Fred Winchester Sladen

Fred Winchester Sladen (November 24, 1867 – July 10, 1945) was career United States Army officer who rose to the rank of major general and became Superintendent of the United States Military Academy.[1] He was a son of English-born Joseph A. Sladen (1841-1911) and Martha F. Winchester. The elder Sladen met with Cochise in the company of General Oliver Otis Howard, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in the American Civil War.[2]

Fred Winchester Sladen
Fred W. Sladen
Born(1867-02-22)February 22, 1867
Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJuly 10, 1945(1945-07-10) (aged 78)
New London, New Hampshire, U.S.
Buried
West Point Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1890–1931
Rank Major General
Service number0-78
Commands heldSuperintendent of the United States Military Academy
Philippine Department
Battles/warsPhilippine–American War
World War I
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal
Croix de Guerre

Early life

Sladen was born on November 24, 1867 in Lowell, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph Alton Sladen and Martha (Winchester) Sladen.[3]

Education

Sladen received his appointment to the US Military Academy from the State of Nebraska, graduating 27th out of 54 in his class of 1890.[1][4]

Military career

Sladen began his military career commissioned an officer in the Infantry branch upon graduating from the US Military Academy. From 1911 to 1914 he was commandant of cadets.

During World War I, Sladen served as commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade, part of the Third Infantry Division.[3] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal for his wartime service. On October 14, 1918, learning that his brigade's advance had stalled near Ferme de la Madeleine, France, Sladen proceeded three kilometers to the front lines under heavy enemy fire to investigate. Discovering that the battalion commander had been killed, he took direct command himself and was able to resume the attack.[5]

General John J. Pershing, Major General Beaumont B. Buck, and Brigadier General Fred W. Sladen inspecting the Guard of Honor of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division, Vaucouleurs, France, 1918.

He served in the army until his retirement on November 30, 1931. He achieved the rank of major general and was the 32nd superintendent of US Military Academy from 1922 to 1926.[4] He later served as superintendent of Fort McHenry from 1931 to 1932.[6]

Personal life

Sladen married Ms. Elizabeth Lefferts of New York City on October 8, 1903 at the Church of the Holy Incarnation on Madison Avenue. One of Sladen's groomsmen was another future West Point Superintendent, William D. Connor.[7] Their son Fred Winchester Sladen Jr. was a West Point graduate and decorated battalion commander during World War II who retired as a brigadier general.[8]

Death

Sladen died in New London, New Hampshire on July 10, 1945.[1][3]

References
  1. "Gen. Sladen Dead. Headed West Point. Succeeded MacArthur in 1922. Led Brigade in France During Battles of 1918". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 11, 1945. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  2. Sweeney, Edward R (2008). Making Peace with Cochise: the 1872 Journal of Captain Joseph Alton Sladen. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. xii. ISBN 978-0-8061-2973-0.
  3. Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 336–337. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  4. "Special Collections: Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy" (PDF). United States Military Academy Library. 1950. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
  5. "Valor awards for Fred Winchester Sladen". Military Times.
  6. "Historic Listing of National Park Service Officials". National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  7. "A Day's Weddings" (PDF). The New York Times. October 9, 1903.
  8. "Class of 1929—Register of Graduates". Register of Graduates and Former Cadets 1802–1971 of the United States Military Academy. The West Point Alumni Foundation Inc. 1971. p. 406. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
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