Charles D. Herron

Charles Douglas Herron (March 13, 1877 – April 23, 1977) was a decorated Lieutenant General in the United States Army. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he participated in the Spanish–American War and both World Wars.

Early career

Herron was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on March 13, 1877. He was the son of William Parke Herron (1843–1927), a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Herron attended Indiana's Wabash College and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity before accepting appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1899.

After the war he attended the Army War College, served on the General Staff in Washington, and was assigned as chief of staff of the Philippine Department, headquartered in Manila.

From 1934 to 1935 Herron was the Army's Executive for Reserve Affairs, receiving promotion to brigadier general. From 1935 to 1937 he was commander of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment. In 1937 he earned a law degree from Wabash College and was promoted to major general as acting VI Corps commander and then commander of the Hawaiian Division.

Later career As head of the Army's Hawaiian Command from 1938 to 1941, Herron was promoted to lieutenant general and bucked Army conventional wisdom by advocating for the integration of Japanese-Americans into the Organized Reserves, reasoning that their citizenship trumped their ancestry. While his stance ran counter to public opinion, he was credited with helping keep Japanese-Americans in Hawaii from being interned at the start of World War II, as happened in California and other Western states. Herron also documented his concern about the military's ability to defend Hawaii, citing its vulnerability to attack by carrier based aircraft. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Herron provided evidence during the inquiry into the conduct of his successor, General Walter C. Short, stating that prior to Short's arrival he had provided General Short with a briefing book and other materials about the current situation in Hawaii, and that Short had acknowledged not having had time to read them before Herron departed.

Herron retired in early 1941, but was recalled in 1942, serving on the Personnel Board that considered officers for promotion. He retired again in December 1946, receiving a second Distinguished Service Medal. The medal's citation reads:

Quote|The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Charles Douglas Herron (ASN: 0-777), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff U.S. Army in the War Department from February 1945 to December 1946.

Awards Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Philippine Campaign Medal Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

Dates of rank