Francis G. Brink

Francis Gerard Brink (22 August 1893 – 24 June 1952) was a brigadier general in the United States Army who served in World War II. He was the first commander of MAAG Indo-China and was found dead of gunshot wounds in the Pentagon on 24 June 1952.

Francis G. Brink
Brink in uniform, c. 1948
Born(1893-08-22)22 August 1893
Marathon, New York, U.S.
Died24 June 1952(1952-06-24) (aged 58)
The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1917–1952
RankBrigadier General
UnitChina Burma India Theater
South East Asia Command
Commands heldMAAG Indo-China
WarsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Purple Heart

Early life and education

Francis Gerard Brink was born on 22 August 1893 in Marathon, New York.[1] He graduated from Cornell University.[1]

Military career

At the beginning of the Pacific War Brink was serving with the U.S. Army liaison mission in Singapore. He served in the China Burma India Theater and from 1944 to 1945 was chief of operations for South East Asia Command.[1] From 1948 to 1949 he served as chief of the Army Advisory Staff in China and saw the defeat of the Nationalist forces.[2]: 116  In October 1950 he was appointed as the first commander of MAAG Indo-China.[1]

Death

In early June 1952, Brink returned to the U.S. for two weeks of consultation on the situation in Indochina.[1] On the afternoon of 24 June 1952 he was found dead in his office at the Pentagon in an apparent suicide. He had three bullet wounds in his chest and an automatic pistol was found beside him.[1] Brink was reported to have been suffering from depression, diabetes and arteriosclerosis.[2]: 157 

Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General J. Lawton Collins said that, having noted Brink's tired appearance, he had ordered his staff to ensure that Brink rested before returning to Indochina.[1] Acting Secretary of State David K. E. Bruce said that Brink had made a "major contribution" to fighting "Communist aggression" in Indochina.[3] He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[4]

Decorations

Brink's decorations include Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Purple Heart.[1]

References
  1. "Pentagon gunshot fatal to General". The New York Times. 25 June 1952. p. 15.
  2. Clarke, Jeffrey (1993). The U.S. Army in Vietnam Advice and Support: The Early Years, 1941–1960 (PDF). U.S. Army Center of Military History. ISBN 978-0160015915.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Bruce lauds Gen. Brink". The New York Times. 26 June 1952. p. 2.
  4. "Francis G. Brink". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
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