lt. Col. 15 July 1944)
- G-5 Section (Civil Affairs)
- Maj. Rex Thompson (27 June 1944 - Duration, promoted to Lt. Col. 6 November 1944)
- Adjutant General
- Division Adjutant General
- Maj. Ralph R. Carlin (27 June 1944 - ??)
- Maj. Francis E. Carr (2 July 1944 - Duration, promoted to Lt. Col. 19 October 1944)
- Assistant Adjutant General
- 1st Lt. John I. McGiver (?? - 13 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD 1944 GO #47
- Maj. Robert W. Burnham (?? - 23 February 1945 - ??)
Source: 7AD 1945 GO #43
- Division Classification Officer
- Capt. Burnham (?? - 9 September 1944 - 20 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 G-1 Journal
- Control Officer
- 2nd Lt. Howard E. Peterson (?? - promoted to 1st Lt. 15 September 1944 - 18 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 G-1 Journal -- 28 Sep 44: "1st Lt Peterson left G-1 Section to resume duty at AG Secion>" -- not clear when his time at G-1 began, but the 10 Aug 44 G-1 roster shows him with G-1
- Inspector General
- Lt. Col. Hermann P. Meyer (?? - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Judge Advocate
- Lt. Col. John P. Oliver (?? - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Provost Marshal
- Capt. (later Maj.) James P. Daniel (?? - 10 August-17 December 1944 - ??)
Sources: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report; 7AD General Orders (below)
7AD General Orders #55 (21 Sep 1944), para. II, p. 3
II. AWARDS OF BRONZE STAR MEDAL: By direction of the President, and under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, and Letter, Headquarters XX Corps, file AG 200.6 subject, "Delegation of Authority to: Award Decorations", dated 1 September 1944, the Bronze Star Nodal is awarded to: ... CAPTAIN JAMES P. DANIEL (Army Serial Number 01011270), Corps of Military Police, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by meritorious service in connection with
military operations against an enemy of the United States in France from 10 August to 15 September 1944. Entered the military service from South Carolina.
7AD General Orders #64 (13 Oct 1944), para. I, p. 1
I. AWARDS OF SILVER STAR: By direction of the President, and under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, and Circular No. 66, Headquarters First United States Army, 18 May 1944, as amended, the Silver Star is awarded to: CAPTAIN JAMES P. DANIEL (Army Serial Number 01011270), Corps of Miltary Police, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by gallantry in action in France, on 16 September 1944. Entered the military service from South Carolina.
- Detail Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9. 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Corps of Military Police) James P. Daniel (ASN: O-1011270), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the Provost Marshal, 7th Armored Division, in action in the area of Arnaville, France, on 16 September 1944. In this assault on the high fortified Metz sector, the 7th Armored Division encountered intense resistance in its efforts to establish a bridgehead on the Moselle River at Arnaville. Having a detailed knowledge of the terrain, as well as the outstanding advantage of superior observation, German batteries were zeroed in on the key roads along the entire route of advance. Despite the continuous barrages of enemy artillery covering these roads, Captain Daniel constantly patrolled the arteries of traffic to insure the unmpeded passage of troops and vitally needed supplies. When the shelling of the crossroads at Arnaville was at its height, Captain Daniel braved extreme hazards to walk the length of the route personnaly and inspect the traffic control posts adjacent to the bridgehead. His coolness and dispatch in evacuating numerous casualties of the 5th Infantry Division from the crowded intersection enable the injured soldiers to get prompt medical attention with minimum interference to the advancing column. By his complete disregard for personal safety and magnificent devotion to duty under the most trying circumstances, Captain Daniel inspired his men to perform outstanding service during a critical phase of the Division's operations.
7AD General Orders #55 (27 Mar 1945), para. III, p. 3
III. AWARDS OF OAK-LEAF CLUSTER (BRONZE STAR MEDAL): By direction of the President,
and under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, and Circular No. 2, Headquarters First
United States Army, 4 January 1945, in addition to the Bronze Star Medal previously
awarded, a Bronze Oak-Leaf Cluster is awarded to: ... MAJOR JAMES P. DANIEL (Army Serial Number 01011270), Corps of Military Police,
Military Police Platoon, 7th Armored Division, United States Army, for distinguishing
himself by heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of
the United States in Belgium, from 17 December 1944 to 27 December 1944. Entered the
military service from South Carolina.
- Signal Officer
- Lt. Col. Emerson M. McDermott (?? - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Special Service Officer
- Maj. Roy K. Bekenfield (?? - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Division Artillery
- Col. Orville W. Martin (13 June 1944 - Duration)
- Division Trains
- Lt. Col. William W. Rosebro (8 September 1944 - 12 September 1944, assumed command of 38 AIB and was killed 19 September 1944)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 G-1 Journal (for 8 and 12 September), Bn HQ 38 AIB Morning Report (for 12 and 19 September)
- Col. John L. Ryan (12 September 1944 - 20 September 1944, assumed command of CCR)
Sources: 7AD Sep 44 G-1 Journal
- Col. Richard B. Evans (20 September 1944 - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Sources: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report, 7AD Sep 44 G-1 Journal
- Col. Andrew J. Adams (?? - at St. Vith in December 1944 - ??)
- Division Quartermaster
- Lt. Col. Miller (?? - at St. Vith in December 1944 - ??)
Mentioned in combat interview of Capt. Sam Plyler of Division Trains re Dec 1944
- Division Ordnance Officer (CO of 129th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion)
- Division Engineer (CO of 33rd Armored Engineer Battalion)
- Chemical Warfare Officer - No Staff
- Lt. Col. Frederic Schroeder (?? - 30 September 1944 - December 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
Also mentioned (erroneosuly) in interviewer's attachments to Gen. Hasbrouck's combat interview re Dec 1944
- Division Chaplain
- Lt. Col. Lawrence H. Keating (?? - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Division Surgeon (*NOT* the same as CO of 77th Armored Medical Battalion)
- Lt. Col. Stephen J. Karpenski (sometimes spelled Karpinski) (?? - 30 September 1944 - January 1945 - ?4 February 1945?)
Sources:
- 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Mentioned in combat interview of Capt. Sam Plyler of Division Trains re December 1944
- 77 Med Bn Jan 45 After Action Report (with spelling "Karpinski"): "A new plan was suggested by the division surgeon, Lt. Colonel Karpinski by which enlisted medical personnel of the infantry, tank and engineer detachments would be rotated with personnel of the medical battalion."
- Lt. Col. John E. Boland of Chicago, IL (4 February 1945 - April 1945 - ???)
Sources:
- 1945-Feb: 77 Med Feb 45 After Action Report: transferred from command of 77 Med Bn to become Division Surgeon
- 1945-Apr: Mentioned in Ruhr Pocket combat interviews as Division surgeon
- Lt. Col. John A. Williams (uncertain if he became Division Surgeon)
- Division Veteranarian - No Staff
- Division Finance Officer
- Division Finance Officer
- Lt. Col. Jesse P. Bellamy (?? - 30 September 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Sep 44 After Action Report
- Assistant Division Finance Officer
- Capt. McLellan (?? - 28 August 1944 - ??)
Source: 7AD Aug 44 G-1 Journal
Return to top of Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company page
ELEMENTS AND OFFICERS OF THE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY:
The Table of Organization had 138 men in an Armored Division Headquarters Company, with the following organization (I think - but I could be wrong).
- Headquarters
- Headquarters Section
- Administration, Mess & Supply (AM&S) Section
- Maintenance Section
- Division Maintenance Section
- Defense Platoon
- Transportation Platoon
- Reserve Command Section
- General Staff Section
- Armored Section
Return to top of Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company page
BOOKS AND RESEARCH MATERIALS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY:
Return to top of Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company page
BOOKS THAT MENTION THE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY:
This is a growing list. Please forgive me for any omissions and let me know, so I can add them.
- Battle of the Bulge: December 1944 - January 1945
- US Army Armored School Research and Evaluation Division. The Defense of St. Vith, Belgium 17-23 December 1944: An historical example of armor in the defense. Fort Knox: Armored School. (Click here for information on this book.)
- Boyer at St. Vith: Major Donald P. Boyer's "Personal Report: Narrative Account of Action of 38th Armored Infantry Battalion,
7th Armored Division, Battle of St. Vith, 17-22 December 1944"
and "Notes - The Battle of St. Vith, 17-22 December 1944" (Click here for information about this book.)
- The 7th Armored Division Goes Back - Return to St. Vith in January 1945 (Click here for information about this book.)
Return to top of Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company page
Click here for information about contacting me.
Copyright © 2021 by Wesley Johnston
All rights reserved
7th Armored Division Association Home Page
Active overview of all pages at the 7th Armored Division web site