Philip De Witt Ginder
Black and white head and shoulders photo of Major General P. D. Ginder in dress uniform, circa 1955
Ginder, probably as commander of Fifth U.S. Army circa 1955
Born(1905-09-19)September 19, 1905
Plainfield, New Jersey
DiedNovember 7, 1968(1968-11-07) (aged 63)
New York City, New York
Buried
West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York
41°23′55″N 73°58′00″W / 41.39861°N 73.96671°W / 41.39861; -73.96671
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1927–1959
RankMajor General
Service number0-16904
Commands heldFifth United States Army
10th Mountain Division
37th Infantry Division
45th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
121st Infantry Regiment
357th Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal (3)
Purple Heart
Spouse(s)Jean Dalrymple

Philip De Witt Ginder (September 19, 1905 – November 7, 1968) was a career soldier in the United States Army. A highly decorated combat veteran, he rose to the rank of major general during the Korean War, while commanding the 45th Infantry Division. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the United States' second-highest military award.

Early life

At West Point in 1927

Ginder was born on September 19, 1905, in Plainfield, New Jersey, the son of Grant D. and Emma Edith (Troxell) Ginder.[1][2] He was raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Scranton Central High School in 1923.[3] In high school, Ginder was the senior class president, manager of the football team, and president of the school's athletic association.[3]

Ginder passed a competitive examination for a Congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy offered by Representative Laurence Hawley Watres.[4][5] He began attendance at West Point in 1923, graduated in 1927, and was ranked 171st of 293.[6] Ginder's graduation was the subject of news headlines because he took his final exams after having undergone an emergency appendectomy just one day prior.[7] At graduation, he received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry.[8]

Start of career

Ginder completed the infantry officer qualification course in 1933, and his early career included postings to: Fort Wadsworth, New York; Manila, Philippine Islands; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Missoula, Montana; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

World War II

Ginder as colonel and commander of the 9th Infantry Regiment circa 1945.

During World War II, Ginder was the assistant chief of staff for personnel (G-1) for the Fourth United States Army. Appointed to command the 357th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 90th Infantry Division, he was among the first ashore during the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Ginder developed a reputation for subpar performance in combat, with observers and subordinates calling him "obtuse" and "full of boast and posturing."[9] 357th veteran William E. DePuy called Ginder "as close to being incompetent as it is possible to be."[9] Ginder was ultimately relieved of command during combat and escorted to the division command post under armed guard.[10]

Ginder was later appointed commander of the 121st Infantry Regiment, an 8th Infantry Division unit. He was in command of the regiment when it captured the German town of Hürtgen as part of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.[11][12] It was for this action that he received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions on November 28, 1944, when he personally led his reserve company through the town in bitter house-to-house fighting while armed only with his pistol and a hand grenade.[11][13] The citation for the 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) Philip DeWitt Ginder, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while Commanding an Infantry Company of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 28 November 1944, in Germany. Colonel Ginder personally led his reserve company of his battalion in an attack against a strongly defended town, when other attacking companies were pinned down by intense enemy small arms and mortar fire. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and armed only with his pistol and a hand grenade, Colonel Ginder courageously moved forward leading his men into the town despite the fierce enemy resistance. During the bitter house-to-house fighting that followed, Colonel Ginder through his personal courage and leadership, set an inspiring example which gave added encouragement to his men. Colonel Ginder's courageous 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 8th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.[14]

Ginder was appointed the commanding officer of the 9th Infantry Regiment in the spring of the 1945. Ginder commanded the regiment until the end of the war, taking part in liberating the western part of Czechoslovakia, and ending the war in the town of Rokycany near Pilsen.[12]

In addition to his DSC, Ginder was also awarded the Silver Star, "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy", and the Legion of Merit, "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States" for his service during the war.[14]

Post-war service

From 1946 to 1949, Ginder attended the National War College and served in the Far East on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur.[11][12] From 1949 to 1951, he served as senior military attaché in Prague, Czechoslovakia.[15][16]

Korean War and senior commands

Ginder commanded the 6th Infantry Regiment, Berlin (1951–1952), the 45th Infantry Division, Korea (1953), the 37th Infantry Division, Fort Riley (1954), 10th Mountain Division (1954–1955) and Fifth United States Army (1955).[12] He went to Korea as a colonel, and advanced to major general in less than two years, making him the youngest American general to command a combat division in Korea.[11] His service in Korea included nearly 18 months spent north of the 38th parallel.[11] His service there resulted in him being awarded with the Army Distinguished Service Medal, 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 the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Philip DeWitt Ginder (ASN: 0-16904), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, 45th Infantry Division, in Korea, from 1952 to 1953.[14]

After the Korean War, Ginder commanded Fort Polk, Fort Riley, Camp McCoy, the Fifth United States Army, and served in the office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army as special assistant for Reserve and National Guard Forces.[2] His final posting was to Governor's Island as deputy commander of First United States Army.[2] He retired a major general in 1959,[17] and was granted a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to his Legion of Merit, with the citation reading:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Major General Philip DeWitt Ginder (ASN: 0-16904), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from January 1954 to May 1969.[14]

Post-military career

After his retirement from the army, Ginder was president of the Brazilian-American Export Company, and joined the boards of directors of several other companies.[2]

Ginder died at New York City's Trafalgar Hospital on November 7, 1968, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.[11] He was buried at West Point Cemetery, Section V, Row A, Site 41.[18]

Family

Ginder's first wife was Martha Calvert, whom he married in 1933, and with whom he had two daughters, Jean and Louise.[19] They divorced in 1945.[20] Ginder was next married to Jean Dalrymple, the head of the City Center Drama and Light Opera Companies, whom he met in 1951 while she was organizing United States participation at the Berlin Arts Festival on behalf of the United States Department of State.[2]

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Philip De Witt Ginder:[21][2]

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Arrowhead
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Combat Infantryman Badge
1st Row Distinguished Service Cross
2nd Row Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
3rd Row Purple Heart American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars and Arrowhead device
4th Row World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal with two service stars
5th Row French Legion of Honour, Grade Officer French Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with Palm Czechoslovakian Order of the White Lion, 2nd Class Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945
6th Row Philippine Legion of Honor Korean Order of Military Merit, 3rd Class Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class United Nations Korea Medal
Presidential Unit Citation Korean Presidential Unit Citation

References

  1. ↑ US House of Representatives (1956). Hearing Record: Department of the Army Appropriations for 1957. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 1188.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Memorial, Philip D. Ginder 1927".
  3. 1 2 "West Scranton Youth Accepted at West Point". The Scranton Republican. July 6, 1923. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "The Central High School Has Another Graduate At West Point". The Scranton Republican. Scranton, PA. July 10, 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Philip Ginder Honored Again At West Point". The Scranton Republican. Scranton, PA. June 12, 1926. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ United States Military Academy. The Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point: 2004. Connecticut. Elm Press. 2004. p. 2:49
  7. ↑ "Pennsylvania Boys In West Point Graduating Class". The Scranton Times. Scranton, PA. May 26, 1927. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ U.S. Army Adjutant General (1928). Army List and Directory. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 141 – via Google Books.
  9. 1 2 The Americans at Normandy, p. 98.
  10. ↑ Meyer, Harold J. (1990). Hanging Sam: A Military Biography of General Samuel T. Williams from Pancho Villa. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-929398-12-9.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Staff. "Gen. Philip Ginder Dead at 63; Division Leader in Korean War", The New York Times, November 8, 1968. Accessed January 13, 2009. (subscription required)
  12. 1 2 3 4 Ginder, Philip De Witt: Papers, 1927–1968, Eisenhower Presidential Center, dated July 12, 1973. Accessed January 13, 2009.
  13. ↑ Full Text Citations For Award of The Distinguished Service Cross:U.S. Army Recipients – WWII letter G Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, HomeOfHeroes.com. Accessed January 13, 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Philip DeWitt Ginder". Military Times.
  15. ↑ "Philip DeWitt Ginder". Assembly. Vol. XXVIII, no. 4. Winter 1970. pp. 127–128. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Class of 1927—Register of Graduates". Register of Graduates and Former Cadets 1802–1971 of the United States Military Academy. The West Point Alumni Foundation Inc. 1971. p. 396. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Gen. Ginder Plans Army Retirement". Plainfield Courier-News. May 14, 1959. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ National Cemetery Administration (November 7, 1968). "Nationwide Gravesite Locator". gravelocator.cem.va.gov/. Washington, DC: US Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  19. ↑ Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago, IL: Marquis Who's Who, Inc. 1975. p. 205.
  20. ↑ Who Was Who in American History, the Military, p. 205.
  21. ↑ "Hall of Valor". militarytimes.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.

Sources

Internet

Books

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