Background
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 8, 1900.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 8, 1900.
Graduated from Command and General Staff School in 1939.
After graduating in 1924, Boatner served with the 15th Inf in Tientsin before getting an MA degree in Chinese language and culture (1934). The short, tough infantryman also studied Russian, gave English classes to young Chinese, played polo with Roy Chapman Andrews, and went on long hunting trips with Chinese officers. Col Boatner was visiting Washington when he found planners agonizing over a shipment of large locomotives to Chiang Kai-shek. Solving their problem by pointing out that no bridge in China could handle locomotives of the size they wanted to send (personal information), he ended up being ordered to join Stiwwel in Burma.
As a rear-guard commander on the retreat to India, finally forced to ditch his radio as the Japanese closed in, the colonel concluded his last transmission with, “I expect to have a star waiting when I get back” (personal information). The first general in his West Point class, his promotion was dated 1 Nov 1942.
Boatner became Stilwell’s CofS and deputy commander of the Chinese army in India with primary responsibility for organization and training. He showed that the Chinese soldier, if properly fed, equipped, trained, and led, was a match for the Japanese. Boatner pioneered the development of tactics and techniques for air supply of large forces in the jungle.
But as chief of staff Boatner had periodic clashes with Stilwell over staff procedures because the commanding general’s son was the G2 (bypassing the CofS) and two sons-in-law were LnOs with the Chinese. Despite periodic requests to be relieved (personal information) Boatner remained Stilwell’s CofS and deputy. As an Old China Hand like Stilwell whom Chiang and his generals could not gull, the straight-talking soldier was as much detested as his chief by Chiang Kai-shek and other Chinese generals including Sun Li-Jen.
Brig Gen Boatner headed the NCAS in Burma from its creation on 1 Feb 1944. When MERRILL was medically evacuated on 19 May 1944 Merrill’s newly-appointed XO, Col John E. McCammon, succeeded him on 19 May 1944 and was promoted to brigadier general but lasted only a week until Stilwell had to put Boatner in command of the Myitkyina TF. Japanese strength at Myit-kyina proved to be much greater than suspected, Stilwell’s G2 greatly underestimated Japanese strength, as postwar evidence would show; but ‘‘Vinegar Joe" blamed Boatner for lacking aggressiveness. Finally succumbing to malaria, Boatner was invalided out on 26 June 44 and replaced by Brig Gen Theodore F. Wessels. After convalescing, Boatner continued to be Stilwell’s CofS and DCG, Chinese Combat Command (Cullum).
During the Korean War he was DCG 2d Inf Div (1951-52), winning a Silver Star for action around Heartbreak Ridge. When Chinese POWs on Koje-do took the US commander hostage in 1952 and threatened to break out and seize control of the island, Mark Clark picked Boatner to restore order. Promoted for his quick and almost-bloodless success, Maj Gen Boatner subsequently headed the JAMG in Greece, 1955-57. He was provost marshal general until retiring in 1960 to live in San Antonio, Tex, where died suddenly on 29 May 1977 of a heart attack.