Louis Victor Hightower II
Major General, U.S. Army

Louis Victor Hightower II was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, with the Class of 1931. At graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery.

On 1 February 1943, LTC Hightower's unit was serving near Rebaou, Tunisia, in the North African Theater of Operations. LTC Hightower’s battalion was attacking the German position and, in order to control the battle, he occupied an exposed forward position under heavy enemy artillery fire. LTC Hightower, ignoring his own safety, continued to direct the fire of his own battalion, and the supporting artillery, from the exposed position. LTC Hightower’s leadership and courageous actions that day earned him the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

On 14 February 1943, LTC Hightower’s unit was in action against German forces near Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia. LTC Hightower and his tank crew received word that 7 German tanks were attacking a command post and that the artillery vehicles were withdrawing to a new position. Although his was the only American tank in the vicinity, alone he moved to protect the helpless unarmored vehicles and engaged the 7 German tanks unaided. After destroying 4 of the enemy tanks, allowing the withdrawal of the friendly column, his tank was hit with four heavy shots and set afire. LTC Hightower evacuated the crew and moved them, on foot, to the friendly defensive position. Without the prompt, heroic action of LTC Hightower and his tank crew, the command post and an artillery battery would have been overrun by German tanks. LTC Hightower’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 6 June 1944, LTC Hightower’s unit was in action against German forces in Italy. When it became apparent that the Germans were hard-pressed and that an acceleration of the pursuit of American forces was necessary to forestall enemy rear-guard demolitions. LTC Hightower was traveling with the forward tank elements and had no tactical command in the operation. Although he had no obligation to expose himself, LTC Hightower took the lead of the pursuing column. Ignoring his own safety, LTC Hightower moved at the head of the advancing tanks, sometimes alone on foot several hundred yards ahead of the lead tank, sometimes in a peep ["Peep" was the common term for a Jeep used by Armored units, primarily for reconnaissance], and sometimes riding on top of one of the lead tanks. LTC Hightower continued in this fashion for several miles, greatly increasing the speed of the pursuit, until he was wounded when the tank on top of which he was riding was hit by an anti-tank gun. LTC Hightower’s initiative, leadership, and courage earned him a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal.

During the Korean War, then-Major General Hightower served as Chief of Staff, 2nd Infantry Division, during 1953-54. During the period August 1954 to September 1963, MG Hightower served consecutively as Chief, Organization and Training Division, Office, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Headquarters, Department of the Army; Chief of Staff, and later Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Caribbean, Fort Amador, Canal Zone, Senior Army Member, Military Studies and Liaison Division, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group, Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Chief of Staff, Combined Military Planning Staff, Central Treaty Organization International Staff, U.S. Army, Europe, concurrently as Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army, Ryukyu Islands and IX Corps, Ryukyu Islands, Pacific Command; and as Assistant Deputy Commanding General, Training and Readiness, U.S. Continental Army Command, Fort Monroe, V.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin, Silver and Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
National Defense Service Medal

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 Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) Louis Victor Hightower (ASN: 0-18502), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 1st Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 14 February 1943, near Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia. Lieutenant Colonel Hightower and his tank crew received word that seven enemy tanks were attacking a command post and artillery vehicles which were withdrawing to a new position. His was the only friendly tank in the vicinity but without hesitation, he moved it to protect the helpless unarmored vehicles, and engaged the enemy tanks unaided and alone. After destroying four of the enemy tanks and securing the withdrawal of the friendly column, his own tank received four heavy shots and was set afire. He evacuated the crew and brought them on foot to the friendly defensive position. But for the prompt and heroic action of Lieutenant Colonel Hightower and his tank crew, the command post and a battery of artillery would have been overrun by hostile tanks. His extraordinary heroism, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty is an inspiration to all, worthy of the finest traditions of the Armed Forces and deserving of the highest praise.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army-North African Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 17 (1943)

Death and Burial

Major General Louis Victor Hightower II died on 30 July 1972. He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 5, Site 122.

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