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First Name: James

Last Name: Rhea

Birthplace: Hamburg, IA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Strawn, TX
Middle Name: C.



Date of Birth: 07 March 1876

Date of Death: 03 August 1927

Rank: Brigadier General

Years Served: 1899-retired
James Cooper Rhea

   
Graduate, U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1899

Engagements:
•  Philippine-American War (1899 - 1902)
•  Boxer Rebellion (1899 - 1901)
•  Occupation of Nicaragua (1912 - 1933)
•  Occupation of Veracruz (1914)
•  World War I (1914 - 1918)

Biography:

James Cooper Rhea

Brigadier General, U. S. Army

Distinguished Service Cross and Distinguished Service Medal

GENERAL ORDERS:
War Department, General Orders No. 120 (1918)
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 Colonel (Cavalry) James Cooper Rhea, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Chief of Staff, 2d Division, A.E.F., near St. Etienne, France, 9 October 1918.
Colonel Rhea, with Lieutenant Le Pelletier de Woillemont, French Army, voluntarily undertook an important reconnaissance under hazardous circumstances during the Masif Blanc Mont operations at a time when accurate information concerning our advanced positions was greatly needed and could not be obtained from other sources. In an automobile, whose conspicuous appearance drew the concentrated fire of enemy artillery and machine-guns, they proceeded one mile across open ground to the town of St. Etienne, where our troops were in contact with the enemy.
Under fire these two officers reconnoitered the front lines, locating the position of the enemy as well as that of the French units on the flank, and returned across the open with complete, reliable, and timely information of the highest military value in subsequent operations.

GENERAL ORDERS:
War Department, General Orders No. 59 (1919)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Cavalry) James Cooper Rhea, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I.
In charge of the Operations Section, and later as Chief of Staff and Brigade Commander of the 2d Division, Colonel Rhea played a conspicuous part in the successful engagements at the St. Mihiel salient, Blanc Mont Ridge, and in the Meuse-Argonne, revealing traits of military knowledge and attainments of a high order.

On 18 December 1918 awarded the French Legion d'Honneur (officier).

On 30 November 1918 awarded the French Croix de Guerre with palm.

On 30 November 1918 awarded the Montenegrin Medaille pour a Bravoure Militaire.



Origin of Nickname/Handle:

Texas WWI Exceptional Gallantry

Honoree ID: 315923   Created by: drjones46

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