Edward J. Stackpole

Stackpole as a captain in 1918

In May 1917, Stackpole received his army commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry and completed his initial officer's training at Madison Barracks, New York.[12] He was promoted to captain in August 1917.[13] The Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Division undertook mobilization and training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and Camp Hancock, Georgia, and Stackpole served on the division staff as bayonet training officer.[14][15]

Stackpole was later assigned to command the 28th Division's Company M, 110th Infantry Regiment.[16] He took part in several campaigns, including Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, and Meuse-Argonne.[17] Stackpole was slightly wounded on August 2, 1918, and severely wounded in the back and leg on August 24.[18] On September 5, he was medically evacuated to Paris to recuperate, and he returned to the United States in December 1918.[18][19] For his heroism, he received three awards of the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, which was later upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross.[20][21]

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 Captain (Infantry) Edward J. Stackpole, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, A.E.F., near Baslieux, France, 24 August 1918. Directed to advance to a new position, Captain Stackpole led his men forward with great gallantry. Although painfully wounded in the back and leg by shell fragments, he remained on duty with his men, inspiring them by his courage and coolness to hold a difficult position against repeated attacks by the enemy in force for a period of twenty-four hours.

Service: Army Rank: Captain Orders: War Department, General Orders 71 (1919)[22]

Stackpole commanding 56th Brigade, 28th Infantry Division during 1941 U.S. Army maneuvers

After recovering from his wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Stackpole was discharged from active duty in January 1921.[1] He resumed his National Guard career, and in 1920 was commissioned as a colonel and assigned to command the 8th Infantry Regiment.[23] In 1922, the regiment was reorganized as the 104th Cavalry.[24] Stackpole attended the Cavalry School Officers' Course in 1928.[1] In June 1933, he was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 52nd Cavalry Brigade.[1][25] In February 1940, he was promoted to major general and assigned to command the 22nd Cavalry Division.[1][26]

When the United States determined that cavalry divisions would not be employed during World War II, in January 1941 Stackpole accepted reduction in rank to brigadier general and assignment as commander of the 56th Infantry Brigade.[1][27] The triangular division organization the army fielded for the war did not require brigade headquarters, so in 1942, Stackpole was assigned to the Caribbean Defense Command. He was subsequently appointed to lead the Panama Security Command (PSC).[28] The PSC protected the Panama Canal by constructing, manning, and managing several early warning stations on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the canal in order to guard against an attack by the Axis powers.[28]

In March 1943, Stackpole was assigned to special duty with the general staff at the War Department, and he was subsequently named chairman of the War Department Manpower Board's Seventh Section in Omaha, Nebraska.[28] The War Department Manpower Board was responsible for personnel needs during the war, including balancing requirements for uniformed military members and civilian workers to handle production of wartime materiel.[28] In addition, the board made policy recommendations for the return of discharged service members to the post-war work force.[28] Stackpole remained on active duty until December 1945.[1] He received the Legion of Merit to commend his wartime service.[28]

In March 1946, Stackpole was assigned to command the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division.[29] Promoted again to major general, Stackpole led the division during its post-World War II reorganization.[30] With the creation of the Air National Guard after World War II, the National Guard was reorganized into the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.[30] The National Guard in each state restructured in order to field the new component, and in May 1947, Stackpole was appointed to command the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.[30] In July 1947, he retired from the military.[31] His service to the Pennsylvania National Guard was recognized with award of the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal, and in 1956 his commendable service to the National Guard was further recognized when he was promoted to lieutenant general on Pennsylvania's retired list.[32][33]

Stackpole was president of the Telegraph Press, which published the Harrisburg Telegraph.[34] In addition, he was president of a book publishing firm, the Stackpole Company.[34] His publishing ventures also included serving as president of the Military Service Publishing Company, which published military training manuals and textbooks.[34] Stackpole was also a director of American Aviation Publications, and served as the company's secretary-treasurer.[34]

Stackpole was the longtime president of Harrisburg's WHP Radio.[34] In addition, he served on the board of directors of the Harrisburg Trust Company, Harrisburg Hotel Company, and Penn-Harris Hotel Company.[34]

Stackpole was an author and lecturer who specialized in the history of the American Civil War. Among his published works were:[35]

• Chancellorsville: Lee's Greatest Battle
• They Met at Gettysburg
• Drama on the Rappahannock: The Fredericksburg Campaign
• From Cedar Mountain to Antietam
• Sheridan in the Shenandoah: Jubal Early's Nemesis

Stackpole's work as an author and historian was recognized in 1961 when he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature from Gettysburg College.[36]

Stackpole served as president of the board of trustees for the Pennsylvania School for Children of Veterans.[34] In addition, he was a member of the board of directors for the Harrisburg Hospital and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce.[34] He was also a Freemason and a member of the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg.[34]

Stackpole served as treasurer of the Pennsylvania National Guard Association for three terms after World War I, and in 1929 was elected the association's president.[37][38] He was also an active member of the American Legion,[39] Legion of Valor,[40] and Veterans of Foreign Wars.[41] In addition to his civic memberships, Stackpole was a member of Harrisburg's University Club,[42] the Harrisburg Club,[43] and the Country Club of Harrisburg.[44]