Leonard T. Gerow papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Preferred citation:

Leonard T. Gerow papers, 1911-1970. MS 0100. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
0.50 cubic feet approximately 120 items
Creator:
Gerow, Leonard T. (Leonard Townsend), 1888-1972
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Leonard T. Gerow papers, 1911-1970. MS 0100. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Leonard T. Gerow papers consist of documents and photographs (approximately 120 items) from the military career of United States Army General Gerow. The collection includes correspondence with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, autobiographical material, speeches (1945 to 1948), and photographs. Material complementary to this collection is in Gerow's student/alumni file, which is located in the VMI Archives.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1888 July 13
Born in Petersburg, Virginia to Leonard Rogers Gerow and Annie Eloise Saunders.
1911
Graduated from VMI and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.
1911-1918
Served with 19th Infantry and subsequently the 37th and 57th Infantry. Stationed in Kansas, South Dakota, Texas, and Vera Cruz, Mexico.
1918 April-1919 October
Signal Corps Officer, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), France. Officer in charge of purchasing and disbursing.
1919-1921
Commanding Officer, Signal Corps School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
1921-1941 December
Served in Washington D.C., the Philippines, and China. During this period, Gerow graduated from the Advanced Course, Infantry School, Fort Benning (1925), the Command and General Staff School (1926), and the Army War College (1931).
1941 December-1942 February
Named Chief of War Plans Division and Assistant Chief of Staff.
1942 February
Named Commander of the 29th Infantry Division, Fort George Meade, Maryland.
1942 October 29
Division to England.
1943 July
Named Commanding General, Fifth (V) Corps.
1945 January 15
Assumed command of the Fifteenth Army, European Theater.
1945 October
Returned to the United States and was assigned as Commandant of the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
1948 January
Assumed command of the Second Army, with headquarters at Fort George Meade, Maryland.
1950 July 31
Retired as a Lieutenant General.
1954 July
Appointed as a four-star General by an act of Congress.
1972 October 12
Died at age 84 in Fort Lee Army Hospital, Petersburg, Virginia.
Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks and Oversized Case 2