General Ralph Edward Haines Junior. was a United States Army four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States. Army from 1967 to 1968, Commander, United States. Army, Pacific from August 1968 to October 1970, and Commanding General, United States. Continental Army Command, from 1970 to 1973.
Education
Haines attended Texas Military Institute and graduated in 1930 as his class valedictorian. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1935 with a commission in the Infantry. He later attended the Armed Forces Staff College, the Army War College, the National War College and the Army Management School.
Career
General Haines was the last commander of the Continental George Washington was the first. At his death he was the Army"s oldest living four-star general and its senior retired officer Prior to World World War II he served in the Philippine Scouts and during the war he served in Italy.
From 1965 to 1967, he commanded the III Corps there.
The Ralph East. Haines, Junior. Award, presented to the United States Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year, is named in his honor.
Haines had two sons, both West Point alumni. One son, Palmer Swift Haines, died in an aircraft crash in 2004 when the Cessna 421 he was piloting suffered dual engine failure near Austin, Texas.
Haines died in November 2011 at the San Antonio Military Medical Center of natural causes.
Membership
Haines was member of the Advisory Committee of the United States. Cavalry Association.