# Henry Terrell Jr.

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{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Henry Terrell Jr.
|birth_date=October 14, 1890
|death_date=October 3, 1971 (aged 80)
|birth_place=[San Antonio](/source/San_Antonio%2C_Texas), [Texas](/source/Texas), [United States](/source/United_States)
|death_place=San Antonio, Texas, United States
|boyhood home=
|burial_place=[Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery](/source/Fort_Sam_Houston_National_Cemetery), Texas, United States
|image=Henry Terrell, Jr..jpg
|image_size=205px
|caption=
|allegiance={{flag|United States}}
|branch={{army|United States}}
|service_years=1912–1946
|rank=25px [Major General](/source/Major_general_(United_States))
|service_number=0-3264
|commands=[9th Infantry Regiment](/source/9th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States))<br />[8th Infantry Division](/source/8th_Infantry_Division_(United_States))<br />[90th Infantry Division](/source/90th_Infantry_Division_(United_States))<br />[XXII Corps](/source/XXII_Corps_(United_States))
|unit=25px [Infantry Branch](/source/Infantry_Branch_(United_States))
|battles=[World War I](/source/World_War_I)<br />[World War II](/source/World_War_II)
|awards=[Army Distinguished Service Medal](/source/Distinguished_Service_Medal_(U.S._Army))<br />[Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit)<br />[Croix de guerre](/source/Croix_de_guerre_1914%E2%80%931918_(France)) ([France](/source/France))
|relations=
|other_work=
}}
[Major General](/source/Major_general_(United_States)) '''Henry Terrell Jr.''' (October 14, 1890 – October 3, 1971) was a senior [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) [officer](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)). Terrell commanded the [90th Infantry Division](/source/90th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)) from its activation in March 1942 to January 1944 during World War II.<ref>[http://www.lonesentry.com/usdivisions/commanders/infantry/division/90th_infantry_division.html 90th Infantry Division Commanders in World War II]</ref>

==Early life and military career==
Born October 14, 1890, in [San Antonio, Texas](/source/San_Antonio%2C_Texas), he attended the [University of Texas](/source/Texas_A%26M_University) from 1908 until 1910, where he was a member of [Phi Kappa Psi](/source/Phi_Kappa_Psi) fraternity.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Phi Kappa Psi (1991). Grand Catalogue of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity (13th ed.)|publisher=Publishing Concepts, Inc.|year=1991|pages=399, 578}}</ref> He was, at some point, [commissioned](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) as a [second lieutenant](/source/second_lieutenant) in the [Infantry Branch](/source/Infantry_Branch_(United_States)) of the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army), and was assigned to the [7th Infantry Regiment](/source/7th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)) stationed at [Fort Leavenworth](/source/Fort_Leavenworth), [Kansas](/source/Kansas).

He was subsequently transferred to the [22nd Infantry Regiment](/source/22nd_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)), then stationed at [Fort Bliss](/source/Fort_Bliss), [Texas](/source/Texas), where he participated in the border patrol duty during the [Pancho Villa Expedition](/source/Pancho_Villa_Expedition). He then was transferred to the [29th Infantry Regiment](/source/29th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)) in February 1915, for duty in the [Panama Canal Zone](/source/Panama_Canal_Zone).

He returned to the United States in August 1917, four months after the [American entry into World War I](/source/American_entry_into_World_War_I), and served (now with the rank of [captain](/source/Captain_(United_States))) with the [58th Infantry Regiment](/source/58th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)) in [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) and [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina). In July 1918, his regiment was transferred to the [Western Front](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)) to serve as part of the [American Expeditionary Force](/source/American_Expeditionary_Forces) (AEF), commanded by [General](/source/General_(United_States)) [John J. Pershing](/source/John_J._Pershing), who had led the Pancho Villa Expedition. As an infantry officer, he participated in the [Champagne-Marne defensive](/source/United_States_campaigns_in_World_War_I) operations, the [Aisne-Marne Offensive](/source/Second_Battle_of_the_Marne), the [Battle of Saint-Mihiel](/source/Battle_of_Saint-Mihiel) and the [Meuse-Argonne Offensive](/source/Meuse-Argonne_Offensive). The war ended soon afterwards, after the [Armistice with Germany](/source/Armistice_of_11_November_1918) was signed on November 11, 1918. For his bravery in the war he was awarded the [French Croix de guerre](/source/Croix_de_guerre_1914%E2%80%931918).

==Between the wars==
He stayed in the army during the [interwar period](/source/interwar_period) where he attended the [U.S. Army Command and General Staff School](/source/United_States_Army_Command_and_General_Staff_College), graduating from there in 1925. In the early 1930s he attended the [U.S. Army War College](/source/United_States_Army_War_College) and from 1936 to 1938 he commanded the [9th Infantry Regiment](/source/9th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Terrell/Henry_Jr./USA.html|title=Biography of Major-General Henry Jr. Terrell (1890 – 1971), USA}}</ref>

==World War II==
During [World War II](/source/World_War_II) Terrell briefly commanded the [8th Infantry Division](/source/8th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)) in March 1941. By March 1942, three months after the [Japanese](/source/Empire_of_Japan) [attack on Pearl Harbor](/source/attack_on_Pearl_Harbor) and the subsequent American entry into the war, he was promoted to the [two-star rank](/source/two-star_rank) of [major general](/source/Major_general_(United_States)) and was the first [Commanding General](/source/Commanding_officer) (CG) of the [90th "Tough Ombres" Infantry Division](/source/90th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)). The division was composed mostly of [conscripts](/source/Conscription_in_the_United_States) (draftees) who were new to [military service](/source/military_service). His Assistant Division Commander (ADC) was [Charles W. Ryder](/source/Charles_W._Ryder) until January 1943 when [Alan W. Jones](/source/Alan_W._Jones) succeeded him. Terrell led the division in numerous training [exercises](/source/Military_exercise) in the United States. In mid-January 1944, he was promoted (although without change in rank) to command of the newly created [XXII Corps](/source/XXII_Corps_(United_States)) in the United States. However, he never led the corps in combat as, in November 1944, Terrell was ordered to command the [Infantry Advanced Replacement Training Center](/source/Infantry_Advanced_Replacement_Training_Center) until the end of the war. Major General [Ernest Harmon](/source/Ernest_N._Harmon), a highly experienced and competent commander, subsequently became CG of XXII Corps. 

The 90th Infantry Division, which later went on to fight in the [Battle of Normandy](/source/Operation_Overlord), was considered by many senior American commanders (namely Major General [Joe Collins](/source/J._Lawton_Collins), the [VII Corps](/source/VII_Corps_(United_States)) commander, and [Lieutenant General](/source/Lieutenant_general_(United_States)) [Omar Bradley](/source/Omar_Bradley), then the commander of the [U.S. First Army](/source/First_United_States_Army), who stated that the 90th was "one of the worst-trained outfits to arrive in the [ETO](/source/European_Theater_of_Operations%2C_United_States_Army)") to have performed poorly in the opening stages of the campaign. Much of the blame for this was not placed on Terrell's successor, [Brigadier General](/source/Brigadier_general_(United_States)) [Jay W. MacKelvie](/source/Jay_W._MacKelvie), but rather on Terrell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.normandy1944.org.uk/st_sauver.htm|title=The Battle For Saint-Sauveur-Le-Vicomte (originally from "Then & Now" Magazine)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630225828/http://www.normandy1944.org.uk/st_sauver.htm|archive-date=30 June 2007 | website=normandy1944.org.uk}}</ref> Nevertheless, for his services in raising and training the division, Terrell was awarded the [Army Distinguished Service Medal](/source/Distinguished_Service_Medal_(U.S._Army)), the citation for which reads:

{{Blockquote|The [President of the United States](/source/President_of_the_United_States) of America, authorized by [Act of Congress](/source/Act_of_Congress) July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Infantry), [then Major General] Henry Terrell, Jr. (ASN: 0-3264), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, 90th Infantry Division and later as Commanding General XXII Corps, from 1942 to 1945.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=113225|title=Henry Terrell - Recipient -}}</ref>}}

==Postwar==
Major General Henry Terrell Jr. retired from the army on April 30, 1946, almost a year after the [end of World War II in Europe](/source/end_of_World_War_II_in_Europe), and died on October 3, 1971, in San Antonio, Texas, his birthplace. He is buried together with his wife Helen (1891–1972) at [Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery](/source/Fort_Sam_Houston_National_Cemetery).

==Medals and decorations==
{|
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[Army Distinguished Service Medal](/source/Distinguished_Service_Medal_(U.S._Army))
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Mexican Border Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[Mexican Border Service Medal](/source/Mexican_Border_Service_Medal)
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[World War I Victory Medal](/source/World_War_I_Victory_Medal_(United_States)) with four battle clasps
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[American Defense Service Medal](/source/American_Defense_Service_Medal)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[American Campaign Medal](/source/American_Campaign_Medal)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[World War II Victory Medal](/source/World_War_II_Victory_Medal)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with palm.jpg|width=106}}
|[French Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with Palm](/source/Croix_de_guerre_1914%E2%80%931918_(France))
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.generals.dk/general/Terrell/Henry_Jr./USA.html Generals of World War II]
*[https://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_T01.html#Terrell_H United States Army Officers 1939–1945]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[William E. Shedd](/source/William_E._Shedd)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Commanding General 8th Infantry Division](/source/8th_Infantry_Division_(United_States))|years=March 1941}}
{{s-aft|after=[James P. Marley](/source/James_P._Marley)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Newly activated organization}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Commanding General 90th Infantry Division](/source/90th_Infantry_Division_(United_States))|years=1942–1944}}
{{s-aft|after=[Jay W. MacKelvie](/source/Jay_W._MacKelvie)}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Newly activated organization}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Commanding General XXII Corps](/source/XXII_Corps_(United_States))|years=January–November 1944}}
{{s-aft|after=[Ernest N. Harmon](/source/Ernest_N._Harmon)}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Terrell, Henry}}
Category:1890 births
Category:1971 deaths
Category:Military personnel from San Antonio
Category:United States Army generals
Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni
Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
Category:United States Army War College alumni
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Category:Burials at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Category:United States Army Infantry Branch personnel
Category:United States Army personnel of World War I
Category:United States Army generals of World War II

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Henry Terrell Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Terrell_Jr.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Terrell_Jr.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.