Thomas M. Watlington

Thomas M. Watlington (22 May 1904 – 22 July 1990) was a career officer in the United States Army. A 1927 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served until retiring in 1961 and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Watlington's commands included the 2nd Infantry Division Artillery, X Corps Artillery, and 8th Infantry Division, and his awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Watlington was raised in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Wyoming, and graduated from high school in Cheyenne in 1922. After a year at the University of Wyoming, he began attendance at West Point, from which he graduated in 1927. Commissioned as a Field Artillery officer, in the years before World War II he carried out Artillery assignments in the United States and Panama. During the war, he served as executive officer of III Corps Artillery, and took part in campaigns including Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes, as well as the Western Allied invasion of Germany.

Prior to the Korean War, Watlington served as executive officer for the U.S. members of the joint U.S-Soviet Union commission the negotiated the Division of Korea, followed by assignment as assistant chief of staff for intelligence (G-2) for U.S. Army Forces In Korea (USAFIK). During the war, he served as commander of 2nd Infantry Division Artillery, which was followed by a posting as commander of X Corps Artillery. After the war, his postings included assistant commandant of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill and commander of the 8th Infantry Division. His final assignment was assistant director of the National Security Agency, and he retired in 1961.

In retirement, Watlington resided first in Maryland, and later in Amarillo, Texas. He died in Amarillo on 22 July 1990 and was buried at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo.

Early life Thomas Morgan Watlington was born in San Antonio, Texas on 22 May 1904, a son of Thomas Morgan Watlington (1869–1939) and Bertha (Griesenbeck) Watlington (1870–1966). He was raised and educated in Oklahoma City, Denver, and Cheyenne, and graduated from Cheyenne High School (now Cheyenne Central High School) in 1922. He attended the University of Wyoming from 1922 to 1923.

Watlington attended West Point from 1923 to 1927 and graduated ranked 47th of 203. At graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. Ralph Wise Zwicker, Philip De Witt Ginder, and James Francis Collins. Among his notable classmates who did not attain general officer rank were George Van Horn Moseley Jr. and John L. Hines Jr.

Start of career Watlington's initial assignment was with the 6th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Hoyle, Maryland, where he served from September 1927 to September 1930. From September 1930 to July 1932, he served with the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Davis, Panama.

Continued career From May 1933 to August 1934, Watlington commanded the military police detachment of the 1st Field Artillery Regiment. In January 1941, he was promoted to temporary major.

In August 1957, Watlington was assigned as deputy chief of staff for administration (G-1) on the United States European Command (EUCOM) staff in France, and he later served as EUCOM's deputy chief of staff for operations (G-3). In January 1959, he was assigned as assistant director of the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster and "V" device for valor Air Medal Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Legion of Honor (Officer) (France) Croix de Guerre with Palm (France) Croix de Guerre for Foreign Theaters with Palm (France) Order of Military Merit (Third Class) with Gold Star (South Korea)

Dates of rank Watlington's dates of rank were:

Second Lieutenant, 14 June 1927 Major General, 13 April 1955 Major General (Retired), 1 July 1961