John B. Coulter

Lieutenant General John Breitling Coulter (April 27, 1891 – March 6, 1983) was a senior United States Army officer. Enjoying a distinguished 40-year military career, Coulter served during World War I, World War II and the Korean War.

Early life and military career

Born on April 27, 1891, in San Antonio, Texas, he graduated from West Texas Military Academy in 1911, and in 1912 obtained a commission as a second lieutenant in the Cavalry Branch of the United States Army.

He initially served with the 14th Cavalry Regiment in Texas until 1916, including participation in the Pancho Villa Expedition. After the American entry into World War I he served on the Western Front, initially as aide-de-camp to Major General William Abram Mann, then commander of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. After returning to the United States for five months as adjutant of the 154th Brigade of the 77th Division, at Camp Meade, Maryland, he went back to France as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 508th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, an African-American unit.

Between the wars Brigadier General John B. Bellinger and Major John B. Coulter, January 30, 1926.

Remaining in the army after the war, which ended on November 11, 1918, and in the subsequent interwar period, Coulter served in the War Department's Personnel Branch, and then assumed command of the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. In 1922 he graduated from the U.S. Army Cavalry School and was assigned to the War Department as the Cavalry chief of materiel, later serving as executive officer (XO) to the Chief of Cavalry.

Coulter graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1927, and then took command of a squadron in the 8th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas, afterwards serving as assistant plans and training officer for the 1st Cavalry Division. He was subsequently assigned to the General Staff's Military Intelligence Division as a specialist in Latin American affairs.

In 1933 Coulter graduated from the U.S. Army War College, and he completed the Naval War College in 1934. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on August 1, 1935 and was assigned as XO of the 4th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Meade, South Dakota. In December 1940 he became the regiment's commander.

In 1951 Coulter was promoted to lieutenant general as deputy commander of the Eighth Army, and was Eighth Army commander General Matthew Ridgway's liaison to the South Korean Army and South Korean President, Syngman Rhee. Coulter retired from the army, after 40 years service, in 1952.

Later life The grave of Lieutenant General John B. Coulter at Arlington National Cemetery.

Following his retirement, Coulter was appointed the Washington, D.C., representative of the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA), the organization formed to direct the international effort to rebuild South Korea after the Korean War. In 1953 he was named to head UNKRA, with the rank of UN Assistant Secretary-General, and he remained in this position until 1958. During his tenure, he directed the expenditure of more than $200 million for rebuilding South Korea's industry, schools, hospitals, roads and housing. During 1956 General Coulter also advised U.N. Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld on peacekeeping forces during the Suez Crisis.

In 1959, Syngman Rhee, still the President of South Korea, erected a statue of Coulter to recognize his efforts to rebuild South Korea. The statue originally stood in the Itaewon District of Seoul. It was rededicated in 1977, and now stands at Seoul's San 18, Neung-dong, Kwangjin-gu.

In the 1960s, Coulter was President of the Korean Cultural and Freedom Foundation, an organization formed to recognize Korean War veterans and foster cultural exchanges between the U.S. and South Korea.

Coulter died in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 1983, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and decorations His awards and decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal (3), Silver Star (2), Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal (6).

Citation for first Distinguished Service Medal:

June 18, 1944As commanding general, 85th Infantry Division, from February 21, 1943, to June 5, 1944, he led his troops on a series of brilliant advances over a hundred miles of the most difficult terrain, climaxed by their entry into Rome on June 4, 1944. The outstanding accomplishments of this division in its first experience of combat, against a ruthless and battle-hardened enemy, were due primarily to his aggressive leadership. His continued emphasis on rigorous, intensive training, his indoctrination of his men with the proper mental conditioning for battle, and his comprehensive grasp of military tactics proved decisive factors in the grim fighting against the enemy-held strong points of Colle San Martino, Hill 121, Formia, Terracina and Mount Ceraso. By the diligent exercise of his gifts of leadership and constant presence at the front he made a signal contribution to the smashing defeat of the enemy's forces before Rome.Citation for second Distinguished Service Medal:

May 16, 1945For exceptionally meritorious service in duty of great responsibility, from 17 August 1944 to 2 May 1945, in Italy. General Coulter commanded the 85th Division in its operations from the Cecina River to the Arno River and Gothic Line. Later, in the difficult cracking of this strongly held and prepared line the 85th Division, under the exceedingly brilliant direction of General Coulter, took Mount Altuzzo on 18 September after a 5-day battle. This was one of the most important tactical features of the Gothic Line, the capture of which greatly facilitated the further advance of the Fifth Army through the strongly defended German positions. Throughout winter action in the Apennines and during the victorious Allied offensive in the spring, Major General Coulter ably led his troops in the accomplishment of a vital role leading to the crushing defeat of the German forces in Italy. While preparing his division for its assignment in the offensive, he skillfully readjusted troop dispositions, consolidated and strengthened a vulnerable and important mountainous sector, and at the same time provided all possible facilities for the welfare of his troops then undergoing the hardships of mountain fighting in bitter weather. Having perfected plans for the offensive, Major General Coulter directed his division in a smashing attack, inspiring his men by his aggressive leadership and firm determination to press the attack rapidly and relentlessly. Advancing across the Po Valley, the 85th Division severed the vitally important Highway 9, crossed the Po River and continued its drive across the Adige Line, accomplishing an advance of more than one hundred miles in a period of ten days. The brilliant tactical skill and inspiring leadership of Major General Coulter resulted in an extremely vital contribution to the victory achieved by the 15th Army Group.