Herbert L. Earnest

Herbert L. Earnest (November 11, 1895 – June 11, 1970) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Mexican Border War, World War I, and World War II, he attained the rank of major general as commander of the 90th Infantry Division. Earnest served from 1916 to 1947 and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and three awards of the Bronze Star Medal. His foreign awards included the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier) and Croix de Guerre with palm, and the Distinguished Service Order from the United Kingdom.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Earnest was educated in Richmond and graduated from Fork Union Military Academy in 1914. He attended the Medical College of Virginia, but left before graduating in order to begin a military career with the Virginia National Guard's 1st Cavalry Regiment. He attained the rank of corporal while taking part in the Mexican Border War. Earnest received an army commission as a second lieutenant of Cavalry in 1917, and took part in World War I as a member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. He remained in the army after the war and advanced though the ranks of the Cavalry branch, frequently as an equitation instructor at various army schools. He was a 1934 graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and a 1939 graduate of the Army Industrial College.

During World War II, Earnest commanded the 1st Tank Destroyer Brigade and an ad hoc task force (Task Force A) of Third United States Army during combat on the coast of France. He subsequently commanded Combat Command A of the 4th Armored Division, which led the breaking of the Nazi siege of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. He was promoted to major general as commander of the 90th Infantry Division in early 1945, and he led the division during combat in Germany and Czechoslovakia. After the war, he remained in command as the division performed duty in Bavaria during the mid-to-late 1945 period of the Allied-occupied Germany. After returning to the United States, Earnest served as assistant chief of staff for operations (G-3) on the staff of the Army Ground Forces headquarters. He retired in 1948, after which he resided first in White Stone, Virginia, and later in Weems, Virginia.

Earnest died in Richmond on June 11, 1970. He was buried at Christ Church Cemetery in Weems.

Early life Herbert Ludwell Earnest was born in Richmond, Virginia on November 11, 1895, the son of James Austin Earnest and Mary Elizabeth (Talley) Earnest. He was educated in the public schools of Richmond and was a 1914 graduate of Fork Union Military Academy. He served for two years, including federalization for duty during the Mexican Border War, and advanced in rank from private to corporal.

With the army expanding following U.S. entry into World War I, in August 1917, Earnest's application for an army commission was approved and he was appointed a second lieutenant of Cavalry. Earnest was regarded as one of the army's best horsemen, and in addition to playing polo, during his career both his wife and he took part in numerous horse shows and competitions.

Start of career During the First World War, the 3rd Cavalry conducted remount services in France for the U.S. Army, and Earnest served with the regiment until the end of the war. From 1921 to 1923, Earnest attended the basic officers' course at the Fort Riley, Kansas Cavalry School. After Civilian Conservation Corps duty in Missouri during 1933, he was a student at the Command and General Staff College, from which he graduated in June 1934. He then joined the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia, followed by assignment to the 3rd Cavalry, also at Fort Myer, and he was promoted to major in August 1935. In 1936, he completed the Chemical Warfare Course at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. In the early 1940s, the army again began to expand, this time in anticipation of U.S. entry into World War II, and Earnest was promoted to temporary colonel in December 1941.

Legion of Honor (Chevalier) (France) Croix de Guerre with palm (France) Distinguished Service Order (United Kingdom) Czechoslovak War Cross

Distinguished Service Medal citation "For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. Under his direction, the 90th Division, in 47 days of continuous contact with the enemy advanced some 400 miles across major rivers, mountains and difficult terrain. General Earnest's bold decisions, based on sound tactical insight, made possible rapid thrusts which completely disorganized the enemy and attained valuable objectives with minimum loss."

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 79 (1945) Service: Army Division: 90th Infantry Division

Retirement and death From 1948 to 1952, Earnest operated a farm in White Stone, Virginia.

Family In 1920, Earnest married Frances Alexander Campbell. They were the parents of two children, Clyde Tener Earnest and Frances Elizabeth Earnest.

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