Brooks, Edward H. (Edward Hale), 1893-1978

Biography: Edward H. Brooks, of Concord, NH, graduated with the NU Class of 1916 (B.S. in civil engineering). He later earned a Master of Military Science degree from Norwich and a Doctorate in Military Science from Pennsylvania Military College. In August 1917, Brooks was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army, and eventually rose to the rank of Lt. General. During WWI, Brooks participated in the Second Battle of the Marne, Aisne-Marne, San Mihiel and the Mause-Argonnes offensives. He served in various posts in Europe, the United States and the Philippines between 1918-1941. General Brooks served in the European Theater in WWII as Commanding General of the 11th Armored Division and the 2nd Armored Division in England, Normandy and Belgium; Commanding General of the V Corps in Luxembourg and Germany; Commanding General of the VI Corps in France, Germany and Austria. On 5 May 1945, General Brooks accepted the surrender of the German 19th Army at Innsbruck, Austria. Following the war, General Brooks served in various posts until his retirement from service in 1953. He died at age 85 on 10 October 1978. See Biographical File (Box 1) for additional details.

Edward Hale Brooks (1893-1978) was born in Concord, New Hampshire. He earned a B.S. degree from Norwich University in 1916 and commissioned in the cavalry the following year. During World War I, he fought at the Battle of the Marne and the Aisne-Marne and participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. He graduated from Command and General Staff School in 1934 and Army War College in 1937. He was chief of the statistics branch of the War Department General Staff from 1939 to 1941. During World War II, he made brigadier general and served as artillery officer at the Armored Force from 1941 to 1942. After achieving the rank of major general, he was commanding general of the 11th Armored Division and then the 2nd Armored Div. He also served as commanding general of the VI Corps Oct and the 4th Service Command. His post-war assignments included commanding general of the 2nd Army, from June 1951 until his retirement as a lieutenant general in April 1953.