U.S. Army Major General
Major General
Charles Billingslea
(May 16, 1914 – March 14, 1989) was a highly decorated
United States Army
officer. A graduate of the
United States Military Academy
(USMA) and a trained
parachutist
, Billingslea received the
Distinguished Service Cross
(DSC), the second highest decoration in the
United States Armed Forces
for heroism in combat, during
World War II
.
[1]
[2]
Following the war, he remained in the army, eventually reaching
general officer
's rank and going on to hold several important assignments including command of the
2nd Infantry Division
(
Indianhead
) or Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Combat Development Command. He also led the forces that enforced desegregation at the
University of Mississippi
, during the
Ole Miss riot of 1962
, and later led forces in
Birmingham, Alabama
, to maintain the peace during demonstrations led by
Martin Luther King Jr.
to end segregation.
Early career
[
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]
Charles Billingslea was born on May 16, 1914, in
Chicago
,
Illinois
, as the son of Charles and Mabel Graeme Billingslea. His father served as Army Surgeon and died from an accidental gunshot wound, while stationed as Major and Chief of the sanitation work at
Camp Meade
,
Maryland
, in August 1917. Young Charles followed in his father's footsteps and completed the Army preparatory school at
Fort McPherson
,
Georgia
and received an appointment to the
United States Military Academy
(USMA) at
West Point, New York
, in June 1932.
[3]
[4]
[5]
He was in the same class as future distinguished generals
Creighton Abrams
,
Richard H. Carmichael
,
Albert P. Clark
,
Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
,
Joseph J. Nazzaro
,
Bruce Palmer Jr.
,
William T. Ryder
,
William P. Yarborough
and
William Westmoreland
. Billingslea graduated with
Bachelor of Science
on June 12, 1936, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the
Infantry Branch
. He was subsequently ordered to
Hawaii
, where he joined the
19th Infantry Regiment
.
[3]
While in Hawaii, Billingslea saw temporary duty with the
United States Navy
during the United States claim to the
Phoenix Islands
in the Central Pacific and returned to the United States for duty with
30th
and
53rd Infantry Regiments
at the
Presidio
and at
Fort Ord
in
California
. He was promoted successively to first lieutenant on June 12, 1939, and to Captain on September 9, 1940.
[3]
[4]
World War II
[
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]
Following the establishment of
Army Airborne School
at
Fort Benning
,
Georgia
in June 1940, Billingslea was ordered for paratrooper training and earned his
wings
several months later. Upon the graduation, he was attached as Company commander to the
502nd Parachute Infantry Battalion
and later was transferred to the
503rd Parachute Infantry Battalion
.
[3]
[4]
On February 1, 1942, Billingslea was promoted to the temporary rank of Major and ordered to
London
,
England
, where he served on the headquarters,
II Corps
under Major General
Mark W. Clark
, before he was attached as an observer to the
British 1st Parachute Brigade
for the upcoming
Operation Torch
, the invasion of
French North Africa
. He later participated with the British brigade in the
several airborne operations in Tunisia
and was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel on March 14, 1943.
[3]
[4]
Billingslea subsequently rejoined general Clark's headquarters of
Fifth Army
and participated in the last phase of the
Tunisian campaign
. Following the surrender of the
Afrika Korps
, he assumed duty as Executive officer of
Pathfinder
battalion of
82nd Airborne Division
and took part in
Operation Husky
, the Allied invasion of
Sicily
, in July?August 1943.
[3]
[4]
Several weeks later, Billingslea was appointed Executive officer,
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
under Colonel
Reuben H. Tucker
and participated in the
Operation Avalanche
, the
Allied
landings near the port of
Salerno
in September 1943 and later in the
Battle of Anzio
in early 1944. For his service in
Italy
, Billingslea was decorated with two
Bronze Star Medals
and also earned the
Combat Infantryman Badge
.
[3]
[4]
His regiment was withdrawn to
England
for rest and refit in mid-1944 and Billingslea was appointed the commanding officer,
325th Glider Infantry Regiment
by the end of August 1944. His regiment was scheduled for
Operation Market Garden
in mid-September 1944, but Billingslea and his regiment were unable to take off due to bad weather. He finally received permission to reinforce units in the
Netherlands
several days later, but it was too late to change the result of the campaign.
[3]
[4]
[6]
Billingslea and his regiment spent the next two weeks with intensive combats, before assuming defensive positions in the vicinity of the town of Katerbosch. He subsequently commenced counter-attack before dawn and under cover of fog which lifted without warning in mid-morning and exposed his forces to intense artillery fire. Key officers and men became casualties, but Billingslea moved among the disorganized company, restored command and assumed the initiative in the face of determined resistance from numerous German strongpoints in Katerbosch. He personally directed the house-to-house reduction of the enemy and his presence in this critical zone inspired officers and men to emulate his conduct in a fight for the town which lasted all day and through the night. In this valiant and successful assault on Katerbosch, Billingslea defeated powerful German efforts to break through
Mook
and sever the Allied corridor in Germany.
[2]
For this act of heroism and leadership, Billingslea was decorated with the
Distinguished Service Cross
(DSC), the second highest decoration of the United States military for heroism in combat. He also received the
Military Order of William
by the Government of the
Netherlands
. The citation for his DSC reads:
The
President of the United States
of America, authorized by
Act of Congress
, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry), [then Lieutenant Colonel] Charles Billingslea (ASN: 0-20367), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 2 - 3 October 1944, in the vicinity of Katerbosch, Holland. Through fearless and skillful leadership, Colonel Billingslea inspired victory for his regiment in a battle for objectives two miles beyond the forward lines near Mook. Leading troops who were tired after five days of incessant attack, he pushed the enemy back in a twenty-four hour assault. He launched the attack before dawn and under cover of fog which lifted without warning in mid-morning and exposed his forces to intense artillery fire. Key officers and men became casualties, but Colonel Billingslea moved among the disorganized company, restored command and assumed the initiative in the face if determined resistance from numerous German strongpoints in Katerbosch. He personally directed the house-to-house reduction of the enemy. His presence in this critical zone inspired officers and men to emulate his conduct in a fight for the town which lasted all day and through the night. In this valiant and successful assault on Katerbosch, Colonel Billingslea defeated powerful German efforts to break through Mook and sever the Allied corridor in the Motherland. His inspiring leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
[2]
In addition, he was promoted to the temporary rank of colonel on October 29, 1944.
[3]
[4]
Billingslea led his regiment during the
Battle of the Bulge
and during the
advance to the Rhine
in January?February 1945. He distinguished himself again on February 2, 1945, during combat on the
Siegfried Line
, when he fearlessly exposed himself to intense enemy small arms, mortar, and artillery fire to direct his command's assault against Siegfried Line fortifications. When elements of his regiment were pinned to the ground by fierce crossfire, he advanced to the area and personally directed his command in thwarting the hostile thrust. During a second vicious counterattack, he proceeded to his reserve battalion, directed the commitment of his reserves and repulsed the counter-attack. Billingslea was subsequently decorated with a second DSC, the citation for which reads:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry) Charles Billingslea (ASN: 0-20367), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 2 February 1945, in Germany. Colonel Billingslea fearlessly exposed himself to intense enemy small arms, mortar, and artillery fire to direct his command's assault against Siegfried Line fortifications. When elements of his regiment were pinned to the ground by fierce crossfire, he advanced to the area and personally directed his command in thwarting the hostile thrust. During a second vicious counterattack, he proceeded to his reserve battalion, directed the commitment of his reserves and repulsed the counter-attack. By his display of conspicuous courage and selfless devotion to duty, Colonel Billingslea was instrumental in saving a vital position and insuring the continued success of his regiment. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
[2]
The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment finished its advance into Germany near
Ludwigslust
, past the
Elbe River
and Billingslea was appointed Chief of Staff, 82nd Airborne Division under Major General
James M. Gavin
on May 7, 1945. One day later,
Nazi Germany
surrendered. Billingslea was awarded the
Order of the Red Star
by the Soviets.
[3]
[4]
Postwar service
[
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]
Following the surrender of Nazi Germany, the 82nd Airborne Division was ordered to
Berlin
for occupation duty. Billingslea remained there until December 1945 and then returned with the division to the United States, arriving on January 3, 1946, aboard the
RMS
Queen Mary
. Upon his return stateside, he was attached to the planning staff of the
Army Ground Forces
at
Fort Monroe
,
Virginia
, and was reverted to his peacetime rank of captain on June 12, 1946.
[4]
Billingslea served in this capacity until early 1949, when he was attached to the faculty of the
Army Command and General Staff School
at
Fort Leavenworth
,
Kansas
. He also held additional duty on the faculty at the
Army War College
in
Washington, D.C.
, and was promoted to the rank of major.
[3]
[4]
In August 1950, Billingslea was assigned to the Office of Operational Research in
Washington, D.C.
, and also saw temporary duty in
Korea
, where he was involved in the effort to liberate Major General
William F. Dean
who was taken a prisoner of war following the
Battle of Taejon
in July 1950. While in this capacity, he was promoted again to the temporary rank of colonel on June 29, 1951, but was reverted to the peacetime rank of Major several months later.
[3]
[4]
Billingslea was ordered to the
Army War College
in
Washington, D.C.
, in July 1952 and following his graduation one year later was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel on July 7, 1953. He was then ordered to
Paris
and appointed Chief of Plans at
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
(SHAPE) under General
Alfred Gruenther
, whom he knew from his service with
Fifth Army
in
Italy
during
World War II
.
[3]
[4]
Upon his return to the United States in summer 1956, Billingslea graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the
Harvard University
in July 1957 and then entered the
National War College
, where he graduated one year later.
[3]
Billingslea was subsequently promoted to the permanent rank of Colonel and assumed duty as Deputy Director, European Region, International Security Affairs,
Department of Defense
at
the Pentagon
. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and ordered to
Korea
in early 1961, where he joined the headquarters,
U.S. Eighth Army
under General
Carter B. Magruder
as his Deputy Chief of Staff. During his service in
Far East
, Billingslea was decorated with the
Order of Military Merit, 3rd Class
by the Government of
South Korea
.
[3]
[4]
Following his return to the United States in May 1962, Billingslea was attached to the
Howze Board
at
Fort Bragg
,
North Carolina
, which was tasked with the review and test of new concepts integrating helicopters into the
United States Army
.
[3]
[4]
In September 1962, Billingslea was ordered to the headquarters,
2nd Infantry Division
("Indianhead") at
Fort Benning
,
Georgia
, where he succeeded Charles H. Chase as commanding general. Only two weeks later, he mobilized both Army troops and the 4,000 troops of the 108th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Mississippi National Guard who were "federalized" to restore order during the
Ole Miss riot
, in response to the enrollment of the first African American student,
James Meredith
. He successfully restored order on the second day of the riots, leaving two dead and over 300 injured.
[4]
Billingslea was promoted to the rank of major general in early 1963 and served with the 2nd Infantry Division until September 1964, when he was appointed Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Combat Development Command at
Fort Belvoir
,
Virginia
. He served in this capacity until June 30, 1966, when he retired after 30 years of active service. Billingslea was decorated with
Army Distinguished Service Medal
for his service at Fort Belvoir and with 2nd Infantry Division.
[3]
[7]
[4]
Retirement
[
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]
Following his retirement from the Army, Billingslea settled in
Washington, D.C.
, and served as a trustee for the
Sheridan School
there. During his tenure, he developed a mountain campus for the school. Billingslea later moved to
Oxford, Maryland
, in 1981 and served as president of the board of the
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
. He was also involved in the erection of American Soldier's Statue at the West Point.
[3]
Major general Charles Billingslea died of
emphysema
on March 18, 1989, aged 74, at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
in
Washington, D.C.
He was buried at Church of the Holy Trinity in Oxford, Maryland. His wife Bettina Louise Hill (1917?2009) of Brookline, Massachusetts is buried beside him. They had one son, Charles IV.
[8]
[3]
[9]
Decorations
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]
Major General Charles Billingslea's ribbon bar:
[2]
References
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