Krueger, Walter, 1881-1967
Name Entries
person
Krueger, Walter, 1881-1967
Name Components
Surname :
Krueger
Forename :
Walter
Date :
1881-1967
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Krjuger, Valʾter, 1881-1967
Name Components
Surname :
Krjuger
Forename :
Valʾter
Date :
1881-1967
ger
Latn
alternativeForm
rda
Krüger, Walter, 1881-1967
Name Components
Surname :
Krüger
Forename :
Walter
Date :
1881-1967
ger
Latn
alternativeForm
rda
Genders
Male
Exist Dates
Biographical History
Walter Krueger (26 January 1881 – 20 August 1967) was an American soldier and general officer in the first half of the 20th century. He commanded the Sixth United States Army in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. He rose from the rank of private to general in the United States Army.
Born in Flatow, West Prussia, German Empire, Krueger emigrated to the United States as a boy. He enlisted for service in the Spanish–American War and served in Cuba, and then re-enlisted for service in the Philippine–American War. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1901. In 1914 he was posted to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. His regiment was mobilized on 23 June 1916 and served along the Mexican border. After the United States commenced hostilities with Germany in April 1917, Krueger was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division as its Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 (Operations), and then its chief of staff. In February 1918, he was sent to Langres to attend the American Expeditionary Force General Staff School, and in October 1918, he became chief of staff of the Tank Corps.
Between the wars, Krueger served in a number of command and staff positions, and attended the Naval War College at his own request. In 1941, he assumed command of the Third Army, which he led in the Louisiana Maneuvers. He expected, because of his age, to spend the war at home training troops, but in 1943 he was sent to General Douglas MacArthur's Southwest Pacific Area as commander of the Sixth Army and Alamo Force, which he led in a series of successful campaigns against the Japanese.
As an army commander, Krueger grappled with the problems imposed by vast distances, inhospitable terrain, unfavorable climate, and an indefatigable and dangerous enemy. He balanced the fast pace of MacArthur's strategy with the more cautious approach of managing subordinates who often found themselves confronted by unexpectedly large numbers of Japanese troops. In 1945 at the Battle of Luzon, Krueger faced the Japanese army under Tomoyuki Yamashita and Krueger outmaneuvered his enemies like he had in the 1941 exercises. This was Krueger's largest, longest, and final battle.
Krueger retired to San Antonio, Texas, where he bought a house and wrote From Down Under to Nippon, an account of his campaigns in the Southwest Pacific. His retirement was marred by family tragedies. His son James was dismissed from the army in 1947 for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. His wife's health deteriorated, and she died of cancer in 1956. His daughter Dorothy stabbed her husband to death in 1952. She was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court-martial, but was freed by the Supreme Court in 1957.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10614477
https://viaf.org/viaf/45488376
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n2004116923
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n2004116923
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1362101
Other Entity IDs (Same As)
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
Subjects
Communications, Military
Generals
Leyte Gulf, Battle of, Philippines, 1944
Military administration
Military administration
Military engineering
Military engineering
Military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military planning
Military planning
Military reconnaissance
Orders, Preparation of (Military science)
Philippine Sea, Battle of the, 1944 (June 19-21)
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Nationalities
Americans
Poles
Germans
Activities
Occupations
Army officers
Legal Statuses
Places
Valley Forge
AssociatedPlace
Death
Republic of Poland
AssociatedPlace
Birth
He was born in was Flatow, West Prussia, German Empire, which is present day Poland.
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>