Raymond O. Barton
Raymond Oscar Barton
|
|
---|---|
File:Raymond O. Barton.jpg
Major General Raymond O. Barton
|
|
Nickname(s) | Tubby |
Born | Granada, Colorado |
August 22, 1889
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Augusta, Georgia |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ |
United States Army |
Years of service | 1912-1946 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands held | 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment 8th Infantry Regiment 4th Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star |
Raymond Oscar "Tubby" Barton (August 22, 1889 - February 27, 1963) was a career officer in the United States Army and combat commander in World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of Major General. As commander of the 4th Infantry Division during World War II, Barton is one of only eleven generals who commanded their divisions for the duration of their combat service.[1]
Contents
Background and early career
He graduated from the United States Military Academy class of 1912. As commander of the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment he served in Germany from 1917 to 1923, being the last formation to leave.
World War II
He commanded the 4th Infantry Division from 3 July 1942 to 26 December 1944 and led them into battle from D-Day at Utah Beach,[2] to the Liberation of Paris, and into the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest before leaving the command due to health problems on December 27, 1944.
During the war he became friends with Ernest Hemingway who sought his favor as the war correspondent assigned to the division and the two corresponded after.
Hemingway wrote to Barton:
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
You had one of the greatest divisions in American military history.
During the Battle of Hurtgen Forest on the Weisser Weh stream near Grosshau, Germany General Barton gave up his belt for tourniquet material to medic Russell J. York of his division at York's request. Lives were saved, and a Silver Star was personally awarded to Technician (Medical) 4th Grade York by General Barton for his actions.
Death
Barton died in 1963 and was buried at Westover Memorial Park in Augusta, Georgia.[3]
Popular culture
In the film The Longest Day he is played by Edmond O'Brien. He appears in a scene where he allows his assistant division commander, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (played by Henry Fonda), to lead the division ashore at D-Day.
See also
References
- ↑ Order of Battle, p. 374.
- ↑ Harrison, Gordon A., (1951). - CHAPTER VIII: "The Sixth of June: Hitting the Beaches". - Cross Channel Attack. - Washington D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army. CMH Pub 7-4. - p.302. - OCLC 1350280.
—REPRINT: (1984). - ISBN 978-0-318-22740-5 - ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Further reading
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Utah Beach Forces
- Pages with broken file links
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Army generals
- United States Military Academy alumni
- Operation Overlord people
- American military personnel of World War II
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Recipients of the Croix de guerre (France)
- 1889 births
- 1963 deaths