Colt Model M .32 ACP serial number 561487 issued to General
Ben Harrell, USA - Military
Model M .32 ACP pistol, arsenal refinished finish, parkerized
trigger, thumb safety and grip safety, with U.S. PROPERTY
mark on right side of frame and ordnance mark punch dot on left
front trigger guard bow. Pistol is documented as having been
issued to General Ben Harrell and is pictured with its original
holster.
Copy of original index card from Rock Island Arsenal
documenting issue of "1 ea Pistol Auto Colt Cal.. .32" to
Brigadier General Ben Harrell. Pistol was shipped on March 29,
1956 to the Chief, Information Branch, Career Management
Division, Room IE-542, The Pentagon, Wash. 25, D.C.
Ben Harrell was born in Medford, Oregon, March
15, 1911. He was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy by the
late Representative Hawley of Oregon, and was graduated from the
Military Academy on June 13, 1933.
Following various pre-Pearl Harbor Infantry assignments as a
junior officer, General Harrell served a series of assignments
in the 3d Infantry Division such as S-3 of the 7th Regiment
which he later commanded in the Mediterranean Theater, He also
commanded the 15th Regiment of the 3d Division, served as G-3 VI
Corps and finally G-3 of the Fifth U.S. Army in this Theater.
In these assignments General Harrell was instrumental in the
preparation of tactical plans for the amphibious landings in
North Africa in November 1942; for mounting the invasion convoy
of more than 1000 ships -- world's largest at that time -- which
landed in the southern beaches of Sicily in July 1943; and for
the sweep across this island which terminated at the Straits of
Messina in August, 1943, and drove the shattered German Army
back to the continent of Europe.
After several months in combat in the Volturno and Cassino areas
of Italy, he made the landing at Anzio as deputy chief of staff
of the 3rd Infantry Division, going then to VI Corps as G3 to
take part in planning the tactical maneuvers for the defense of
Anzio against German counter-attack, the eventual breakout from
the confining Anzio beachhead, and the pursuit north to capture
Rome.
Still as G-3 to VI Corps, General Harrell landed in the invasion
of Southern France on 15 August 1944. A few days later he took
command of the Seventh Infantry Regiment of the 3d Division and
led it through numerous combat actions until it captured
Strasbourg, Germany, in December, 1944. He then returned to
Italy as G3 of the Fifth Army, remaining in this assignment
until the end of the war and his return to Fort Benning in
December, 1945.
At the Infantry School he served in the Academic Department, as
Director of the Combat Requirements Section and commanded the
School Troops Regiment. At the age of 37 he won his
Parachutist's Badge, following which he served as G-3 of the
11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, commanded its
511th Airborne Regiment, and finally became its Chief of Staff
in 1950.
After a year as a student at the National War College he was
graduated and went to Paris in August, 1953, for another year as
an operations and training staff officer in Supreme Headquarters
Allied Powers Europe. He moved from Paris to Berlin, assuming
command of the 6th Infantry Regiment in August, 1953, and a year
later became chief of staff for the United States Commander in
Berlin.
General Harrell was then assigned to the Pentagon in August,
1955, and, after six months as executive officer for the
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Forces),
was named to head the Infantry Branch, Career Management
Division, Office of The Adjutant General in January, 1956. His
promotion to brigadier general followed the next month.
On completion of this assignment he went to the
Far East in July, 1958, where he commanded the 7th Infantry
Brigade and served as assistant commander of the 7th Infantry
Division, one of the two United States Army divisions then in
Korea. Promoted to major general on August 1, l959, he returned
to the United States during the same month for assignment to
Headquarters, United States Continental Army Command, Fort
Monroe, Virginia. In June 1960, he was transferred to Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, where he was assigned as Commanding General
of the 101st Airborne Division. General Harrell departed Fort
Campbell in August 1961 for another tour at Fort Benning,
Georgia, this time as the Commanding General of the USA Infantry
Center and Commandant, USA Infantry School.
General Harrell returned to the Pentagon in February, 1963 as
the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Department
of the Army, and was promoted to lieutenant general. He was
named Commanding General of the United States Amy Combat
Developments Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia in May, 1965.
On July 6, 1967, General Harrell assumed command of the Sixth
United States Army at the Presidio of San Francisco, California.
General Harrell became the NATO commander of Allied Land Forces
Southeastern Europe, Izmir, Turkey, 1 July 1968, in the grade of
general.
PERSONAL DATA
Date and place of birth: March 15, 1911,
Medford, Oregon
Died: July 26, 1981, buried San Francisco National Cemetery
Parents:Father - deceased
Mother - deceased
Marriage: Date: September 6, 1933
Wife: Harriet Campbell of Medford, Oregon
Children: Charles & Hunter
Official Home Address: Eugene, Oregon
EDUCATION
U.S. Military Academy - 1933
The Infantry School - Regular Infantry Officers Advanced Course
- 1940
Educational Equivalent to the Command and General Staff College
- 1947
Educational Equivalent to the Armed Forces Staff College - 1947
The Infantry School - Basic Airborne Course - 1949
The National War College - 1952
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF PROMOTIONS
Promotions |
Temporary (AUS) |
Permanent (RA) |
2nd Lieutenant |
|
13 June 1933 |
1st Lieutenant |
|
13 June 1936 |
Captain |
9 September 1940 |
13 June 1943 |
Major |
16 April 1942 |
15 July 1948 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
22 October 1942 |
28 July 1950 |
Colonel |
19 June 1944 |
1 June 1956 |
Brigadier General |
15 February 1956 |
25 May 1960 |
Major General |
1 August 1959 |
6 November 1962 |
Lieutenant General |
28 February 1963 |
|
General |
1 July 1968 |
|
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF ASSIGNMENTS
S3, 7th Infantry Regiment 3d Infantry
Division, Port Lewis, Washington |
Jan 42 |
May 42 |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, North
African Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
May 42 |
Sep 43 |
Commanding Officer, 15th Infantry Regiment,
3d Infantry Division, Mediterranean
Theater of Operations |
Sep 43 |
Sep 43 |
Deputy Chief of Staff, 3d Infantry Division,
Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
Sep 43 |
Feb 44 |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Headquarters,
VI Corps, Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
Feb 44 |
Aug 44 |
Commanding Officer, 7th Infantry Regiment,
3d Infantry Division, European Theater
of Operations |
Aug 44 |
Dec 44 |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Headquarters,
Fifth Army, Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
Dec 44 |
Dec 45 |
Assistant Director of Training, Academic
Department, The Infantry School, Fort
Benning, Georgia |
Dec 45 |
Jan 46 |
Director, Combat Requirements Section, The
Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia |
Jan 46 |
Sep 46 |
Commanding Officer, 37th Infantry Regiment,
Fort Benning, Georgia |
Sep 46 |
Aug 47 |
Committee Chief, Operations Training Committee,
Academic Department, The Infantry School,
Fort Benning, Georgia |
Aug 47 |
Apr 48 |
Committee Chairman, Academic Department,
Company D, Infantry School Detachment,
Fort Benning, Georgia |
Apr 48 |
Dec 48 |
Student Officer, Basic Airborne Course,
The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia |
Dec 48 |
Feb 49 |
Committee Chairman, Academic Department,
Company H, Airborne Battalion, Fort
Benning, Georgia |
Feb 49 |
Jul 49 |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Headquarters,
11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. |
Jul 49 |
Dec 49 |
Commanding Officer, 511th Airborne Infantry
Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, Fort
Campbell, Kentucky |
Dec 49 |
Aug 50 |
Chief of Staff, Headquarters, 11th Airborne
Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky |
Aug 50 |
Aug 51 |
Student Officer, National War College,
Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C. |
Aug 51 |
Aug 52 |
Operations and Training Staff Officer,
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers
Europe, Marlay, France |
Aug 52 |
Aug 53 |
Commanding Officer, 6th Infantry Regiment
United States Army Europe |
Aug 53 |
Jul 54 |
Chief of Staff, U. S. Commander of Berlin,
U.S. Army, Europe |
Jul 54 |
Jun 55 |
Executive Officer, Office of the Assistant
Secretary of the Army (Manpower and
Reserve Forces), Washington, D.C. |
Aug 55 |
Jan 56 |
Chief, Infantry Branch, Career Management
Division, Office of The Adjutant General,
Washington, D.C. |
Jan 56 |
Mar 58 |
Chief, Infantry Branch, Officer's Assignment
Division, Office of The Adjutant General,
Washington, D.C. |
Mar 58 |
May 58 |
Assistant Division Command, 7th Infantry
Division, and Commanding General, 7th
Infantry Brigade, Korea |
Jul 58 |
Aug 59 |
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations,
Plans and Training, USCONARC |
Sep 59 |
Mar 60 |
Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations,
USCONARC |
Apr 60 |
Jun 60 |
Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division,
Fort Campbell, Kentucky |
Jun 60 |
Aug 61 |
Commanding General, USA Infantry Center and
Commandant, USA Infantry School, Fort
Benning, Georgia |
Aug 61 |
Feb 63 |
Assistant Chief of Staff for Force
Development, USA |
Feb 63 |
May 65 |
Commanding General, USA Combat Developments
Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
May 65 |
Jun 67 |
Commanding General, Sixth United States Army,
Presidio of San Francisco, California |
Jul 67 |
Jun 68 |
Commander, Allied Land Forces Southeastern
Europe,
Izmir, Turkey |
Jul 68 |
|
LIST OF CITATIONS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (with two Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Europe, Africa, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
National Defense Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Czechoslovakia Military Cross
Golden Cross of Merit (with swords) - (Poland)
Croix de Guerre (France)
Fourragere in color of Croix de Guerre
Crown of Italy
Order of British Empire
Military Valor of Cross of Italy
War Medal (Brazil)
The Combat Infantryman Badge
The Master Parachutist Badge
General Staff Identification
Six Overseas Service Bars
Born, 15 March 1911 |
|
Oregon and admitted to
the West Point class of 1933 from same state,
Infantry. (Mother's Maiden Name: MCCLAIN) |
1942-1945 |
|
G3 3d Infantry
Division, G3 6 Corps, Commanding Officer
7 Infantry (23 Aug 44), G3 5Ar NATO & European
Theater (ETO) (Silver Star - (2) Legion of Merit
medals - 2 Bronze Star Medals-Commendation Ribbon)
Marne Division - The three white stripes
represent the number of the division and the three
major operations in which the division participated
during World War I. The clear field of blue stands
for loyalty, steadfastness and undying devotion to
the principles of right and justice by the American
soldier.
|
December 1949 - July
1951 |
|
Chief of Staff,
511 Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky |
1952 |
|
National War College |
1952 |
|
Operations & Training
Division, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe,
Brussels, Belgium (SHAPE) |
1956 |
|
Chief, Information
Branch, Career Management Division,
Careen Management Division, The
Pentagon |
June 1960-July 1961 |
|
Major General,
Commander,
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
A HISTORY OF THE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION (Air
Assault) |
15 February 1963 -
30 June 1965 |
|
Lieutenant General,
Assistant Chief of Staff, Force Development,
Department of the Army Received Certificate of
Ownership for Colt .32 pistol, sn 561487 in January
1965 |
1965-1967 |
|
Commanding General,
Army Combat Development Command (Distinguished
Service Medal - Combat Infantryman Badge) |
July 1967 - July
1968 |
|
Commanding General,
Sixth Army |
1968-1971 |
|
Commander,
Headquarters Allied Land Forces Central Europe (HALFSEE) |
1971 |
|
Retired - General |
26 July 1981 |
|
Died - Fort Ord -
(Carmel, Monterey, CA) |
December 1982 |
|
Obituary |
Harrell, Ben 1911-1981. Listed
in "Who's Who in the World," Second edition, 1974-1975.
Wilmette, IL and "Marquis Who's Who," 1973.(WhoWor 2)
7th US Infantry Regiment,
Regimental information, Campaigns:
Algeria-French Morocco |
in WWII |
Tunisia |
in WWII |
Sicily |
in WWII |
Naples-Foggia |
in WWII |
Anzio |
in WWII |
Rome-Arno |
in WWII |
Southern France |
in WWII |
Rhineland |
in WWII |
Ardennes-Alsace |
in WWII |
Central Europe |
in WWII |
|