Stanley Eric Reinhart

Stanley Eric Reinhart (September 15, 1893 - June 4, 1975) was a Major General in the United States Army. He figured prominently in World War II as a commander of the 65th Infantry Division.

Early life
Reinhart was born on September 15, 1893 in Polk, Ohio (pop. 250). He worked briefly as a rural school teacher, in North Red Haw, Ohio, until 1911.

After he graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York in 1916, he was commissioned in the Field Artillery at Camp Fort Bliss, Texas.

World War I
As ADC to General Payton C. March, Reinhart sailed for France on June 30, 1917, where he commanded Battery "A," 17th FA, 2nd Division, AEF, from February 12, 1918 to July 10, 1918 (in action during the defense of sector from March 21 to May 12, Battle of Bois de Belleau). Next, Reinhart commanded 1st Bn, 17th FA, 10 July 1918 (Battles of Soissons, Ypres-Lys, and Meuse-Argonne).

Reinhart was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his actions in combat during World War I.

On August 4, 1919, Reinhart returned to the U.S., where he married Jeannette Crane of Toledo, Ohio, on May 5, 1920, at West Point, New York. They had a son and daughter.

Between World Wars
Between World War I and World War II he served three years as an instructor of field artillery tactics at the United States Military Academy; four years in the Command and General Staff School and Army War College; two years as instructor at the Field Artillery School; three years General Staff with troops in Hawaii; and four years as Treasurer at West Point.

World War II
As a Brigadier General from February 16, 1942 on, he commanded the 25th Division Artillery, defending the shores of Oahu. On December 6, 1942, Reinhart sailed for Guadalcanal to participate in operations that would ultimately help terminate hostilities there. Ordered home to the U.S. by the War Department on April 22, 1943, he landed at San Francisco on April 26.

From July 1, 1943 to December 18, 1944, Reinhart organized and trained the 65th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. On January 10, 1945, as the Commanding General of the 65th, he sailed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO). He joined General George Patton's Third Army at the Sarre River, and fought with it across Germany and Austria.

Under his leadership,the 65th Infantry managed forced crossings of the Fulda, Werra, Danube, Inn, Traun, and Enns Rivers. His soldiers took the German cities of Saarlautern, Neunkirchen, Oberursel, Friedberg, Hattenback, Bebra, Rottenburg (Bavaria), Treffurt, Langensalza, Neumarkt, Regensburg, and Passau—as well as Schärding, Eferding, Linz, and Enns in Austria. His men captured the German Danube Flotilla and the Hungarian Navy, consisting of 25 armed ships and over 400 other craft.

At the end of combat, Reinhart and the 65th Infantry Division were over 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of a north and south line through Berlin. Fighting in Europe was to end at midnight on 8 May. By now a Major General, Reinhart arrived in Erlauf, a hamlet in Austria, where he met the Soviets and shook hands with his counterpart. In addition to commanding his own troops, Reinhart was soon appointed as Military Governor of Upper Austria.

Reinhart continued to reside in Linz, where the 65th Infantry Division, and subsequently the 26th Infantry Division, had its headquarters.

Later years
Hospitalized on October 15, 1945, Reinhart returned to the U.S. as a patient on November 15, 1945. On September 30, 1946, he retired due to physical disability. He died in 1975.

Awards and honors
Major general Reinhart received a lot of military decorations during his career. He also became an honorary member of the Russian Guards.

Here is Major general Reinhart´s ribbon bar: