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First Name: John

Last Name: Uncles

Birthplace: Chillicothe, MO, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Middle Name: Francis



Date of Birth: 18 September 1898

Date of Death: 20 January 1967

Rank: Lieutenant General

Years Served: 1917 - 1958
John Francis Uncles

   
Graduate, U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1922

Engagements:
•  World War I (1914 - 1918)
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

John Francis Uncles
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army

John Francis Uncles was born on 18 September 1898 in Chillicothe, MO, and his family moved to Kansas City, MO, when he was six. He was educated at St. Vincent's Parochial School and De La Salle Academy, graduating with special honors in 1916. He also received the Bishop's Medal for finishing with first honors in the Literary-Scientific Course.

In May 1917, he enlisted as a Private in the Missouri National Guard, in the Second Missouri Field Artillery. In May 1918, Uncles was assigned to the unit that was federalized as Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, and he served in France under Battery Commander Harry S. Truman. In France, his unit participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest); in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel; and in other actions. His regiment was twice cited for bravery.

Uncles' record attracted the attention of the officers in his unit and, immediately after the Argonne Forest Battle; he was called before the division's commanding general. He was informed that he and five others had been selected to take an examination for possible admission to the U.S. Military Academy. Uncles passed the examination and returned to the U.S. where he entered West Point on 17 November 1918. Upon his graduation with the class of 1922, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery.

Uncles graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Course in '27; he was also promoted to First Lieutenant on 19 March of that year. During the years 1930-34, Uncles was a Philosophy Instructor at West Point. He served with the 11th Field Artillery Regiment in Hawaii from 1934 to 1937, and, on 1 August 1935, was promoted to Captain. He graduated from the Command & General Staff College in 1938 and was assigned as an Instructor in the Department of Tactics & Communications at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK. He served in that assignment until 1940 and was promoted to Major on 1 July.

Uncles served as Assistant Personnel Officer, G-1, in the office of the Chief of Field Artillery from 1940-42. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1 January 1942. Uncles was assigned as Assistant Personnel Officer, G-1, at Headquarters, Army Ground Forces in '42; he also received a promotion to Colonel on 17 July.

In 1943, Uncles was assigned to the staff of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill and later that year he attended the New Division Officers Course, also at Fort Sill. At the end of 1943, he was assigned as Commander of the 404th Field Artillery Group. On 24 August 1944, Uncles received the single star of a Brigadier General (temporary) and became Commander of the 34th Field Artillery Brigade, which he led in combat throughout France, Belgium and Holland until the end of World War II. In 1945, Uncles commanded the 32nd Field Artillery Brigade in Germany, serving until 1946. He then served as Chief of Field Artillery in the Army's Career Management Branch until 1948. Uncles became Chief of Staff of United States Constabulary in Europe, serving until 1950, when he was named Commander of the 4th Infantry Division Artillery.

Uncles was commander of Seventh Army Artillery from 1951-52, after which he was assigned to the staff of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4, as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Research and Development. He also received a promotion to Major General in 1952. Uncles served as the Army's Chief of Research & Development from 1953 to 1954.

In 1954, Uncles was appointed Chief of Staff for U.S. Army, Europe, and served in this assignment until 1956. Uncles was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1956 and assigned as Commander of VII Corps. He served in that assignment until his retirement from active duty in 1958.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
National Defense Service Medal

In Retirement

After retiring, Lieutenant General John Francis Uncles resided in Washington, DC.

Death and Burial

Lieutenant General John Francis Uncles died on 20 January 1967 of a heart attack at Walter Reed Army Hospital. He was 68. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.



Honoree ID: 3308   Created by: MHOH

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