Mount Carmel in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lt. General James M. Gavin

Italy • France • Holland • Belgium

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 13, 2023

1. Lt. General James M. Gavin Marker

Inscription.

Lt. General James M. Gavin. Italy . France . Holland . Belgium. [82d Airborne Division emblem] . [Parachutist Badge] [Army Glider Badge] . [Combat Infantry Badge], Born Brooklyn, N.Y. Mar. 22, 1907 Raised Mt. Carmel, PA. Died Baltimore, MD. Feb. 23, 1990 Buried West Point, N.Y., Etched on the stones of this memorial are the highlights of the life of James Maurice Gavin. A quote from his book "On to Berlin" will illustrate a point that endeared him to the members of his commands:, "There can be no question that the place for the general in battle is where he can see the battle and get the odor of it in his nostrils. By his example he can instill considerable confidence in the troops and elicit from them a desire to perform better. There is no substitute for the general being seen.", Held in high esteem by those who served with him in peace and war, General Gavin has helped write an important chapter in world freedom during the 20^th century., CAREER HIGHLIGHTS. 1924 Enlisted in U.S. Army 1925 Entered U.S. Military Academy 1929 25th Inf. Camp Harry S. Jones AZ. 1933 38th Inf. Fort Sill, OK. 1936 57th Inf. Fort McKinley, Philippines 1938 7th Inf. Vancouver Barracks, WA. 1940 Instructor of Tactics U.S. Military Academy 1941 Paratroop School 1941 Operations Officer Abn. Command 1942 Commander 505th P.I.R. [Parachute Inf Regt] 1943 Abn Advisor to Supreme Commander Eng. 1944 Assistant Div. Commander 82nd Abn. Div. 1944 to 1948 Div. Commander 82nd Abn. 1949 Chief of Staff 5th U.S. Army Chicago 1949 to 1951 Chief of Mil. Std. and Weapons Sys. 1952 Chief of Staff Allied Forces South Europe 1952 Commanding General VII Corps Germany 1954 Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 Dept. of Army 1955 Chief Research and Development Dept. of Army 1958 Retired after 34 years Army service 1958 Exec. Vice Pres. then Pres. Arthur D. Little, Inc. 1961 to 1962 U.S. Ambassador to France 1962 to 1964 President and CEO Arthur D. Little, Inc. 1964 to 1977 Chairman of the Board Arthur D. Little, Inc., DECORATIONS. Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendent [sic] Purple Heart American Defense Service Medal European Campaign Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Star World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation with German Clasp National Defense Service Medal Combat Infantry Badge Parachutist Badge with 4 Stars (4 Combat Jumps) Presidential Unit Citation Belgian Order of the Crown with Palm, Grade of Commander [and] Croix de Guerre with Palm France Legion of Honor, Rank of Grand Officer [and] Croix de Guerre with Palm Great Britain Distinguished Service Order Italy Order of the Crown, Grand Officer Netherlands Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords Grand Officer Holland Dutch Order of William (Awarded to 82nd Abn) Morocco Order of Ouissam Alaouite Cherifien, Grand Officer Russian Order of Alexander Nevsky Belgian Fourragere (Awarded to 82nd Abn) French Fourragere (Awarded to 82nd Abn) Netherland Orange Lanyard, The [sponsors] in the spirit of freedom and democracy proudly honor LTG James M. Gavin the world war two commander of the 82nd Abn Div and his accomplishments as a soldier, author and statesman. May his contributions and accomplishments serve as a beacon for today's youth and for future generations., Dedicated August 10, 1996.

[82d Airborne Division emblem] • [Parachutist Badge]
[Army Glider Badge] • [Combat Infantry Badge]

Born Brooklyn, N.Y. Mar. 22, 1907
Raised Mt. Carmel, PA.
Died Baltimore, MD. Feb. 23, 1990
Buried West Point, N.Y.

Etched on the stones of this memorial are the highlights of the life of James Maurice Gavin. A quote from his book "On to Berlin" will illustrate a point that endeared him to the members of his commands:

"There can be no question that the place for the general in battle is where he can see the battle and get the odor of it in his nostrils. By his example he can instill considerable confidence in the troops and elicit from them a desire to perform better. There is no substitute for the general being seen."

Held in high esteem by those who served with him in peace and war, General Gavin has helped write an important chapter in world freedom during the 20^th century.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1924 Enlisted in U.S. Army
1925 Entered U.S. Military Academy
1929 25th Inf. Camp Harry S. Jones AZ.
1933 38th Inf. Fort Sill, OK.
1936 57th Inf. Fort McKinley, Philippines
1938 7th Inf. Vancouver Barracks, WA.
1940 Instructor of Tactics U.S. Military Academy
1941 Paratroop School
1941 Operations Officer

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Abn. Command
1942 Commander 505th P.I.R. [Parachute Inf Regt]
1943 Abn Advisor to Supreme Commander Eng.
1944 Assistant Div. Commander 82nd Abn. Div.
1944 to 1948 Div. Commander 82nd Abn.
1949 Chief of Staff 5th U.S. Army Chicago
1949 to 1951 Chief of Mil. Std. and Weapons Sys.
1952 Chief of Staff Allied Forces South Europe
1952 Commanding General VII Corps Germany
1954 Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 Dept. of Army
1955 Chief Research and Development Dept. of Army
1958 Retired after 34 years Army service
1958 Exec. Vice Pres. then Pres. Arthur D. Little, Inc.
1961 to 1962 U.S. Ambassador to France
1962 to 1964 President and CEO Arthur D. Little, Inc.
1964 to 1977 Chairman of the Board Arthur D. Little, Inc.

DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendent [sic]
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
European Campaign Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation with German Clasp
National Defense Service Medal
Combat Infantry Badge
Parachutist Badge with 4 Stars (4 Combat Jumps)
Presidential Unit Citation
Belgian

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 13, 2023

2. Lt. General James M. Gavin Marker

Order of the Crown with Palm, Grade of Commander
[and] Croix de Guerre with Palm
France Legion of Honor, Rank of Grand Officer
[and] Croix de Guerre with Palm
Great Britain Distinguished Service Order
Italy Order of the Crown, Grand Officer
Netherlands Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords
Grand Officer
Holland Dutch Order of William (Awarded to 82nd Abn)
Morocco Order of Ouissam Alaouite Cherifien, Grand Officer
Russian Order of Alexander Nevsky
Belgian Fourragere (Awarded to 82nd Abn)
French Fourragere (Awarded to 82nd Abn)
Netherland Orange Lanyard

The [sponsors] in the spirit of freedom and democracy proudly honor
LTG James M. Gavin the WWII commander of the 82nd Abn Div and his
accomplishments as a soldier, author and statesman. May his contributions
and accomplishments serve as a beacon for today's youth and for future generations.

Dedicated August 10, 1996

Erected 1996 by 82nd Abn Div Assn-Central Penn Chapter, American Legion Post 91, People of Mount Carmel, and Others.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Cold • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Medal series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 10, 1996.

Location.

LTG James M. Gavin Marker - Career image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 13, 2023

3. LTG James M. Gavin Marker - Career

40° 47.884′ N, 76° 24.821′ W. Marker is in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, in Northumberland County. Memorial is at the intersection of 2nd Street and Oak Street, on the right when traveling west on 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19 West 2nd Street, Mount Carmel PA 17851, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. War Memorial (here, next to this marker); World War II Memorial (here, next to this marker); Korean War Memorial (here, next to this marker); Vietnam War Memorial (here, next to this marker); Persian Gulf War Memorial (here, next to this marker); P.O.W. and M.I.A. Memorial (here, next to this marker); Gen. James M. Gavin (1907-1990) (a few steps from this marker); St. John the Baptist Church World War II Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Carmel.

Also see . . .
1. LTG James Maurice Gavin. (Submitted on September 22, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. James M. Gavin: A Legend and a Leader (USO). (Submitted on September 22, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. LTG James M. Gavin: Theory and Influence (Gavin, 2012). (Submitted on September 22, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

LTG James M. Gavin Marker - Decorations image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 13, 2023

4. LTG James M. Gavin Marker - Decorations

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 22, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.