John Huston Church – Major General, United States Army

John Huston Church (1892-1953)

Born in Glen Iron, Pennsylvania on June 28, 1892.

Attended New York University 1915-1917. Commissioned in the Infantry in 1917. Served with the 28th Infantry, American Expeditionary Force at Cantigny, Montdidier-Noyon, Aisne-Marne and Muese-Argonne in 1918.

Aide-de-camp to Brigadier General F.C. Marshall in 1920. Instructor with the Maryland National Guard 1922-1926 and again 1929-1933. Duty in the Philippine Islands 1933-1936. Graduated from Command and General Staff School in 1937. Instructor with the Arizona National Guard 1938-1940.

Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, then Chief of Staff at 45th Division October 1940-September 1943. Commanding Officer of 157th Infantry 1943-1944. Assistant Division Commander of 45th Infantry Division, then 84th Infantry Division August 1944-January 1946. Brigadier General in August 1944.

Assignments after the war included Commanding General of 24th Infantry Division in the Korean War in 1950 and Commanding General of the Infantry Center, Fort Benning 1951-1952. Retired in June 1952. Decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit and three Purple Hearts.

Died on November 4, 1953.


CHURCH, JOHN H.

Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: May 28 – 31, 1918
General Orders No. 99, W.D., 1918

Citation:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John H. Church, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Cantigny, France, May 28 – 31, 1918.

Knocked down and rendered unconscious by the explosion of a shell early in the attack, Second Lieutenant Church staggered forward as soon as he regained consciousness and insisted upon resuming command, thereby giving a striking example of fortitude to him men.

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