While in command of three widely separate platoons of the 4th Infantry, 3rd Division, in the Boise-des-Nesles, on the night of July 14, 1918, Second Lieutenant Bolling earned the Distinguished Service Cross by continually exposing himself to heavy gas and shell fire by going from one platoon to another.

He commanded the 84th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.

He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1952 and assumed command of the Third U.S. Army. 

LTG Bolling's awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal with Cluster, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. He was the recipient of numerous foreign decorations and awards.

Upon his retirement in 1955 he made his home in Satellite Beach, Florida. LTG Bolling died on June 4, 1964 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Alexander Russell Bolling was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 28 August 1895. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1917. He was a student at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1915-1916. He graduated from the Infantry School in 1933 and from the Command and General Staff Course in 1935. In 1938 he graduated from the Army War College.

While in command of three widely separate platoons of the 4th Infantry, 3rd Division, in the Boise-des-Nesles, on the night of July 14, 1918, Second Lieutenant Bolling earned the Distinguished Service Cross by continually exposing himself to heavy gas and shell fire by going from one platoon to another.

         He commanded the 84th Infantry Division in the European Theater of  Operations during World War II.

He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1952 and assumed command of the Third U.S. Army. 

LTG Bolling's awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal with Cluster, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. He was the recipient of numerous foreign decorations and awards.

Upon his retirement in 1955 he made his home in Satellite Beach, Florida. LTG Bolling died on June 4, 1964 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alexander R. Bolling, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in Bois-de-Nesles, France, July 14 - 15, 1918.

While in command of three widely separated platoons in the Bois-de-Nesles, on the night of July 14-15, Lieutenant Boiling continually exposed himself to very heavy gas and shell fire by going from one platoon to another.

BOLLING, JOSEPHINE H
DATE OF BIRTH: 05/23/1884
DATE OF DEATH: 08/23/1987
BURIED AT: SECTION 3  SITE 1393-B
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

NOTE: His son, Alexander Russell Bolling, Jr., also went on to become an Army General.

Courtesy of Russell C. Jacobs: June 2007

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