Background
He was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota and came from a military family. Both his father, Samuel D. Sturgis, and grandfather, also named Samuel D. Sturgis, were West Point graduates and major generals.
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Samuel Davis
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Education
Sturgis graduated from West Point in 1918.
Career
As a junior engineer officer he taught mathematics at the academy for four years. In 1926, he was ordered to the Philippines, where he served as Adjutant of the 14th Engineers. His strategical studies of the islands over a three-year period developed knowledge he used later when he returned to the Philippines in 1944 as Chief Engineer of General Walter Krueger"s Sixth United States. Army.
Sturgis commanded a mounted engineer company at Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1929-1933 and encouraged the adoption of heavy mechanical equipment.
He was district engineer in 1939-1942 for Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he worked on flood control and a large military construction program He served as chief engineer of the Sixth Army in 1943-1946.
During World World War II, Sturgis" engineer troops built roads, airfields, ports, and bases from New Guinea to the Philippines. After the war, Sturgis was senior engineer for the army air forces in 1946-1948 and was Missouri River Division Engineer in 1949-1951.
He became Chief of Engineers on March 17, 1953.
He died July 5, 1964, in Washington, District of Columbia Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star.
Achievements
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In 1951, he became the Commanding General of the 6th Armored Division and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. In 1952, he was appointed Commanding General of the Communications Zone supporting the United States Army in Europe. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
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Born
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Died
July 5, 1964 (aged 66) -
Nationality
United States
Education
Awards
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Bronze Star Medal; legionnaire of Legion of Merit; Silver Star; Legion of Merit Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Commanding General
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.