Francis Bowditch Wilby | |
|---|---|
 Francis B. Wilby as a major general | |
| Born | (1883-04-24)April 24, 1883 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | November 20, 1965(1965-11-20) (aged 82) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1905–46 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | Superintendent of the USMA |
| Conflicts | US occupation of Cuba World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit |
| Signature | .png) |
Francis Bowditch Wilby (April 24, 1883 – November 20, 1965) was a major general in theUnited States Army who served as the 39th Superintendent of theUnited States Military Academy from 1942 to 1945, during World War II.
Francis Bowditch Wilby was born on April 24, 1883, inDetroit, Michigan.[1] Raised inDeerfield, Massachusetts, he graduated from theDeerfield Academy.[2] Wilby then attended theUnited States Military Academy atWest Point, New York and graduated third in the Class of 1905.[3] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in theCorps of Engineers on June 13, 1905.
Wilby was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on June 7, 1907, and in September of the same year, he was ordered to theWashington, D.C., where he attended the Engineer School at Washington Barracks (nowFort Lesley J. McNair).
Wilby also served with the United States forces during theUnited States occupation of Cuba between years 1906–1909.
When theU.S. entered World War I in April 1917, Wilby was transferred to France with theAmerican Expeditionary Force. His first assignment with the AEF was as the Instructor of 1st Corps Engineer School inGondrecourt-le-Château. He also attended the French engineer school atChalons-sur-Marne. On March 20, 1918, Wilby was transferred to theChaumont-Porcien Headquarters of theAmerican Expeditionary Force, where he was appointed as Chief of Engineers Intelligence Division in the Office of Chief of Engineers. On September 26, 1918, Wilby was transferred to the1st Division under command of Major GeneralCharles Pelot Summerall, where he was appointed as a Commander of 1st Engineers. Wilby stayed in this capacity until March 14, 1919, where he was ordered back to theUnited States.
For his distinguished service during World War I, Wilby was awarded withArmy Distinguished Service Medal by the Government of the United States and with theCroix de Guerre with Palm of the Government ofFrance.[1]
The official U.S. Army citation for Wilby's Distinguished Service Medal reads:
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Wilby graduated from the School of the Line in 1922, the General Staff School in 1923, and theArmy War College in 1924.[4] He then served on the War Department General Staff from 1924 to 1928.[5]
Wilby was transferred toGovernors Island, New York, where he was appointed as a chief of staff of theFirst United States Army under the command of Lieutenant GeneralHugh A. Drum on October 26, 1939. He was also promoted to the rank ofbrigadier general on October 1, 1940.[6]
In July 1941, Wilby was appointed as the commanding general of the First Corps Area Service Command, just renamed fromFirst Corps Area. Wilby was promoted to the rank ofmajor general on September 29, 1941.[7]
On January 13, 1942, Wilby was selected to be appointed asSuperintendent of the United States Military Academy and stayed in this capacity for the whole of World War II until September 4, 1945.
His last military assignment was atFort Belvoir inFairfax County, Virginia, where he served as a commander of the Engineer school until January 31, 1946, when he finally retired from the Army.[7]
After his retirement from the Army, Wilby was appointed as a chairman of theNew York Power Authority and served in this capacity until 1950. Then he worked as a consultant engineer of the Knappen Tibbetts Abbeit Company until his final retirement in 1952.[7]
Wilby settled inAsheville, North Carolina and died on November 20, 1965, at the age of 82 at the Oteen Veterans' Administration Hospital.[2] He is buried at theUnited States Military Academy Post Cemetery inWest Point, New York, together with his first wife Dorothy Langfitt Wilby (1887–1948).[8] His second wife Olive Logan (Emerson) Payne (1896–1983) was buried beside them after her death.[9]
Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Wilby:
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| Preceded by | Superintendent of the United States Military Academy 1942–45 | Succeeded by |
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