RICHMOND, June 11 (AP)— Maj. Gen. Herbert L. Earnest, whose Fourth Armored Division units broke the German circle at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, died here today.
General Earnest, 74 years old, served in the Army for 31 years, beginning his military career with the Richmond Light Infantry Blues during the Mexican border conflict in 1916. He retired in 1947.
Following the breakthrough to relieve the surrounded American forces at Bastogne in Belgium, he joined the 90th In fantry Division and led the unit from the Belgian border to Czechoslovakia. In April 1945, his division cvaptured a gold bullion cache of more than 100 tons in Germany. At the time, it was considered the entire German gold reserve.
Among his military decorations were the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the French Legion of Honor and the Distinguished Order of Britain.
Uncovered a Treasure:
As commander of the 90th Infantry Division, General Earn est led a spectacular 47‐day drive through the Eiffel Moun tains and across the Rhine to reach Czechoslovakia.
Near Merkers, Germany, on April 7, 1945, the division found the German financial reserve that, in addition to the 100 tons of gold bullion, included $2‐million in American currency, 1 million francs, more tha 110,000 British pounds and 4 million Norwegian crowns.
These treasures, and vast quantities of cognac and champagne, were found in a series of subterranean vaults 2,100 feet deep.
A month later, the division defeated the German Army's 11th Panzer Division, which had held a 20‐mile front for 20 days. General Earnest enlisted in the Virginia National Guard on June 21, 1916, and served two years with the First Cavalry as a private and corporal.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant on Oct. 26, 1917, and served in France for the remainder of World War I.
Source: New York Times Obituaries