Holbrook, Willard Ames, 1898-1988

Willard Ames ¿Hunk¿ Holbrook (1898-1988) was born in Fort Grant, Arizona, the son of Major General William A. Holbrook. He received his commission in the cavalry from West Point in 1918. grew up on Army posts and being born in the Army naturally his ambition in childhood was to be an Army officer His hobbies were photography and athletics. He enjoyed most tennis, baseball and football. He was particularly fond of reading biographical sketches. He graduated from high school in 1916 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It was while he was in high school that he acquired the nickname "Hunk". he used to say "hunk" all the time instead of "hell". The name stuck. He attended the U. S. Military Academy and upon graduating in November, 1918, he was assigned to the Cavalry and went to Ft. Benning for basic training. He joined the 10th Cavalry there for a short time and was then sent to Europe and assigned to the Provisional Cavalry Squadron, stationed in Coblenz, Germany. During maneuvers he was assigned to the Second Brigade, with Headquarters at Andornach. This was our first contact point with the Rhine so Hunk was over ground he knew from his early days in the Army. In the first occupation he enjoyed all the mounted sports of the Cavalry, which included polo, horseshow jumping and steeple chasing. He was athletic director of the organization, and one year was designated All American Forces Tackle in football. Upon his return to the United States he attended the Cavalry School and graduated from both the Troop Officers Course and the Advanced Equitation Class. In 1929, while a First Lieutenant and aide to Brigadier General E. L. King, he took the course at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. Later, after assignments to Fort Myer and Fort Monmouth, he was detailed as Master Of the Sword at West Point for four years, during which time ho performed the duties of physical director. Upon relief from that duty and after one year as a troop commander in the 15th Cavalry at Fort Sheridan, ho attended the Army War College in Washington, graduating in 1940. Holbrook advanced to brigadier general in September 1944 and retired from Army service in November 1946.