Editing George Grunert

{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{More citations needed|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = George Grunert
| image         = Lieutenant General George Grunert (cropped).jpg
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = 
| nickname      = 
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1881|7|21}}
| birth_place   = [[White Haven, Pennsylvania]]
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1971|1|12|1881|7|21}}
| death_place   = [[San Antonio, Texas]]
| placeofburial = 
| allegiance    = United States
| branch        = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears  = 1898–1945
| rank          = [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]]
| servicenumber = 0-1534
| unit          = [[United States Cavalry|Cavalry Branch]]
| commands      = [[Eastern Defense Command]]<br/>Second Service [[Corps Area]]<br/>[[First United States Army]]<br/>Sixth Service [[Corps Area]]<br/>[[Philippine Department]]<br/>[[26th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|26th Cavalry Regiment]]<br/>[[10th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|10th Cavalry Regiment]]
| battles       = [[Spanish–American War]]<br/>[[Philippine&ndash;American War]]<br/>[[World War I]]<br/>[[World War II]]
| awards        = {{nowrap|[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)}}<br/>[[Silver Star]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]]<br/>[[Purple Heart]]
| relations     = 
| laterwork     = 
}}
'''George Grunert''' (July 21, 1881 – January 12, 1971) was a [[United States Army]] cavalry officer who worked his way up through the ranks from private to retirement as a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]]. His 47-year career extended from the [[Spanish–American War]] to the end of [[World War II]].

==Education and early career==
George Grunert was born in [[White Haven, Pennsylvania]], on July 21, 1881, a son of David Grunert and Henrietta (Hollmann) Grunert. He graduated from White Haven High School in 1898 and joined the [[United States Army]] for the [[Spanish–American War]].<ref name="Register1902">{{cite book |author=U.S. Army Adjutant General |date=1902 |title=Register of the Army of the United States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WPM3AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA124 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=1902 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Enlisting as a [[Private (rank)#United States Army|private]] in the [[2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment|2nd Artillery Regiment]], he performed coast artillery duties in the [[Philippines]], [[Cuba]] and on the west coast of the United States.<ref name="Register1902"/> He advanced through the ranks to [[Corporal (United States)|corporal]], [[Sergeant (United States)|sergeant]], and [[Quartermaster Corps (United States Army)|quartermaster]] sergeant, and was serving at [[Fort Monroe]] in Virginia, when his application for a commission was approved.<ref name="Register1902"/> Grunert was commissioned as a [[Second lieutenant (United States)|second lieutenant]] of [[United States Cavalry|Cavalry]] in February 1901.<ref name="Register1902"/> He accepted in April and was assigned to the [[11th Armored Cavalry Regiment|11th Cavalry Regiment]].<ref name="Register1902"/> By 1908 he was stationed in Cuba and in 1910 he was assigned to [[Fort Oglethorpe (Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia)|Fort Oglethorpe]], [[Georgia (U.S. State)|Georgia]].

==World War I and the inter-war years==
Grunert was sent to France as an observer with British forces in 1917 during [[World War I]]. During the American build up, he served as assistant chief of staff for I Corps and was awarded the [[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] for his work during the United States offensives of 1918. The citation for the medal reads:

{{Blockquote|The [[President of the United States]] of America, authorized by [[Act of Congress]], July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry) George Grunert, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. With remarkable skill, constantly displaying zeal and high military attainments, Lieutenant Colonel Grunert performed his exacting duties as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, of the 1st Corps, during the successive operations at Chateau-Thierry, on the Ourcq and Vesle, and in the St. Mihiel and Argonne-Meuse offensives. By his untiring and painstaking efforts and unusual ability he performed the most difficult tasks, rendering services of great value to the Government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/17613|title=Valor awards for George Grunert|publisher=}}</ref>}}

In 1919, Grunert attended the Army War College then at [[Washington Barracks]], now [[Fort Lesley J. McNair]], in Washington, D.C. He served with the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] at Camp Dix, then to Washington, D.C., to serve in the office of the Army Chief of Staff. He returned to the field as a lieutenant colonel of the [[10th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|10th Cavalry Regiment]] at [[Fort Huachuca]] in Arizona in 1925.

After a second tour of duty in the office of the Army Chief of Staff, Grunert attended the [[Command and General Staff School]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]] in Kansas from 1930 to 1932. In 1933, he was the director of military intelligence and espionage division course at the [[United States Army War College|Army War College]] and in 1935, he became director of war plans division course.

In 1936, Grunert was posted to the Philippines as commanding officer of the [[26th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts)]]. He received his promotion to brigadier general in December 1936 in preparation for his command of the 23rd Brigade, a brigade of the [[Philippine Division (United States)|Philippine Division]] composed of [[Philippine Scouts]].

In November 1938 Grunert succeeded [[George C. Marshall]] in command of 5th Brigade at [[Vancouver Barracks]], Washington. Grunert was promoted to major general in 1939 and, in October, returned to the Philippines to command the Philippine Division. From May 1940 to November 1941 Grunert commanded the [[Philippine Department]], directing the United States Army supervision and control over the Philippine defense force until [[Douglas MacArthur]] came out of retirement to assume command in July 1941. MacArthur abolished the Philippine Department as a redundant command echelon in November 1941 and Grunert returned to the United States.

==World War II==
The [[Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]] occurred shortly after Grunert reached the United States, and he was shuffled between a number of assignments that included command of the [[Corps Area|Sixth Service Command]] at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, serving as the ranking military officer in the Chicago area, and two administrative posts with [[Army Service Forces]] as Deputy Chief of Staff for Service Commands ([[Service of Supply]]) overseeing the nine United States-based supply and logistics commands (formerly corps areas), under General [[Brehon B. Somervell]].

In August 1943, Grunert was appointed deputy commander for both the [[Eastern Defense Command]], a continental defense command for the eastern United States, and [[First United States Army]] at [[Fort Jay]], [[Governors Island]] in New York City, taking the place of General [[Hugh Aloysius Drum|Hugh A. Drum]] upon his mandatory retirement at age 64 in October 1943 and being promoted to [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] at the same time.

[[File:SC 190664 - Lt. Gen. George Grunert, Commanding General of the Eastern Defense Command, pins the medal of the Legion of Merit on Major General Daniel Van Voorhis, retired (50369672891).jpg|thumb|left|Lieutenant General George Grunert pins the [[Legion of Merit]] on Major General [[Daniel Van Voorhis]] at [[Fort Hayes]], [[Ohio]], May 1944.]]

Grunert held interim command over the First Army until January 1944 while Lieutenant General [[Omar Bradley]] completed assembling and staffing its new headquarters in England for the [[Normandy landings]]. Grunert continued command of Eastern Defense Command, which also assumed the duties of [[Central Defense Command]], and [[Corps area|Second Service Command]] for the New York area until his retirement in July 1945.

==Pearl Harbor investigation==
In June 1944, Grunert was appointed by Secretary of War [[Henry Stimson]] as the presiding officer of a secret panel that investigated the army response to events prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor Board report, released after the war, traced the entire military and diplomatic history prior to the attack finding much fault along the way, critical of break downs in communications between Secretary of State [[Cordell Hull]], [[George C. Marshall]] and a failure of appropriate action by Hawaiian Department commander, [[Walter C. Short]]. The panel's method of investigation and conclusions are still subject to criticism today.

==Retirement==
Grunert died at Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, on January 12, 1971, at age 89 and was buried at [[Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery]]. He was survived by his wife Florence Reynolds, daughter Mary and son-in-law, then First United States Army commander, Lieutenant General [[Jonathan O. Seaman]] at [[Fort George G. Meade|Fort Meade]], Maryland. His son, Colonel George R. Grunert, attended the [[United States Military Academy]], graduating with the class of 1930 and played on the army polo team. He was a veteran of World War II and Korea and preceded his father in death.

==Decorations==
Ribbon bar with the list of General George Grunert's decorations:<ref>Official Register of Commissioned Officers of the United States Army. 1948. Vol. 2.  pg. 2220.</ref> 
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
| colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Spanish Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Army of Cuban Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Philippine Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Cuban Pacification service ribbon.png|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Mexican Border Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!1st row
| colspan="4" | [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>with [[Oak Leaf Cluster]]
| colspan="4" | [[Silver Star]]
| colspan="4" | [[Legion of Merit]]
|-
!2nd row
| colspan="3" | [[Purple Heart]]
| colspan="3" | [[Spanish Campaign Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[Army of Cuban Occupation Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[Philippine Campaign Medal]]
|-
!3rd row
| colspan="3" | [[Army of Cuban Pacification Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[Mexican Border Service Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[Army of Occupation of Germany Medal]]
|-
!4th row
| colspan="3" | [[American Defense Service Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[American Campaign Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
| colspan="3" | [[Legion of Honour|Knight of the Legion of Honour]]
|}

==Dates of rank==
{|class="wikitable" style="background:white"
|-
|align="center" |''Various''
|Enlisted, [[United States Army]]: September 29, 1898
|-
|align="center" |''No pin insignia in 1901''
|[[Second Lieutenant#United States|Second lieutenant]], [[Regular Army]]: February 2, 1901 <br>(Appointment accepted on April 29, 1901.)
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O2 insignia.svg|13px]]
|[[First Lieutenant#United States|First lieutenant]], United States Army: April 16, 1908
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|33px]]
|[[Captain (U.S. Army)|Captain]], Regular Army: July 1, 1916
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|40px]]
|[[Major (United States)|Major]], [[National Army (USA)|National Army]]: August 5, 1917
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|40px]]
|[[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]], National Army: July 30, 1918
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|60px]]
|[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], National Army: April 27, 1919
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|33px]]
|Captain, Regular Army: August 31, 1919 <br>(Reverted to permanent rank.)
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|40px]]
|Major, [[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]] : July 1, 1920
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|40px]]
|Lieutenant colonel, Regular Army: April 27, 1921
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|60px]]
|Colonel, Regular Army: August 1, 1932
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|33px]]
|[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]], Regular Army: November 1, 1936 <br>(Accepted December 24, 1936.)
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|66px]]
|[[Major general (United States)|Major general]], Regular Army: December 1, 1939
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|100px]]
|[[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]], Temporary: October 8, 1943
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|100px]]
|[[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]], [[Army of the United States]]: January 29, 1944
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|100px]]
|[[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]], Retired List: August 1, 1945
|}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{Citation
  |title = Who Was to Blame? [Pearl Harbor Inquiry]
  |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]
  |volume = XLVI
  |issue = 11
  |date = September 10, 1945
|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,776061,00.html
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070322195244/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,776061,00.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = March 22, 2007
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = The Judges [Pearl Harbor Inquiry]
  |magazine=Time
  |volume = XLVI
  |issue = 11
  |date = September 10, 1945
|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,776062,00.html
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111222001247/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,776062,00.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = December 22, 2011
}}
* [http://members.aol.com/famjustin/Adamsonbio.html Biography of Sofia Adamson, Civilian, War Department, Fort Santiago, Philippines]
* {{Citation
  |title = Army Orders and Assignments
  |newspaper = [[The New York Times]]
  |page = 54
  |date = April 11, 1930
|url = http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F50617FD345D157A93C3A8178FD85F448385F9
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = Promotes 2 Generals and Seven Colonels
  |newspaper = The New York Times
  |date = December 23, 1936
|url = http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F00D1FFD345D1B7B93C1AB1789D95F428385F9
  |page = 14
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = Roosevelt Appoints Six New Generals
  |newspaper = The New York Times
  |date = August 3, 1939
|url = http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=FA0C1EF93A58127A93C6A91783D85F4D8385F9
  |page = 7
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = Gen. Drum Gets Washington Post In Addition to Command Here
  |newspaper = The New York Times
  |date = August 24, 1943
|url = http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F4091FF83E54107B93C7AB1783D85F478485F9
  |page = 1
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = Grunert Takes Command
  |newspaper = The New York Times
  |date = October 19, 1943
|url = http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F00D1FFD3A581B7B93CBA8178BD95F478485F9
  |page = 12
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = Army Leader in East Retires After 47 Years
  |newspaper = The New York Times
  |page = 8
  |date = August 1, 1945
|url = http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F10D1EF63A5B177B8EDDA80894D0405B8588F1D3
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = Gen. George Grunert, 91, Dies; Led Inquiry on Pearl Harbor
  |newspaper = The New York Times
  |page = 40
  |date = January 14, 1971
|url = http://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F70613FE3A55127B93C6A8178AD85F458785F9
}}
* {{Citation
  |last = Ray
  |first = Max
  |title = The History of the First United States Army from 1918 to 1980
  |publisher = First United States Army
  |year = 1980
  |location = Fort Meade MD
}}
* {{Citation
  |title = A Patch of Pride: A History of the First Army
  |publisher = First United States Army
  |year = 1950
  |location = The New York, New York
  |pages = 11–12
}}

==External links==
*[https://generals.dk/general/Grunert/George/USA.html Generals of World War II]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Karl Truesdell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[VI Corps (United States)|Commanding General VI Corps]]|years=1941–1942}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ernest J. Dawley]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Portalbar|Biography}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grunert, George}}
[[Category:United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Spanish–American War]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army War College alumni]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Burials at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery]]