Emerson LeRoy Cummings

Emerson LeRoy Cummings was a United States Army Lieutenant General prominent as the Army’s Chief of Ordnance and commander of the Fifth United States Army.

Early life
Cummings was born in New Boston, Michigan on March 16, 1902. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1924 and was assigned to the Engineer branch.

Start of military career
In 1926 Cummings completed a program in civil engineering at Cornell University.

Cummings graduated from the Engineer Officer Course in 1927.

In the 1920s and early 1930s Cummings served in Engineer assignments throughout the United States, including a staff position with the federal Alaska Road Commission and a posting to Fort Lewis, Washington. Cummings received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1933. In 1934 he graduated from the Ordnance Officer Course.

In 1939 Cummings graduated from the Command and General Staff College and the Chemical Warfare Course.

In the early 1940s Cummings served as assistant to the chief of the artillery division in the Ordnance Department’s Industrial Service Division.

World War II
During World War II Cummings was head of the Army’s industrial operations in Detroit, overseeing production of combat vehicles and other materiel. He was then assigned to command of the Ordnance Department’s industrial division in Europe.

Post World War II
Cummings continued his Ordnance career after World War II. In the late 1940s he was chief of the Parts and Supplies Branch in the Ordnance Branch’s Engineering Materials Division.

In the early 1950s Cummings served as chief the Ordnance Corps’ Industrial Division. While in this assignment Cummings also served as the Army’s Assistant Chief of Ordnance.

Cummings served as the Army’s Chief of Ordnance from 1953 to 1958.

After completing his term as Chief of Ordnance, from 1958 to 1960 Cummings was assigned as deputy commander of the Eighth United States Army, simultaneously serving as commander of U.S. Army, Japan.

From 1961 to 1962 Cummings served as commander of the Fifth United States Army in Chicago.

Retirement and awards
General Cummings retired in 1962. His awards included two Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.

Retirement
In retirement Cummings resided in Largo, Florida.

He operated a woodworking shop as a hobby, and also volunteered as a set builder for the Little Theater of Clearwater, remaining active almost until his death.

Death
Cummings died in Zephyrhills, Florida on January 24, 1986.

Other
In 1972 Cummings was inducted into the Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame.