Alvan Cullom Gillem Jr.

Lieutenant General Alvan Cullom Gillem Jr. (August 8, 1888 – February 13, 1973) was a United States Army officer who came from a family with a long military tradition and served in World War I, the Russian Civil War, and World War II. Gillem commanded the XIII Corps (United States), Ninth United States Army in the European Theater of Operations from September 1944 to September 1945.

Early career After attending the University of Arizona in 1908 and The University of the South at Sewanee, Then, Gillem taught at the United States Army Infantry School, despite never having graduated there. Following this, he was promoted to major. Gillem was promoted to lieutenant colonel and commanded an infantry battalion for two years. Then he commanded the 66th Infantry Regiment (Light Tanks) for 10 months, the only armored regiment in the United States Army at the time. He was promoted to brigadier general in January 1941 and then given command of the 2nd Armored Brigade. He became the first commanding general of the 3rd Armored Division from April 1941 to January 1942, dubbing it the "Spearhead" division. He received promotion to major general in December 1941.

World War II Early during World War II, Gillem was mostly stationed stateside. He was given command of the II Armored Corps (later redesignated XVIII Corps) and later the Armored Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Gillem commanded the XIII Corps, Ninth United States Army in the European Theater of Operations from September 1944 to September 1945. In June 1945 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

Family Gillem's grandfather, Alvan Cullem Gillem graduated from West Point in 1851. He served in the Civil War with the Union Army, finishing the war as a brevet major general of United States Volunteers. Gillem's parents were Colonel Alvan Cullom Gillem Sr., a cavalry officer in the United States Army, and Bessie Coykendall. Both were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

On June 21, 1916, Gillem married Virginia Harrison (December 18, 1895 – October 25, 1964) in Nogales, Arizona.

Gillem had three children: Alvan, Richard, and Mary. The elder son, Alvan Cullem Gillem II, was born in Nogales in 1917 and became a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force. Gillem's second son, Richard D. Gillem, became a lieutenant colonel in the Army.

Military awards Army Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Order of the Red Banner - Three Awards (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Dutch Grand Officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau (ON.2)