Years of service 1883–1922 Rank Major General | Name Joseph Dickman | |
Birth name Joseph Theodore Dickman Born October 6, 1857
Dayton, Ohio, U.S. ( 1857-10-06 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars Apache Wars
Geronimo Campaign
Spanish–American War
Battle of San Juan Hill
Philippine–American War
Battle of Panay
Boxer Rebellion
Battle of Pa-ta-Chao
World War I
Battle of Chateau-Thierry
Second Battle of the Marne
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
Battle of the Argonne Forest Awards Distinguished Service Medal
Croix de Guerre of France
Order of Leopold of Belgium
Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honour of France
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath of the United Kingdom
Medal of Solidarity of Panama Died October 23, 1927, Washington, D.C., United States Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, United States Education United States Military Academy, University of Dayton Battles and wars Apache Wars, Battle of San Juan Hill Commands held 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, IV Corps, I Corps, United States Army Central | ||
Service/branch United States Army |
Joseph Theodore Dickman, KCB, (October 6, 1857 – October 23, 1927) was a United States Army officer who saw service in five wars, eventually rising to the rank of Major General.
Contents
- Early life
- Apache Wars and Border Duty 18831898
- SpanishAmerican War 18981900
- Boxer Rebellion 1900
- 19021917
- Commanding General 3rd Infantry Division
- Commanding General IV Corps
- Commanding General I Corps
- Commanding General Third Army November 1918 April 1919
- Post war
- Awards and decorations
- Published works
- Translations
- References
Early life
Dickman was born in Dayton, Ohio. He attended the University of Dayton and graduated in the class of 1871. In 1881 he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned in the 3rd Cavalry.
Apache Wars and Border Duty 1883–1898
Dickman graduated from the US Army Cavalry School in 1883 and proceeded directly to the Indian territory, where he participated in the Apache War from 1885–1886, to include the Geronimo Campaign. He next participated in the Mexican border patrol operations during the Garza Revolution against Garza revolutionists and the bandits, Benavides and Gonzales.
His early experience sent him to Fort Riley, where he was an Instructor at the Cavalry and Light Artillery School from 1893–1894. He deployed to the Pullman Strike in Chicago 1894. Later that year, he was assigned to Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.
Spanish–American War, 1898–1900
Dickman's deployment during the Spanish–American War was notable. He participated in the battle of San Juan Hill-El Caney, Santiago de Cuba. He served on the staff of General Joseph Wheeler during the Philippine–American War from 1899–1902 and at the Battles on the Island of Panay from 1899–1900.
Boxer Rebellion, 1900
During the Boxer Rebellion, Dickman was Chief of Staff to General Adna R. Chaffee for the Peking Relief Expedition and fought in the battle at Pa-ta-Chao, Peking on September 26, 1900.
1902–1917
Dickman was on the Army General Staff from 1902–1905. He was an instructor at the Army War College from 1905–1912. Dickman was the US Army Inspector General from 1912–1915, taking over 2nd US Cavalry in 1915. He was given command of the 85th Infantry Division, Camp Custer, Michigan, in August 1917.
Commanding General, 3rd Infantry Division
Dickman was given command of the 3rd Infantry Division in November 1917, at the onset of World War I. He deployed 3rd Division to France aboard the Leviathan at noon, on March 4, 1918. He was the 3rd Division Commander at Chateau-Thierry in May 1918 and was made famous at the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918. While allied forces on both flanks retreated, the 3rd Division stood fast in the face of fantastic enemy offensives, which led to their moniker, "The Rock of the Marne."
Commanding General, IV Corps
Dickman commanded IV Corps from August to September 1918, to include the Saint-Mihiel Offensive in September 1918.
Commanding General, I Corps
Dickman commanded I Corps from October to November 1918, to include the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Commanding General, Third Army, November 1918 – April 1919
Third Army was established under the command of Dickman by General John J. Pershing in France to advance to the Rhein and hold the Coblenz bridgehead, then prepare to serve after the war as the Army of Occupation of the Rhineland. The Third Army would have become the Army of Occupation whether or not the enemy signed the peace agreement. American fighting units not sent home were consolidated under Third Army and prepared to attack if Germany did not accept the terms of peace. The United States itself was not to sign the agreement but remained technically at war with Germany for two more years.
Post war
Dickman returned from World War I to serve as President of the Tactics and Organization Board, which reported on lessons learned during the war from April–July 1919. Dickman served as Commanding General of the VIII Corps Area from 1919–21 He retired on October 6, 1921. He was later recalled to preside over postwar-Army downsizing board in 1922. His memoirs were published in 1927.
He died in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 1927.