John M. Devine

John Matthew Devine (June 18, 1895 – March 8, 1971) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of major general. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, and is most noted as Commanding general, 8th Armored Division in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.

Following the War, Devine held several divisional commands, including 2nd Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division and 9th Infantry Division and completed his service in 1952.

Early career John M. Devine was born on June 18, 1895, in Providence, Rhode Island, as the son of Patrick and Bridget Devine. He graduated from the La Salle Academy in Providence in May 1912 and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, in June 1913. While at the academy, he was a member of the Class 1917, which produced more than 55 future general officers, including two Army Chiefs of StaffJoseph L. Collins and Matthew B. Ridgway.

After some additional training and acquisition of new equipment at Tidworth, England, the 8th Armored Division landed in France, January 5, 1945. Devine led his division during the last combats during the Battle of the Bulge and after brief rest and refit in the Netherlands, he participated in the combats near the town of Echt. The 8th Armored Division then participated in the combats in the Rhineland and in the Ruhr Pocket, advancing more eastward to the Germany. The 8th Armored liberated Halberstadt-Zwieberge, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, between April 12 and 17, 1945 during its drive through central Germany.

Due to the postwar reduction of the Army, Devine was reverted to the peacetime rank of brigadier general and appointed commanding general of the Universal Military Training Experimental Unit (UMT) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The UMT was the Universal Military Training Experimental Unit for the seventeen-to-nineteenth year old volunteers. He was succeeded by Brigadier general Josef R. Sheetz.

In January 1948, Devine was transferred to Fort Monroe, Virginia for duty as Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3), Army Field Forces under General Jacob L. Devers. He was responsible for planning of training of new recruits and also had the authority to revise training manuals and schedules. Devine was promoted again to Major general in May 1948 and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Field Forces.

Retirement and death

Devine retired from the Army in 1952 and settled in Leesburg, Virginia. He served as commandant of cadets at Virginia Tech until 1961 and also enjoyed golf in his free time. Devine died on March 8, 1971, aged 75, and was buried with full military honors at United States Military Academy Cemetery beside his wife Anna Whitelegg Devine. They had together four children.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Major General John M. Devine Scholarship at Virginia Tech is named in his honor for undergraduate students who are members in good standing of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.

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