George Sherwin Simonds

George Sherwin Simonds (March 12, 1874 – November 1, 1938) was a U.S. Army officer with the rank of major general.

Early life He was born in Cresco, Iowa on March 12, 1874, the son of son of William O. Simonds and Ellen Sherwin Simonds .

Military career

He graduated (26th out of a class of 72) from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York in 1899. Many of his classmates became general officers later in their military careers: Samuel T. Ansell, Charles M. Bundel, Clifton C. Carter, Stanley D. Embick, Robert C. Foy, Stuart Heintzelman, Charles D. Herron, Evan H. Humphrey, Frederick B. Kerr, Leon Kromer, Duncan K. Major Jr., Edward M. Markham, George Van Horn Moseley, Ephraim G. Peyton, Clement A. Trott and James A. Woodruff.

After graduation, he was assigned to the 22d Infantry. Simonds received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for service in the war. The medal's citation reads:

After the war, Simonds graduated from the Army War College in 1920 and was promoted to colonel in July 1921. He was promoted to brigadier general in November 1924. and was succeeded by James K. Parsons.

Brigadier General Simonds served as Chief of the War Plans Division of the War Department from September 1, 1927 to September 1, 1931.

In 1932, he was assigned to run the Army War College. Previously he was Douglas MacArthur's chief war planner, and his appointment was made to improve the planning ability in the Army War College.

Simonds was promoted to major general in 1933. The ship USAT General George S. Simonds was named for him.