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First Name: Edward

Last Name: King

Birthplace: Bridgewater, MA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Middle Name: Leonard



Date of Birth: 05 December 1873

Date of Death: 27 December 1933

Rank: Major General

Years Served:
Edward Leonard King

   
Graduate, U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1896

Engagements:
•  Spanish-American War (1898)
•  Philippine-American War (1899 - 1902)
•  World War I (1914 - 1918)

Biography:

Edward Leonard King
Major General, U.S. Army

Edward Leonard King was born on 5 December 1873 in Bridgewater, MA.

King entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1892. He played at the halfback position for the Army Black Knights football team from 1894-95 and was selected as captain of the team in 1895. Football historian Parke H. Davis later wrote of King: "Of his football days he is remembered as a swift, elusive, crashing and flashing back; courageous, tenacious and chivalrous; a true soldier of the gridiron as he was of the real battle-fields."

After graduating from West Point in 1896, King was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served in the Spanish-American War. He also served as Aide-de-Camp to General Henry W. Lawton. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for service in the Philippines in 1899. The citation with the Distinguished Service Cross stated: "For extraordinary heroism in action near Imus, Cayite Province, Philippine Islands, October 6, 1899, while serving as Captain, United States Cavalry. His great personal bravery in disarming a hostile Filipino saved the life of a brother officer."

In 1903, King returned to West Point and served as the Head Coach of the Army football team for one year. He led the team to a 6-2-1 record in the 1903 college football season. He also served in the Philippine-American War and served again in the Philippines from January 1910 through June 1912.

In July 1916, he was promoted to Major of the Cavalry, and he attended the Army War College from September 1916 to May 1917. Following the U.S. entry into World War I, King was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the National Army. He was the Chief of Staff of the 28th Infantry Division, known as the "Keystoners" at Camp Hancock, GA; he also served during part of its campaign in France. He arrived in Europe in May 1918 and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in June 1918. He participated in the Marne Offensive and counter-offensive starting 15 July 1918, and assumed command of the 65th Infantry Brigade on 31 July 1918. He led the 65th Infantry Brigade in the Battles of the Somme and Meuse-Argonne. He remained with the Army of Occupation in Luxemburg from December 1918 to April 1919 and returned to the U.S. in 1919.

He commanded the U.S. Army Cavalry School at Fort Riley, KS, (1923-25) and from 1925-29, Brigadier General King served as the Commandant of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. King was promoted to Major General in 1931. He died while still on active duty in 1933, commanding the U.S. Army's Fourth Corps.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Honor (France)
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)

Death and Burial

Major General Edward Leonard King died of a heart attack on 27 December 1933 while on a hunt at Fort McPherson, GA. He is buried at the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, NY.



Honoree ID: 2709   Created by: MHOH

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