Clarence Ralph Huebner Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
Commanded V Corps at the end of WW2,
FROM MILITARY HALL OF HONOR:
Clarence Ralph Huebner was born on 24 November 1888 in Bushton, KS, the son of Samuel G. and Martha Richel Huebner.
The young farm boy spent almost seven years serving from Private to Sergeant in the 18th Infantry. Huebner then received a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant in November 1916.
During World War I, he led a company, battalion, and regiment of the 1st Infantry Division—the "Big Red One"—from the first American regimental assault at Cantigny through Soissons, Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. For his service in this war, he received two Distinguished Service Crosses, a Distinguished Service Medal, and a Silver Star Medal. In 1924, he attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and served on its faculty from 1929 to 1933.
World War II: 1st Infantry Division & V Corps
In 1943, in a move engineered by General Omar N. Bradley, Major General Huebner relieved the popular commander of the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One), General Terry Allen. While the Division had enjoyed considerable combat success under Allen's leadership, Bradley was highly critical of both Allen and Roosevelt's wartime leadership style, which favored fighting ability over drill and discipline: "While the Allies were parading decorously through Tunis," Bradley wrote, "Allen's brawling 1st Infantry Division was celebrating the Tunisian victory in a manner all its own. In towns from Tunisia all the way to Arzew, the division had left a trail of looted wine shops and outraged mayors. But it was in Oran...that the division really ran amuck. The trouble began when SOS (Services of Supply) troops, long stationed in Oran, closed their clubs and installations to our combat troops from the front. Irritated by this exclusion, the 1st Division swarmed into town to 'liberate' it a second time." Despite this, Bradley admitted that "none excelled the unpredictable Terry Allen in the leadership of troops."
Upon assuming command, MG Huebner immediately ordered a series of close-order drills, parades, and weapons instruction for the 1st Infantry Division, including its veterans, who had just finished a bloody series of engagements with German forces in Sicily. This did not endear him to the enlisted men of the Division, who made no attempt to hide their preference for General Allen. As one of the men of the Big Red One said in disgust, "Hell's bells! We've been killing Germans for months and now they are teaching us to shoot a rifle? It doesn't make any sense."
With the support of Generals Bradley and Eisenhower, Huebner persisted and the morale of the division gradually recovered. As the commander of the "Big Red One" in World War II, Huebner led the 1st in the assault on Omaha Beach, followed by a successful infantry attack at Saint-Lô. The 1st later repelled a German counteroffensive at Mortain, and pursued the German Army across France, culminating in the Battles of Aachen and the Huertgen Forest.
Lieutenant General Huebner took command of V Corps in January 1945 and led it from the Rhine to the Elbe, where his troops made first contact with the Red Army.
After World War II was over, Huebner was the last (acting) Military Governor of the American Zone in Germany from 15 May to 1 September 1949. LTG Huebner retired from the Army in 1950.
Medals and Awards:
Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Army Distinguished Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal with 5 Battle Clasps Occupation of Germany World War I Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal
Foreign Medals and Awards:
Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Legion of Honor (France) French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm Commander of the Order of Leopold (Belgium) Belgian Croix de guerre 1940–1945 with Palm Grand Officer of the Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg) War Merit Cross (Italy) Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion, 2nd Class Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 Soviet Order of Suvorov, 2nd Class
Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st Award): The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Clarence Ralph Huebner (ASN: 0-4552), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Commanding Officer, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Cantigny, France, May 28-30, 1918. For three days Lieutenant Colonel Huebner withstood German assaults under intense bombardment, heroically exposing himself to fire constantly in order to command his battalion effectively, and although his command lost half its officers and 30 percent of its men, he held his position and prevented a break in the line at that point. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 14 (1920) Distinguished Service Cross Citation (2nd Award) The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Clarence Ralph Huebner (ASN: 0-4552), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Commanding Officer, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, July 18-23, 1918. Lieutenant Colonel Huebner displayed great gallantry, and, after all the officers of his battalion had become casualties, he reorganized his battalion while advancing, captured his objective and again reorganized his own and another battalion, carrying the line forward. He remained continuously on duty until wounded on the second day of the action. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 14 (1920) Silver Star Citation: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain (Infantry) Clarence R. Huebner, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Captain Huebner distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 28th Infantry, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action during the operations connected with the capture and defense of Cantigny, France, 27 to 31 May 1918. Captain Huebner commanding the 2nd Battalion after the death of Lieutenant Colonel Maxey, in the early part of the engagement, changed his P.C. under intense bombardment when his second had become untenable, exercised great coolness and determination and made correct and most important tactical decisions at critical moments and saw that the same were carried out. General Orders: Headquarters, 1st Division, A.E.F., General Orders No. 26 (June 15, 1918)
In Retirement:
On 1 September 1951, Huebner became Director of New York State's Civil Defense Commission, a post he held until January 1961. A strong advocate of the building of fallout shelters, Huebner believed the US population would eventually be forced to live full-time in underground shelters and "would see the sunshine only by taking a calculated risk."
Personal Life:
Huebner married Florence Barret in 1921 and they had one daughter, Mary Juliette. Following Florence's death in 1966, Huebner married Anna Imelda Mathews in 1968. She died in 1974.
Death and Burial: Lieutenant General Clarence Ralph Huebner died in Washington DC, on 23 September 1972. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery with both of his wives.