Publish Date 
Written by Clarence R. Huebner was one of the outstanding combat leaders in the history of the Army.
A Kansas farm boy who spent almost seven years serving from Private to Sergeant in the 18th Infantry, Huebner received a regular commission in November 1916. During World War I, he successfully led a company, battalion, and regiment of the lst Infantry Division-the “Big Red One”-from the first American regimental assault at Cantigny through Soissons, Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. For his outstanding service in this war, he received two Distinguished Service Crosses, a Distinguished Service Medal, and a Silver Star.
In 1924, he attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth and served on its faculty from 1929 to 1933.
As the distinguished commander of the “Big Red One” in World War II, Huebner led the invasion at Omaha Beach, forged the breakout at Saint-Lo, repelled the German counteroffensive at Mortain, and pursued the German Army across France, which culminated in the Battles of Aachen and the Huertgen Forest.
In January 1945, he took command of the V Corps, which he directed from the Rhine to the Elbe, where his troops made the first contact with the Red Army.
Although Lieutenant General Huebner was known as a student of military arts and science, a trainer of troops, and the commanding general of U.S. Army, Europe, it is as a commander of troops in battle that he should be remembered.
Clarence Ralph Huebner
- Lieutenant General, US. Army
- Born in Bushton, Kansas November 24, 1888
- Died in Washington D.C. September 23, 1972
- Son of Samuel G. and Martha (Richel) Huebner
- Married Florence Barrett February 28, 1921
- One daughter Mary Juliette
- Married 2nd Anna Imelda Matthews October 19, 1968
- Enlisted service with 18th Infantry Regiment 1910-16
- 2nd Lieutenant 1916
- 1st Lieutenant 1916
- Captain 1917
- Major (NA) 1918
- Lieutenant Colonel (NA) 1918
- Major 1927
- Lieutenant Colonel 1938
- Colonel (AUS) 1941
- Brigadier General 1942
- Major General 1943
- Lieutenant General 1947
- Instructor, Infantry School 1920-22
- Student, Infantry School 1922-23
- Student, Command & General Staff School 1924-25
- Instructor, Infantry School 1925-28
- Student, Army War College 1928-29
- Instructor, Command & General Staff School 1929-33
- Served with Office of Chief of Infantry 1934-38
- Served with 19th Infantry Regiment, Hawaii 1939-40
- Chief of Training Branch, Army General Staff 1940-42
- Director of Training, Service of Supply 1942-43
- Commandant, Infantry Replacement Center 1943
- Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division 1943-44
- Acting Commanding General, V Corps 1944
- Commanding General, V Corps 1944-45
- Assistant Army Chief of Staff G-3 (Operations & Training) 1945-46
- Chief of Staff, US. European Command 1946-49 Deputy
- Commander-in-Chief, US. European Command 1947-50 Acting Military
- Governor of Germany 1949 Acting Commander-in-Chief, US. European
- Command 1949-50 Ret. 1950
DSC – DSM – Silver Star – Legion of Merit – Bronze Star – Purple Heart
Clarence Ralph, Lieutenant General
- (1888-1972) 1940 – 1942 Director Training Branch, War Department General Staff
- 1942 – 1943 Director of Training, Services of Supply
- 1943 – 1944 Commanding General 1st Division, Sicily-North-West Europe
- 1945 Commanding General V Corps, North-West Europe
- 1946 – 1947 Chief of Staff US Forces US European Theater of Operations
- 1947 – 1950 Deputy Commander in Chief US European Command
- 1950 Retired
HUEBNER, CLARENCE RALPH
- Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
- 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F.
- Date of Action: May 28 – 30, 1918
- General Orders No. No. 14, W.D., 1920
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clarence Ralph Huebner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Cantigny, France, May 28 – 30, 1918.
For three days Lieutenant Colonel Huebner withstood German assaults under intense bombardment, heroically exposing himself to fire constantly in order to command his battalion effectively, and although his command lost half its officers and 30 per cent of its men, he held his position and prevented a break in the line at that point.
HUEBNER, CLARENCE RALPH
- Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
- 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F.
- Date of Action: July 18 – 23, 1918
- General Orders No. No. 14, W.D., 1920
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clarence Ralph Huebner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 18 – 23, 1918.
Lieutenant Colonel Huebner displayed great gallantry, and, after all the officers of his battalion had become casualties, he reorganized his battalion while advancing, captured his objective and again reorganized his own and another battalion, carrying the line forward. He remained continuously on duty until wounded on the second day of the action.
HUEBNER, FLORENCE BARRETT W/O CLARENCE RALPH
- DATE OF BIRTH: 07/28/1890
- DATE OF DEATH: 09/05/1966
- DATE OF INTERMENT: 09/09/1966
- BURIED AT: SECTION 6 SITE 5695-B
- ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
- WIFE OF CR HUEBNER – LG USA
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard