HISTORY OF FT. BENNING
Important National Leaders who Served at Fort Benning
Fort Benning has a history rich in important natural leaders who have served
there. Among these are Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Omar Bradley, Senator
Robert Dole, Gen. George Marshall, General George Patton and Gen. Colin Powell.
The first of these important national leaders, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was
also the 34th President of the United States. While at Fort Benning, Gen.
Eisenhower served as battalion commander from 1926-1927. During that time, he
served as executive officer of the 24th Infantry and commanded the 2nd
Battalion. In addition, he coached the Fort Benning Doughboy football team to an
all-Army championship. He later retired as a five-star General.
The next important national leader that served at Fort Benning is Gen. Omar
Bradley. Gen. Bradley attended the advanced course at the Infantry School at
Fort Benning in 1924, where he graduated second in his class. It was at Fort
Benning that Gen. Bradley had the opportunity to become a specialist in tactics
and terrain and the problems of fire and movement. He later explained about his
training at the school, "the confidence I needed has been restored; I never
suffered a faint heart again." He became the last five-star general and
retired in 1953.
A third important national leader is Senator Robert Dole. Senator Dole attended
officer candidate school at Fort Benning in 1945 During World War II, Dole
served as a combat infantry officer with the U.S. 10th Mountain Division in
Italy. He was wounded twice and received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star.
Another important national leader who served at Fort Benning is Gen. George
Marshall. Gen. Marshall became the head of instruction at Fort Benning's
Infantry School from 1927-1933. He reformed army infantry officer training to
prepare for a war of mechanization, air power, and rapid movement. In 1944, Gen.
Marshall was given the rank of five-star general.
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Gen. George Patton |
The fifth important national leader who served at Fort Benning was Gen. George
Patton. In 1940, he assumed command of the 2d Brigade, 2d Armored Division at
Fort Benning. Then in 1941, after being promoted to Maj. Gen., he was
transferred to the Second Armored Division at Fort Benning and named Commanding
General in April,1941. In 1945, Gen. Patton was promoted to the temporary rank
of full four-star General.
One last important national leader who served at Fort Benning was Gen. Colin
Powell. At Fort Benning, Gen. Powell completed the Infantry Officer Basic
Course, Ranger Course, and Airborne Course in 1958. In 1963, Gen. Powell was
transferred to Fort Benning as an instructor at the Infantry School. He was
promoted as a Major in 1966. In 1991, Gen. Powell was named a four-star general.
Other information:
The
Beginning of Fort Benning
Important National Leaders who Served at Fort Benning
National Infantry Association and the National Infantry Museum
Other Areas of Interest to the Military
Units that have called Fort Benning Home
Fort Benning home page:
U.S. Army Infantry Homepage
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