Robert Howard York; Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
In 1933, Robert Howard York enlisted in the Alabama National Guard. Later appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, he graduated with the class of 1938 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and a B.S. degree in Engineering. His first assignment was with the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Wadsworth, NY, where he served as a unit commander in the 18th Regiment for 42 months. On 1 August 1942, now-Major York deployed with the 18th Regiment from the New York Port of Embarkation, arrived in Beaminster in southwest England about a week later, and departed on 22 October 1942 for the combat amphibious assault of North Africa. As part of II Corps, the 1st Division landed in Oran, Algeria on 8 November 1942 as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa.
From 23 to 25 March 1943, then-Lieutenant Colonel York was serving as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army.
On those days, LTC York’s 1st Battalion was in action against German forces near El Guettar, Tunisia. In a determined attempt to smash the American offensive, over 200 enemy tanks, half-tracks and armored vehicles assaulted the position of the 18th Infantry at dawn on 23 March. LTC York, 1st Battalion Commanding Officer, initiated the resistance of his troops by circulating freely among his men in the face of severe German artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire. Although at one time the enemy flanked his position and penetrated 6 miles to his rear while raking the area by machine gun and artillery fire from armored vehicles, LTC York moved throughout his Battalion's exposed position to stiffen the resistance of his troops and direct their use of rifle grenades. That action destroyed several enemy vehicles at ranges of less than 100 yards. During another German assault that afternoon that consisted of dive-bombing attacks by aircraft and supported by heavy machine gun, mortar and artillery fire, LTC York's 1st Battalion successfully stopped the enemy thrust, despite its virtual exhaustion after 3 days of constant fighting. The capability of the 1st Battalion to hold its position under overwhelming attack and thereby ensure the success of later American operations in that sector, was largely due to the leadership and brave example of its Commander. LTC York’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. In July 1944, LTC York was transferred to the 83rd Infantry Division at Normandy, France, and, as a Colonel, assigned as Commanding Officer of the 331st Infantry Regiment, a position he held until the 83rd Division was deactivated in April 1946. During that time, COL York was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity.
Colonel York was next assigned as an Instructor of Tactics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
At the outbreak of the Korean War, COL York was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-3, Department of the Army, as a Staff Officer in the Operations Division. In August 1951, he was selected to attend the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA, and, upon graduation, was assigned to the Office of Assistant Chief of Staff G-2, Department of the Army, as the U.S. Army Liaison Officer with station in Singapore. After first attending the Strategic Intelligence School, he served in that position until May 1956.
In August 1956, York was assigned to the Infantry Center at Fort Benning, GA. While there he served successively as Director, Tactical Department, The Infantry School; Assistant Chief of Staff G-3, The Infantry Center; Director of Instruction and Deputy to the Assistant Commandant, The Infantry School; and Chief of Staff, The Infantry Center.
York was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the United Nations Command in Korea in July 1959 and served in that position until July 1960. He returned to the United States in September 1960 with an assignment as Chief, International Division, Office of the Chief of Research and Development, Department of the Army. In May 1962, he was reassigned as Military Advisor to the Deputy Director, Tactical Warfare Programs, Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Department of Defense, Washington, DC. In November 1962, he assumed duty as Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency, Research and Development Field Unit, and Joint Operation Evaluation Group, Vietnam.
Major General York took command of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, on 21 February 1964 and went with that unit to the Dominican Republic when it was ordered there in April 1965 to protect American citizens and other foreign nationals during the uprising in Santo Domingo. He returned to the United States to assume command of Fort Benning and the Infantry School, in Georgia, on 16 July 1965.
Lieutenant General York became Commanding General of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC, in August 1967. LTG York retired from the Army on 1 August 1968.
Medals, Awards and Badges:
Army Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Robert Howard York (ASN: 0-21341), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 23 to 25 March 1943, near El Guettar, Tunisia. In a determined attempt to smash the American offensive, more than 200 enemy tanks, half-tracks and armored vehicles assaulted the position of the 18th Infantry at dawn on 23 March. Lieutenant Colonel York, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, immediately initiated the dogged resistance of his troops by circulating freely among his men in the face of severe enemy artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire. Although raked by machine gun and artillery fire from armored vehicles which at one time flanked his position and penetrated six miles to his rear, Lieutenant Colonel York moved without concern throughout his exposed battalion position to stiffen the resistance of his troops and direct their employment of rifle grenades, thereby accounting for several enemy vehicles at ranges of less than one hundred yards. Again that afternoon during an enemy assault, paced by savage dive-bombing attacks and supported by heavy machine gun, mortar and artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel York's battalion, although virtually exhausted after three days of constant fighting, successfully stopped the enemy thrust. The ability of this battalion to hold its position under overwhelming attack and thereby insure the success of later American operations in that sector was largely due to the courageous leadership and brave example of its Commander. Lieutenant Colonel York's personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Headquarters, U.S. Army-North African Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 50 (July 9, 1943)
Death and Burial:
Lieutenant General Robert Howard York died of cancer on 15 April 1988 at San Diego, CA. He is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, Orange County, NY, in Section XIII, Site 227.
Source: Military Hall of Honor