Years of service 1915 - 1951 | Name John Conklin Rank Brigadier General | |
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Battles/wars Pancho Villa ExpeditionWorld War IWorld War IIOperation TorchOperation Overlord Battles and wars Commands held United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Army Central | ||
Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Army | ||
John French Conklin (April 20, 1891 – January 25, 1973) was an American Brigadier general, who served most of his career in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. During the World War II, Conklin served as Chief Engineer, Third U.S. Army.
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He was a recipient of the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal.
Early years
John French Conklin was born on April 20, 1891 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas as a son of Army Colonel, John Conklin and his wife Rosalie French Conklin. He came from the family with a long military tradition, because his maternal grandfather was Union major general William H. French and also maternal uncle was major general John Clem. So John F. Conklin attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and graduated as a part of "the class the stars fell on" on June 12, 1915. He was also commissioned a Second lieutenant on that date.
His first assignment was with 2nd Battalion of Engineers, with whom he served on the Mexican Border during the Pancho Villa Expedition until April 1917. He was subsequently appointed an Instructor and Assistant Adjutant of the Officers Training Camp at Fort Myer, Virginia.
Decorations
Here is Brigadier General Conklin's ribbon bar: