William W. Eagles

William Willis Eagles (January 12, 1895 - February 19, 1988) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of Major General. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he is most noted for his service as Commanding general, 45th Infantry Division during Italian campaign during World War II.

Following the War, Eagles remained in the Army and served as Commanding general, 9th Infantry Division, Commanding General, Ryukyus Command, Okinawa or Inspector-General of the Army’s European command, before retired in 1953.

Early career
William W. Eagles was born on January 12, 1895 in Albion, Indiana as the son of Edward and Maud Eagles. He graduated from the Albion High School in May 1913 and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in June 1917 with Bachelor's degree and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch.

He was a member of the class, which produced more than 55 future general officers including two Army Chiefs of Staff (Joseph L. Collins and Matthew B. Ridgway). Among his classmates were: Clare H. Armstrong, Rex W. Beasley, Robert M. Bathurst, Henry A. Barber Jr., William O. Butler, Theodore E. Buechler, Homer C. Brown, Aaron Bradshaw Jr., John T. Bissell, Mark W. Clark, John T. Cole, Miles A. Cowles, Gerald A. Counts, Norman D. Cota, Joseph L. Collins, John W. Coffey, James A. Code Jr., John M. Devine, William F. Daugherty, Charles H. Gerhardt, Theodore L. Futch, Robert W. Hasbrouck, William K. Harrison Jr., Arthur M. Harper, Ernest N. Harmon, Horace Harding, Milton B. Halsey, Augustus M. Gurney, Edwin J. House, Joel G. House, Charles S. Kilburn, Laurence B. Keiser, Harris Jones, Harold R. Jackson, Frederick A. Irving, Harris M. Melasky, William C. McMahon, John T. Murray, Charles L. Mullins Jr., Bryant E. Moore, Daniel Noce, Harold A. Nisley, Matthew B. Ridgway, William O. Reeder, Onslow S. Rolfe, Thomas D. Stamps, Willis R. Slaughter, Stephen H. Sherrill, Herbert N. Schwarzkopf, Albert C. Smith, Joseph P. Sullivan, Edward W. Timberlake, George D. Wahl, George F. Wooley Jr., Sterling A. Wood, Raymond E. S. Williamson, Robert A. Willard and George H. Weems.

Eagles did not go overseas during World War I; he remained stateside. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant and assumed duty as an Instructor at the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia in early 1921. He then served as Professor of Military Science & Tactics at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin for five years and returned to the Infantry School as an Instructor with the rank of captain. He was promoted to major on October 1, 1932, while in this capacity.

He was ordered to the instruction at Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in June 1935. One year later, Eagles was ordered to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he joined the headquarters of 8th Corps Area under Major General Herbert J. Brees as Officer-in-Charge of Supply, Construction & Budget. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on July 1, 1940.

World War II
By the beginning of November 1940, Eagles was attached to the headquarters, VIII Corps under Major General George V. Strong located also at Fort Sam Houston and was promoted to the temporary rank of colonel on December 11, 1941, just four days after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States entry into World War II.

Eagles was ordered to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma and assumed command of 351st Infantry Regiment, part of 9th Infantry Division. He held that command for only one month, when he was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general on July 23, 1942 and was appointed Assistant Division Commander, 3rd Infantry Division under Major General Jonathan W. Anderson.

While attached to 3rd Infantry Division, he was co-responsible for the training and preparation of men for combat deployment overseas. Eagles accompanied his division to North Africa during the Operation Torch at the beginning of November 1942 and participated in the combats in Morocco and Tunis. The 3rd Infantry Division later landed on Sicily in July 1943 and participated in the liberation of Palermo and Messina. For his service with 3rd Infantry Division, Eagles received the Bronze Star Medal.

Eagles was promoted to major general on November 4, 1943 and relieved Troy H. Middleton, who was promoted to the command of VIII Corps. He led the division during the later phase of Landing at Anzion in January 1944 and during the liberation of Rome in June that year. For his service in this capacity, he was decorated with Distinguished Service Medal and also received the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and Bronze Medal of Valor by the Government of Italy. Parts of his division participated in the Biscari massacre during which 73 Axis prisoners of war were murdered by the member of Division's 180th Infantry Regiment.

The 45th Division was subsequently scheduled for invasion to the Southern France (Codename Operation Dragoon) and landed at St. Maxime on August 15, 1944. Eagles commanded the division during the liberation of Epinal and Rambervillers in September of that year and advanced to the Vosges mountains. During the combats near the town of Mutzig by the end of November 1944, Eagles was wounded by enemy fire and evacuated to the United States. For his service during the Operation Dragoon, Eagles received his second Distinguished Service Medal and Purple Heart. The government of France bestowed him with the Legion of Honour, rank Commander and Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with Palm.

Postwar service
Eagles spent next six months in hospital stateside and was pronounced fit for duty in June 1945, a month after the surrender of Germany. He was ordered to Camp Hood, Texas and succeeded Brigadier General Thomas F. Bresnahan as commanding general of Infantry Replacement Training Center there. He was reverted to the peacetime rank of colonel by the end of December 1945, but promoted shortly thereafter to brigadier general.

He was appointed President of Interview Boards, Regular Army Integration Program and held that assignment until August 1946, when he was promoted back to major general and assumed command of 9th Infantry Division at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Eagles also held additional duty as commanding general, Fort Dix and was tasked with the demobilization of the troops returning from overseas service.

Eagles was ordered to the Far East in April 1948 and assumed duty as commanding general, Ryukyus Command on Okinawa. While in this capacity, he was responsible for the civil administration of the Ryukyus Islands, reconstruction of infrastructure, repatriation of refugees or prisoners-of-war and held that command until October 1949.

Following his arrival stateside and brief leave at home, he was ordered to Washington, D.C., where he joined Army Personnel Board and served in this capacity until July 1951, when he was ordered to Europe for duty as Inspector-General, U.S. European Command under his West Point classmate, Matthew Ridgway. In February 1952, he was appointed Director of Military Posts Division at the headquarters U.S. European Command and remained in that capacity until January 31, 1953, when he retired from active duty after almost 36 years of commissioned service.

Retirement and death
Upon his retirement from the Army, Eagles settled in Washington, D.C., where he lived until his death. Major General William W. Eagles died on February 19, 1988, aged 93, in Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. His wife, Anne Van Slyck (1897-1997) is buried beside him. They have a son, Edward, and a daughter, Anne.

Decorations
Here is Major general Eagles' ribbon bar: