Paul Newgarden

Major General Paul Woolever Newgarden (February 24, 1892 – July 14, 1944) was a senior United States Army officer.

Early years

Newgarden was born on February 24, 1892, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of a United States Army medical officer, Lt. Col. George J. Newgarden, and Margaret Woolever Newgarden.

As a boy he lived on a number of Army posts until his father's retirement due to physical disability in the line of duty in 1907. Seeking an Army career, he obtained an appointment at large to the United States Military Academy and entered on March 1, 1909, from Washington, D. C. at the age of 17.

Education

As a cadet he was popular, and early on showed the basic elements of leadership which would mark him for early selection to command. Throughout his four years as a cadet he worked industriously in the gym and made several athletic squads, including baseball, broadsword, indoor meet, and hockey. He took an intense interest in marksmanship, earning the nickname "Pistol Paul". He became a Distinguished Pistol Shot and a member of the Infantry Pistol Team which, in 1923, won a national championship from the Marines.

Life and career

An ardent believer in the Infantry as the backbone of the Army, he joined the 21st Infantry Regiment at Vancouver Barracks in 1913, and was also assigned to several training camps on the west coast as an instructor just prior to World War I.

Newgarden was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit on October 12, 1944, the presentation being made to his widow. The citation read, "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Commanding General, 10th Armored Division, from its activation 15 July 1942 to his death 15 July 1944".

Newgarden was survived by his widow, Priscilla Quinby Newgarden, who lived in Brunswick, Maine; his stepmother Mrs. George J. Newgarden of Washington, D. C. and his brother, Colonel George J. Newgarden, Jr. (U.S. Army, Retired).

The likeness of General Newgarden, as seen above, was drawn in charcoal by T/4 Louis J. Short of the Tiger Division.

Commands May 7, 1935 – August 4, 1935 – Temporary Assistant Chief of Staff (G-1), 1st Army October 21, 1935 – January 13, 1936 - Executive Officer, Fort Wadsworth, New York January 14, 1936 – March 1, 1936 - Attached to Headquarters 1st Army May 13, 1936 – August 23, 1936 - Executive Officer, 18th Infantry Regiment August 24, 1936 – August 22, 1940 - Assistant Chief of Staff ( G-3 ), 6th Corps Area March 5, 1938 – March 25, 1938 - Acting Chief of Staff, 6th Corps Area September 3, 1940 – June 1941 - Instructor at Command & General Staff School June 1941 – January 9, 1942 - Commanding Officer 41st Armored Infantry Regiment January 10, 1942 – June 1942 - Commanding Officer Combat Command A, 2nd Armored Division July 15, 1942 – July 14, 1944 - Commanding General 10th Armored Division July 14, 1944 – Killed in airplane crash

Important promotions

August 1, 1935 – Lieutenant Colonel June 26, 1941 – Colonel (Army of the United States) January 15, 1942 – Brigadier General (Army of the United States) June 22, 1942 – Major General (Army of the United States) July 1, 1942 – Colonel (permanent)