Robert C. Macon

Major General Robert Chauncey Macon (July 12, 1890 – October 20, 1980) was a senior United States Army officer who commanded the 7th Infantry Regiment and the 83rd Infantry Division during World War II in Western Europe and later served as military attaché in Moscow.

Robert Chauncey Macon
BornJuly 12, 1890
Washington, D.C., United States
DiedOctober 20, 1980 (aged 90)
Washington, D.C., United States
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1916–1952
Rank Major General
Unit Infantry Branch
Commands held7th Infantry Regiment
83rd Infantry Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star (2)

Early life

Macon graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1912 with a B.S. degree and received an M.E. from the same institution the following year. He also played college football for the university.[1] He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1916. He served in China as the commander of Company I, 15th Infantry Regiment from 1919 to 1921. He was then a professor of military science and tactics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1924 to 1928. After graduation from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School on June 19, 1931, he served in the Panama Canal Department until 1933. He then attended the U.S. Army War College and from 1934 to 1939 was an instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School. Macon served as assistant chief of staff for plans in VII Corps from March to August 1940, and then served with the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment until 1941. He was then assigned as assistant chief of staff for supply of the 4th Armored Division.[2]

World War II

In April 1942, Macon, now a colonel, took command of the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He commanded the regiment during Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, and the subsequent occupation of French Morocco. In February 1943, he was promoted to brigadier general.

In April 1943, Brigadier General Macon was appointed as assistant division commander of the 83rd Infantry Division. He succeeded Frank W. Milburn as commanding general of the division in January 1944 and was promoted to major general on June 1, 1944.[2]

Major General Macon commanded the 83rd Infantry Division during operations in Normandy, including Operation Cobra and the Battle of Saint-Malo. The division then screened the Allied advance along the Loire River Valley, and accepted the surrender of 20,000 German troops at Beaugency. The division drove through Lorraine and into Luxembourg, and then fought in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1945, the division advanced through Germany and linked up with Soviet troops on the Elbe in April.

Later years

Major General Macon remained in command of the 83rd Division until 1946, when he became military attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, USSR. He served there from 1946 to 1948, and then became Deputy Chief, U.S. Army Field Forces from 1949 to 1952. He retired in July 1952.

Decorations

1st Row Army Distinguished Service Medal
2nd Row Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster World War I Victory Medal
3rd Row American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with six Service Stars World War II Victory Medal
4th Row Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Officer of the French Order of the Legion of Honor French Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm

Promotions

Source - Register of the Army of the United States for 1946. United States Government Printing Office Washington: U.S. Secretary of War. 1946. p. 430

No pin insignia in 1915 Second Lieutenant of Infantry, Regular Army: November 30, 1916*
First Lieutenant, Regular Army: November 30, 1916*
Captain, Regular Army: August 3, 1917
Major, Regular Army: December 13, 1928
Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army: October 1, 1938
Colonel, Army of the United States: October 20, 1941
Brigadier General, Army of the United States: February 2, 1943
Major General, Army of the United States: June 1, 1944

Note - Macon accepted his commission December 1, 1916

References

  1. "The Bugle 1912" (PDF). Virginia Tech Bugle. 1912. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  2. 83rd Infantry Division, PRO (25 September 1944). "Know Your Leaders" (PDF). 83rd Spearhead. London. pp. Volume 1, Number 2, Page 2.
  • R. Manning Ancell, Biographical Dictionary of World War II Generals and Flag Officers (1996)
  • Shelby Stanton, World War II Order of Battle (1984)
Military offices
Preceded by
Frank W. Milburn
Commanding General 83rd Infantry Division
1944–1945
Succeeded by
Post deactivated
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