Misplaced Pages

Charles D. Palmer

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
United States Army general
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Charles D. Palmer" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Charles Day Palmer
Palmer on undated photograph
Born(1902-02-20)20 February 1902
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died7 June 1999(1999-06-07) (aged 97)
Washington, D.C., United States
BuriedArlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1924–1962
RankGeneral
Service number0-15519
Unit Field Artillery Branch
CommandsSixth United States Army
1st Cavalry Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Bronze Star Medal
RelationsWilliam E. Birkhimer (grandfather)
Williston B. Palmer (brother)
Other workMilitary consultant

General Charles Day Palmer, Jr. (20 February 1902 – 7 June 1999) was a senior United States Army officer who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command from 1959 to 1962. His brother, Williston B. Palmer, was also a four-star general, and his grandfather, William E. Birkhimer, was a general and Medal of Honor recipient.

Early life

Palmer was born in Chicago, Illinois on 20 February 1902. After graduating from Washington High School in Washington, D.C., he entered the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1924.

Military career

Charles D. Palmer talking to members of the Women's Army Corps, probably after the Korean War

As the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Palmer, then a major, was in the British West Indies working to establish military bases and on anti-submarine warfare projects. Palmer went to Europe in 1944 as chief of staff of the 2nd Armored Division, then commanded by Major General Edward H. Brooks, and continued in that role during the Normandy invasion, the breakout from Saint-Lô, and crossing the Siegfried Line.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower walking with Major General Edward H. Brooks, sometime in 1944. Stood behind Eisenhower is Lieutenant General Omar Bradley while Colonel Charles D. Palmer is behind Brooks.

During Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France in August 1944, he was chief of staff of the VI Corps, and during this time he received a battlefield promotion to brigadier general.

Palmer was with the 1st Cavalry Division in Japan on occupation duty when the Korean War erupted. He was the commander of the division artillery and later the division commander, participating in six campaigns.

Palmer's later posts included Commander, Sixth United States Army in California and Deputy Commander of United States forces in Europe. After serving as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command, he retired in 1962.

Awards and decorations

Bronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf cluster Army Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal

Post military career

The grave of General Charles Day Palmer, Jr. at Arlington National Cemetery

After retiring from the army, Palmer settled in Washington and worked as a military consultant with the Research Analysis Corporation. He was also a director of both St. Albans School and the Retired Officers Association, and a member of the Army and Navy Club.

Palmer died in Washington, D.C., on 7 June 1999, at the age of 97 of cardiac arrest in his home in Knollwood, a military retirement community. He was survived by Eugenia Kingman Palmer, whom he married in 1954, and a son. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, next to his brother and wife Eugenia K.

References

  1. ^ "Charles Day Palmer". Chicago Tribune. 17 June 1999. p. 238. Retrieved 28 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Official Register of the Officers and Cadets. United States Military Academy. 1969. p. 374. Retrieved 28 December 2022 – via Google Books.
  3. Burial Detail: Palmer, Charles Day – ANC Explorer

External links

Military offices
Preceded byHobart R. Gay Commanding General 1st Cavalry Division
February–July 1951 		Succeeded byThomas L. Harrold
Preceded byLemuel Mathewson Commanding General Sixth United States Army
1958–1959 		Succeeded byRobert M. Cannon
Categories: