Biography John E. Dahlquist

1 biography

1.1 world war ii
1.2 postwar
1.3 marriage

biography

born on march 12, 1896 in minneapolis, minnesota, youngest of 4 children, parents immigrants dalsland, sweden. graduated university of minnesota , received direct commission second lieutenant infantry branch of united states army in august 1917, shortly after american entry world war on april 6, 1917. unable serve overseas, served in allied occupation of rhineland after war.

remaining in army during interwar period returned united states , served instructor @ u.s. army infantry school 1924 1928. after graduating u.s. army command , general staff school in 1931, assigned philippines. 1935 1936 student @ u.s. army war college, serving on u.s. army general staff, personnel division after graduation.

world war ii

with american entry world war ii, in december 1941, due japanese attack on pearl harbor, followed german declaration of war on united states, dahlquist sent england , assigned deputy chief of staff major general dwight david eisenhower in 1942, and, later year, one-star rank of brigadier general, became assistant division commander (adc) of 76th infantry division. in june 1943, promoted two-star rank of major general, dahlquist became first commanding general (cg) of 70th infantry division, becoming 1 of youngest division commanders in u.s. army. in july 1944 took command of 36th infantry division, national guard formation recruiting texas.

it command of 36th division, had fought long , hard in many difficult battles in italian campaign under major general frederick walker , taken part in operation dragoon, allied invasion of southern france, dahlquist received greatest criticism over-utilization of japanese american 442nd regimental combat team (442nd rct). arguably, poor decisions result in 442nd rct becoming highly decorated unit in history of united states armed forces. on third of men in 442nd either killed or wounded due dahlquist s ordering unit rescue unit had been surrounded enemy. in fact not nisei soldiers of 442nd, officers (none of them japanese american) quoted in criticism of dahlquist.

on 24 october 1944, 1st , 2nd battalions of 141st infantry regiment, part of 36th division, moved secure right flank of 3rd division, near french town of st-die. when german forces counterattacked, 1st battalion separated , cut off. after 2 days of attempted rescue other 2 battalions of 141st infantry, dahlquist resorted send in 442nd rct, had borne brunt of 36th division s fighting previous 8 days. 442nd suffer 800 casualties, including 121 dead, during 5 days took rescue 211 men of 1st battalion, 141st infantry. major general lucian truscott, commanding vi corps (under unit 36th division serving), considered relieving him of command.

on november 12, general dahlquist announced wanted review 442nd, thank them had done. when battered unit appeared, dahlquist grew irritated @ sparse numbers, ignorant @ how had sacrificed.

he continued lead 36th division throughout campaign in western europe. on may 8, 1945, victory in europe day, hermann göring surrendered brigadier general robert i. stack, 36th infantry division s adc after ceasefire declared between german army group g , u.s. seventh army. dahlquist s adc, brigadier general stack, transported göring division command post. because spoke german, dahlquist dismissed translator, , dahlquist became first person question göring. press photos of dahlquist , stack, in seemingly casual conversation göring, released publication in united states , resulted in criticism of dahlquist american public , general eisenhower, supreme allied commander in european theater of operations (eto).

postwar

following war, dahlquist returned united states, serving in various administrative , personnel jobs. took command of third division, 1st infantry, in 1949. followed command of v corps 1952 1953 , fourth army in 1953. served chief of army field forces 1953 1955, during promoted four-star rank of general on august 18, 1954. finished career commander-in-chief (c-in-c), continental army command, retiring in 1956. died on june 30, 1975, aged 79, , buried in arlington national cemetery, virginia.[1]

marriage

dahlquist married ruth d. dahlquist, coincidentally born 17 days after him, , died 17 days after him. buried on top of him in arlington. had son, donald john dahlquist, born on march 9, 1932 died on november 22, 1993, buried in arlington national cemetery next parents. dahlquist had 2 grandchildren, john william , donette ruth.