Chatfield in Navarro County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr.

(Jan. 9, 1895 - Sep. 12, 1965)

Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, February 27, 2023

1. General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. Marker

Inscription.

General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr.. (Jan. 9, 1895 - Sep. 12, 1965). , Chatfield native Lucian King Truscott, Jr. rose through the ranks of the U.S. Army to serve in World War II and the Cold War with distinction. He is the only American officer in World War II to command in battle a regiment, a division, a corps, and a field army. His leadership proved essential to victory. , As World War I raged in Europe, Truscott harbored a secret ambition to obtain a commission in the U.S. Army. He did not see overseas duty in France, but instead was assigned to the 17th Cavalry on the Mexican border. His years between the World Wars were typical for Army officers, involving transfers to various posts and continued military education. , Truscott's first World War II assignment was to the British Isles to study amphibious landings on a hostile shore. Here, he created the first unit of army rangers. He saw his first major action in the failed August 19, 1942, allied raid on the fortified French port of Dieppe. Next he was selected to command one of Maj. Gen. George S. Patton's task forces in North Africa. Here he excelled and within four months he was given command of the 3rd Infantry Division and prepared them for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily (July 1943). Major General Truscott's 3rd Division fought hard in Italy and by spring 1944, he was moved up to command of the U.S. VI Corps and planned the allied amphibious invasion of southern France in August 1944. By November 1944 he earned command of the Fifth U.S. Army in Italy and participated in the 1945 spring offensive that was instrumental in compelling German forces to surrender. At war's end, he was assigned command of the Third U.S. Army and the military district of Bavaria, with administrative responsibility for the Nuremburg trials in 1945-1946. , After army retirement, in 1951 he served the C.I.A. in West Germany, coordinating the collection of intelligence on the Soviet Union. During his years with the CIA, he was promoted to general, retiring in 1959.

Chatfield native Lucian King Truscott, Jr. rose through the ranks of the U.S. Army to serve in World War II and the Cold War with distinction. He is the only American officer in World War II to command in battle a regiment, a division, a corps, and a field army. His leadership proved essential to victory.

As World War I raged in Europe, Truscott harbored a secret ambition to obtain a commission in the U.S. Army. He did not see overseas duty in France, but instead was assigned to the 17th Cavalry on the Mexican border. His years between the World Wars were typical for Army officers, involving transfers to various posts and continued military education.

Truscott's first World War II assignment was to the British Isles to study amphibious landings on a hostile shore. Here, he created the first unit of army rangers. He saw his first major action in the failed August 19, 1942, allied raid on the fortified French port of Dieppe. Next he was selected to command one of Maj. Gen. George S. Patton's task forces in North Africa. Here he excelled and within four months he was given command of the 3rd Infantry Division and prepared them for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily (July 1943). Major General Truscott's 3rd Division fought hard in Italy and by spring 1944, he was moved up to command of the U.S. VI Corps

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and planned the allied amphibious invasion of southern France in August 1944. By November 1944 he earned command of the Fifth U.S. Army in Italy and participated in the 1945 spring offensive that was instrumental in compelling German forces to surrender. At war's end, he was assigned command of the Third U.S. Army and the military district of Bavaria, with administrative responsibility for the Nuremburg trials in 1945-1946.

After army retirement, in 1951 he served the C.I.A. in West Germany, coordinating the collection of intelligence on the Soviet Union. During his years with the CIA, he was promoted to general, retiring in 1959.

Erected 2011 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17012.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military.

Location. 32° 14.44′ N, 96° 24.686′ W. Marker is in Chatfield, Texas, in Navarro County. Marker is at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 1603 and Rice Road on Route 1603. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4891 FM 1603, Chatfield TX 75105, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Francis Marion Martin (here, next to this marker); Baptist General Association of Texas (here, next to this marker); Chatfield United Methodist Church

Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, February 27, 2023

2. General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. Marker

This marker is the first marker on the left. The Francis Marion Martin and Baptist General Association of Texas markers are next to it.

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Rice Cemetery (approx. 5 miles away); Rice (approx. 5.1 miles away); First Baptist Church of Rice (approx. 5.1 miles away); Haynes Memorial Methodist Church (approx. 5.1 miles away); The Fortson Family (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chatfield.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.