Thomas Leonard Harrold (21 June 1902 – 16 June 1973) was a United States Army lieutenant general. He was commander of the 9th Armored Division, United States Army Armor School, 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, III Corps, and United States Army Caribbean. From 1958 to 1961 he served as commandant of the National War College.
Early life
Harrold was born in San Diego, California on 21 June 1902. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1925 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Cavalry.Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1949, page 228
Early career From 1926 to 1927, Harrold was the adjutant for the 7th Cavalry Regiment.[Skirmish – Red, White and Blue: The History of the 7th U.S. Cavalry, 1945–1953], by Edward L. Daily, 1992, p. 114 He graduated from the Cavalry Officers Course in 1930.Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1946, p. 298 Harrold served as an instructor at West Point in the early 1930s.Official Register of the Officers and Cadets , United States Military Academy, published by the academy, 1934, p. 12 In the early 1940s, Harrold was in charge of army recruiting for the area that included Connecticut.Newspaper article, Local Stampede For Enlistment Surpasses 1917, Hartford Courant, December 10, 1941 In 1942, Harrold graduated from the Command and the General Staff College.Armed Forces Journal International, published by Army and Navy Journal, Inc., Volume 80, Issues 27–52, 1943, p. 1443
During World War II, Harrold commanded Combat Command A, 9th Armored Division, serving from 27 August 1944 to 3 May 1945. Order of Battle of the United States Army in World War II, European Theater of Operations, published by the Theater Historian, 1945, p. 498 Harrold led his command during combat in Europe, including a key role in repelling the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge.The Bitter Woods, by John S.D. Eisenhower, 1995, p. 211A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge, by Charles B. MacDonald, 1997, p. 356Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945, by Trevor Nevitt Dupuy, David L. Bongard, Richard C. Anderson (Jr.), and Richard Claire Anderson, 1994, p. 129
Harrold commanded the 9th Armored Division from 1945 to 1946.Newspaper article, Edward F. Brandt Awarded Bronze Star Medal, Titonka (Iowa) Topic, September 20, 1945New York State Journal of Medicine, published by the Medical Society of the State of New York, 1945, Volume 45, Issues 13–24, page 2234
Senior command From 1946 to 1947, Harrold served as commander of the 3rd Constabulary Brigade in West Germany.Through Mobility We Conquer: The Mechanization of U.S. Cavalry, George F. Hofmann, 2006, p. 425 Harrold served as Director of Civil Affairs for the United States Army European Command from 1947 to 1949.Armed Forces Journal International, published by Army and Navy Journal, Inc., 1947, Volume 84, Issues 27–52, p. 1286Information Bulletin, published by U.S. Office of Military Government, Provisional Office of Administration, 1949, Volumes 152–169, p. 19 From 1949 to 1951, Harrold served as commander of the United States Army Armor School and Fort Knox.
Harrold briefly served as deputy commander of I Corps in 1951, but was soon transferred to commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. He served from July 1951 to March 1952, receiving promotion to major general and leading the division during the Korean War.Former Leaders, 1st Cavalry Division , published by Fort Hood, Texas Public Affairs Officer, 2010, accessed April 16, 2011From Pusan to Panmunjom, by Paik Sun Yup, 1999, p. 131 Harrold commanded the division during its stationing at Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan, where it carried out combat training, electronic surveillance and defense of Japan from potential attacks by the Soviet Union or China.1st Cavalry Division: A Spur Ride Through the 20th Century from Horses to the Digital Battlefield, by Turner Publishing Company, 2003, p. 59
From February 1953 to June 1954, Harrold was commander of the 10th Mountain Division.List of Division Commanders , 10th Mountain Division Organization published by 10th Mountain Division Veterans Association, undated (after 2007), accessed April 16, 2011 Harrold commanded the 8th Infantry Division from August to November 1954. General Harrold served as commander of the III Corps at Fort Hood from 1954 to 1956.Newspaper photo caption, Poage Visits Hood, Waco News-Tribune, October 7, 1955 From 1956 to 1958, Harrold served as commander of the United States Army Caribbean Command.The American Legion Magazine, published by American Legion, Volumes 62–63, 1957, p. 49Army, Navy, and Air Force Journal, published by Army and Navy Journal Inc. Volume 95, Issues 1–26, 1957, p. 693 Harrold was Commandant of the National War College from 1958 until his 1961 retirement.List of Commandants , National War College Alumni Association web site, accessed April 16, 2011
Awards and decorations Harrold's decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Silver Star (two awards), Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal (three awards).Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 362List of Recipients of Major Military Awards, Hall of Valor web site, published by Military Times, accessed April 16, 2011
Retirement and death In retirement, Harrold resided at Fort Lauderdale, Florida,Social Security Death Index where he died on 16 June 1973.Florida Death Index, 1877–1998 He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2 Site E-508.Thomas L. Harrold entry, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator
Personal life Harrold was married to Emily Draper of Troy, New York. They had one child, Sally, who was born in 1937.American men in government: a biographical dictionary and directory of Federal officials, by Jerome M. Rosow, 1949, p. 173
References
External links Arlington National Cemetery Generals of World War II