Fort Gregg-Adams in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

General Brehon Burke Somervell

1892 - 1955

Photographed by James Hulse, October 6, 2023

1. General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker

Inscription.

General Brehon Burke Somervell. The impossible we do at once, the miraculous takes a little longer.. Panel 2 Early Years Brerhon Burke Somervell was born on May 9, 1892, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was the only child of William Taylor Somervell, a physician, and his wife Mary Burke, a schoolteacher. In 1910, Somervell was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated 6th in his class in 1914. General Somervell served his country in the Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, World War II, and a variety of civilian arenas. As head of the Works Progress Administration in New York City, he won recognition for his effective management style and at times employed 203,000 workers. Somervell was next put in charge of the Army's enormous camp building program, helping the nation prepare for World War II by overseeing the construction of training camps and munitions plants in record time.. Panel 3 Building The Pentagon By the summer of 1941, the War Department work force in Washington, D.C., numbered more than 24,000, and more office space was needed. Building temporary structures was considered, but Somervell had another vision. On Thursday, July 17, 1941, he summoned LTC Hugh Casey and civilian architect George Bergstrom, and told them that by Monday morning he wanted basic plans for an office building to house 40,000 workers. The plan was delivered on Monday and approved by the War Department Staff. Somervell presented the plan to Congress on the following day for funding. Construction began on September 11, 1941, and was completed on January 15, 1943. Taking only 16 months to complete, the Pentagon covers 29 acres and has 17.5 miles of hallways.. Panel 4 World War II As the G-4 on the War Department General Staff, General Somervell campaigned for a comprehensive Army Supply Program, which came to fruition only 30 days after his appointment. With a reorganized War Department, General Somervell became Commander of the newly created Army Service Forces, a streamlined supply and service branch. As principal logistical advisor to the War Department, General Somervell played a vital role in the mobilization and global sustainment of forces. The energy and ability he applied to his task contributed in great measure to the force of our attack and the speed of the allied victory. General Somervell retired from the Army after 32 years of service. His awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster.. Panel 5 U.S. Army Logistics Support Vessel (LSV-3) General Brehon B. Somervell Designed to transport and discharge cargo to shallow terminal areas and remote underdeveloped coastlines or inland waterways, the LSV can transport roll-on/roll-off and containerized cargo for unit deployment and relocation. The ship does not require external cranes or port facilities., Builder: VT Halter Marine, Gulfport, MS Acquired: September 19, 1987 Displacement: 4,266 tons Length: 273 feet (83 m) Beam: 60 feet (18 m) Draft: 12 feet (3.7 m) Beaching draught, fore and aft: 4 feet Speed: 12.5 knots (light)/11.5 knots (loaded) Propulsion: Twin diesel engines at 1,950 hp each Range: 8,200 NM (light)/6,500 NM (loaded) Complement: 6 officers, 23 enlisted.

The impossible we do at once, the miraculous takes a little longer.
Panel 2
Early Years
Brerhon Burke Somervell was born on May 9, 1892, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was the only child of William Taylor Somervell, a physician, and his wife Mary Burke, a schoolteacher. In 1910, Somervell was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated 6th in his class in 1914. General Somervell served his country in the Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, World War II, and a variety of civilian arenas. As head of the Works Progress Administration in New York City, he won recognition for his effective management style and at times employed 203,000 workers. Somervell was next put in charge of the Army's enormous camp building program, helping the nation prepare for World War II by overseeing the construction of training camps and munitions plants in record time.
Panel 3
Building The Pentagon
By the summer of 1941, the War Department work force in Washington, D.C., numbered more than 24,000, and more office space was needed. Building temporary structures was considered, but Somervell had another vision. On Thursday, July 17, 1941, he summoned LTC Hugh Casey and civilian architect George Bergstrom,

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and told them that by Monday morning he wanted basic plans for an office building to house 40,000 workers. The plan was delivered on Monday and approved by the War Department Staff. Somervell presented the plan to Congress on the following day for funding. Construction began on September 11, 1941, and was completed on January 15, 1943. Taking only 16 months to complete, the Pentagon covers 29 acres and has 17.5 miles of hallways.
Panel 4
World War II
As the G-4 on the War Department General Staff, General Somervell campaigned for a comprehensive Army Supply Program, which came to fruition only 30 days after his appointment. With a reorganized War Department, General Somervell became Commander of the newly created Army Service Forces, a streamlined supply and service branch. As principal logistical advisor to the War Department, General Somervell played a vital role in the mobilization and global sustainment of forces. The energy and ability he applied to his task contributed in great measure to the force of our attack and the speed of the allied victory. General Somervell retired from the Army after 32 years of service. His awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster.
Panel 5
U.S. Army

General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker - Panel 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 6, 2023

2. General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker - Panel 2

Logistics Support Vessel (LSV-3)
General
Brehon B. Somervell
Designed to transport and discharge cargo to shallow terminal areas and remote underdeveloped coastlines or inland waterways, the LSV can transport roll-on/roll-off and containerized cargo for unit deployment and relocation. The ship does not require external cranes or port facilities.

Builder: VT Halter Marine, Gulfport, MS
Acquired: September 19, 1987
Displacement: 4,266 tons
Length: 273 feet (83 m)
Beam: 60 feet (18 m)
Draft: 12 feet (3.7 m)
Beaching draught, fore & aft: 4 feet
Speed: 12.5 knots (light)/11.5 knots (loaded)
Propulsion: Twin diesel engines at 1,950 hp each
Range: 8,200 NM (light)/6,500 NM (loaded)
Complement: 6 officers, 23 enlisted

Erected by U.S. Army.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Medal series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 15, 1943.

Location. 37° 13.399′ N, 77° 20.763′ W. Marker is in Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, in Prince George County. It can be reached from the intersection

General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker - Panel 3 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 6, 2023

3. General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker - Panel 3

of Quarters Road and Jessup Street. The marker is located on Fort Gregg-Adams, an active U.S. military installation. Appropriate identification is required for access for Fort Gregg-Adams. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 562 Quarters Rd, Fort Lee VA 23801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of U.S. Military Railroad (approx. ¼ mile away); To The Unknown Confederate Dead (approx. half a mile away); The United States Military Railroad (approx. half a mile away); Spring Used By The 209th Regt. Penn Vols. (approx. half a mile away); Fort Gregg-Adams' Oldest Building (approx. 0.7 miles away); U.S. Colored Troops (approx. 0.8 miles away); Monotonous Toil (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Infantry Earthworks (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Gregg-Adams.

Other markers no longer nearby. Prince George Court House Road (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been permanently removed); Infantry Earthworks (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. Fort Lee redesignated as Fort Gregg-Adams

Also see . . .
1. Brehon B. Somervell. Wikipedia

Brehon Burke Somervell (9 May 1892 – 13 February 1955) was a general in the United
Photographed by James Hulse, October 6, 2023

4. General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker - Panel 4
States Army and Commanding General of the Army Service Forces in World War II. As such he was responsible for the U.S. Army's logistics. Following his death, The Washington Post lauded him as "one of the ablest officers the United States Army has produced".

(Submitted on October 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. USAV General Brehon B. Somervell. Wikipedia (Submitted on October 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker - Panel 5 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 6, 2023

5. General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker - Panel 5

The view of the General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker at the Army Sustainment University image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 6, 2023

6. The view of the General Brehon Burke Somervell Marker at the Army Sustainment University

General Brehon Burke Somervell image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - U.S. Army

7. General Brehon Burke Somervell

Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 493 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.