James Karrick Woolnough
General, U.S. Army

James Karrick Woolnough was born on 24 October 1910 in Mindanao, Philippine Islands, the son of Colonel and Mrs. James B. Woolnough. Woolnough attended the U.S. Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1932. He also attended the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA, and the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, DC. In addition, he was both a math instructor and a Regimental Commander at West Point.

During his 38 years of active duty, Woolnough held a variety of staff and command positions, worldwide. Shortly after the D-Day Normandy Beach landing on 6 June 1944, he became Executive Officer of the 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. In February 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, he assumed command of the 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, which later provided the vanguard forces to prevent the German destruction of the Remagen Bridge, thus making it possible for the U.S. forces to cross the Rhine.

In September 1950 he was sent to Korea, given a map, and instructed to head north to find the 1st Cavalry Division, which he did. For a time, he commanded the 7th Cavalry Regiment, the Garry Owen. Eleven years later, as a Major General, he returned to Korea as the 1st Cavalry Division's Commanding Officer.

In the Pacific Theater, on Joint Task Force Seven, he was Deputy Plans and Operations Officer for the first atomic tests at Eniwetok. Years later, as a Lieutenant General in 1963, he was Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter, HI.

Among his many assignments during his eighteen years in the Pentagon, he served as Chief of Staff of the NATO Standing Group; Director of Operations, as well as Director of Plans, for the U.S. Army General Staff; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army.

Upon his retirement from active duty on 31 October 1970, Woolnough returned to his family home in Arlington, VA.

Death and Burial

General James Karrick Woolnough died on 30 May 1996 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, next to his first wife, Mary Agnes Woolnough, who died in 1980. He was survived by his second wife, Mary Dabinet Woolnough.