Julius Ochs Adler

Major General, U.S. Army

Julius Ochs Adler was born on 3 December 1892 in Chattanooga, TN, the son of Harry Clay and Ada Ochs Adler. The nephew of New York Times founder, Adolph Ochs, Julius was mentored by his uncle, and attended Princeton University. After graduating from Princeton University in 1914 he was employed by The New York Times.

Adler was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in April 1917. He was promoted to Captain in August 1917 and served as a Company Commander ("Company H") in the 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, on the Western Front. There he saw action in the Lorraine, Aisne-Marne, Vesle and Meuse-Argonne Offensives and was one of many soldiers to be victimized by German mustard gas. Adler, by then a Major, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions at St. Juvin on 14 October 1918.

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Infantry) Julius O. Adler, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., at St. Juvin, France, 14 October 1918. Accompanied by another officer, Major Adler was supervising the work of clearing the enemy from St. Juvin where they suddenly came upon a party of the enemy numbering 150. Firing on the enemy with his pistol, Major Adler ran toward the party, calling on them to surrender. His bravery and good marksmanship resulted in the capture of 50 Germans, and the remainder fled.

Post-World War I

Adler returned to The New York Times in May 1919 and served as Vice President and Treasurer. He became General Manager of The New York Times in 1935 after the death of his uncle, Adolph Ochs. He was also President and Publisher of The Chattanooga Times.

Because he received promotions to Lieutenant Colonel in 1923 and to Colonel in 1930 in the Army Reserve, Adler was reactivated in October 1940 to serve as Commander of the 113th Infantry Regiment, 44th Division, at Fort Dix, NJ. After his promotion to Brigadier General in July 1941, in September 1941 he was assigned as Assistant Divisional Commander, 6th Infantry Division. Adler was relieved from duty on 17 November 1944 because of illness.

In 1945, after the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in Germany, he was one of eighteen newspaper executives invited by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to visit and tour the facilities, and he wrote a series of articles in the "Times" detailing his experiences and feelings (which were made all the more poignant because he was Jewish).

He served as Commanding General of the 77th Division (Army Reserve) from November 1946 into 1948, receiving promotion to Major General on 24 January 1948. He was President of the Senior Army Reserve Commanders Association, 1949-1951.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
World War I Victory Medal
French Legion of Honor
Croix de Guerre with Palm

Personal

Adler married Barbara Stettheimer in 1922. They had two daughters and a son.

Death and Burial

Major General Julius Ochs Adler died on 3 October 1955. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

His headstone contains the following inscription:

As a gallant leader in combat and as an esteemed advisor in high office, you have splendidly earned the great honor of being known as a 'Soldier's Soldier.'

Dwight D. Eisenhower
October 5 1954.