Robert B McClure

Early life and military career

McClure was born on September 15, 1896, in Rome, Georgia, and graduated from New York Military Academy (NYMA) as Cadet First Captain in 1915. Entering the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in 1916, he was unable to maintain the academic achievements necessary to remain in the academy. He subsequently enlisted in the United States Army.

After the American entry into World War I, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Infantry Branch, McClure fought on the Western Front with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 26th Division of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), on the Western Front. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Bellieu Bois during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on October 27, 1918, where he was wounded.

Interbellum

Remaining in the army following the end of the war, McClure spent from 1927 to 1933 in Tientsin, China with the 15th Infantry Regiment, becoming fluent in Chinese. One of his fellow officers was Albert Coady Wedemeyer, under whom he would serve during the latter stages of World War II. He entered the U.S. Army War College in 1938, where he made the acquaintance of Major J. Lawton Collins, an instructor at the college at the time. After graduation, McClure then spent time on the staff of the 25th Infantry Division as divisional G-4 (handling logistics and supply).

World War II

When Collins was made commander of the 25th Infantry Division in 1942, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the subsequent German declaration of war on the United States four days later, he made McClure commander of one of the division's regiments, the 35th Infantry Regiment. McClure led the regiment during the Guadalcanal and New Georgia campaigns, as well as during the capture of Vella Lavella. Having spent time as aide-de-camp (ADC) to Collins, in 1943 he returned to the United States with the two-star general officer rank of major general, and put in command of his own division, the 84th Infantry Division. After six months preparing the division for combat in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), he returned to the Solomon Islands as commander of the 23rd "Americal" Infantry Division, which was then participating in the Bougainville Campaign.

In November 1944, McClure returned to China to act as chief of staff to Albert Wedemeyer, his former comrade from the 15th Infantry Regiment. Wedemeyer had replaced General Joe Stilwell as commander of United States forces in China. Shortly after his arrival in China, McClure was sent into the field and made commander of Chinese Combat Command, remaining in this capacity until the end of the war. He was twice awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal during the war.

Korean War

Remaining in the army in the aftermath of World War II, in December 1950, during the Korean War, the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, Major General Laurence B. Keiser was sacked for the division's performance during the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River (although his dismissal was dressed up as being for medical reasons). McClure was named as his replacement, although his tenure as divisional commander would transpire to be short-lived.

The division, previously part of IX Corps, was redeployed to X Corps and now came under the jurisdiction of Major General Edward Almond, the corps commander. Almond began to be critical of McClure's leadership, citing a "lack of supervision" in reports back to the Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway, then commanding the Eighth Army. After a period of refitting, the division was ordered to Wonju, which had been deemed by Ridgway to be "second only to Seoul" in tactical importance. During the battle for Wonju, McClure found his position to be increasingly indefensible especially when flanking South Korean troops were overrun by the North Korean People's Army. He ordered his division to withdraw to a position much further to the rear than agreed upon by Almond, who was angered by McClure's disobedience. After little more than a month as divisional commander, McClure was relieved of his command on the grounds of "poor leadership". He was replaced as commander of the division by Major General Clark L. Ruffner, in a move endorsed by Ridgeway.

Following his dismissal, McClure commanded the 6th Infantry Division, which was then based at Fort Ord in California. McClure retired from the army in 1954, after 37 years service. In 1956, he was awarded his third Army Distinguished Service Medal for services during the Cold War.

Robert Battey McClure died on September 15, 1973, on his 77th birthday, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia.