Charles Hartwell Bonesteel Jr. (April 9, 1885 – June 5, 1964) was a major general in the United States Army. He commanded the United States Army Infantry School and the G-1 (personnel) staff section of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II. He was the father of General Charles H. Bonesteel III.

Early life The son of U.S. Army Major Charles Hartwell Bonesteel Sr. (1851 – 1902; West Point, 1876), the second Charles H. Bonesteel (pronounced "Bonn-eh-stel")New York Times, Bonesteel of Iceland, May 17, 1942 was born at Fort Sidney, Nebraska, on April 9, 1885.James Terry White, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 51, 1969, page 248 His mother Mary Greene Bonesteel, was the daughter of Oliver Duff Greene, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism at the Battle of Antietam. Bonesteel graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1908 and was appointed a second lieutenant of Infantry.George Washington Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, Volume 5, 1910, page 820

Start of career and World War I His initial assignments included postings in the Philippines, Hawaii and Texas. During World War I he served with the 55th Infantry Regiment, and later at the Newport News, Virginia point of embarkation.

Post-World War I

From 1919 to 1924 Bonesteel was an instructor at West Point.A. N. Marquis, The Monthly Supplement: A Current Biographical Reference Service, Volumes 1-2, 1940, page 194

Bonesteel graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1926 and served on the staff of the Chief of Infantry until 1930. From 1930 to 1931 Bonesteel was assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment, first as Commander of its 1st Battalion, and later as the regiment's Executive Officer, or second in command. In 1932 he graduated from the United States Army War College.Marquis Who's Who, Who Was Who In American History: The Military, 1975, page 56

From 1932 to 1940 Bonesteel's assignments included: Instructor and Section Chief at the Infantry School; Commander, 1st Battalion 2nd Infantry Regiment; and Commander of the 19th Infantry Regiment.Maxine Block, E. Mary Trow, Current Biography: Who's News and Why, 1942, pages 95 to 96

World War II Beginning in 1940 Bonesteel's service covered several senior staff and command positions, to include: Chief of Staff, VI Corps Area and Second U.S. Army; Commander, Sixth Corps Area;Chicago Tribune, Gen. Bonesteel Made Chief of 6th Corps Area , October 11, 1940 Commander, 5th Infantry Division;H. W. Wilson Company, Current Biography Yearbook, Volume 3, 1942, page 95 Commander, Iceland Base Command;New York Times, Bonesteel Made Chief in Iceland, April 28, 1942 Commandant of the Infantry School;Peggy A. Stelpflug, Richard Hyatt, Home of the Infantry: The History of Fort Benning, 2007, page 152 Commander, Western Defense Command;Christian Science Monitor, Petition Seeks to Allow Nisei Return to Coast , July 6, 1944 and Assistant to the Commanding General, Twelfth United States Army Group. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1940New York Times, Eleven promoted in High Army Ranks, April 25, 1940 and Major General in 1941.Chicago Tribune, Name Bonesteel and Nine Others Major Generals , April 11, 1941

In 1944 Bonesteel was assigned as Commander of the G-1 (Personnel) Staff Section at SHAEF Headquarters. He remained in this position until 1945, when he was assigned as Chief of the General Inspectorate Section for the U.S. European Theater of Operations.Brenda Moore, To Serve My Country, to Serve My Race, 1997, Notes for Chapter 5 Later in 1945 Bonesteel returned to the United States as President of the War Department Manpower Board, where he served until retiring in 1947.Associated Press, Army Slashes its Civilian Personnel, Daytona Beach Morning Journal, August 30, 1946

Death and burial Bonesteel died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on June 5, 1964.Baltimore Sun, Bonesteel, General, Dies, June 6, 1964 He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 1374-A.Thomas E. Spencer, Where They're Buried, 2009, page 457

Awards and decorations Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom) Légion d'Honneur (France)

Family In 1908 Bonesteel married Caroline Standish Mead Hudson (1885–1965). Their children included daughter Eleanor and son Charles H. Bonesteel III. Eleanor Bonesteel was the wife of United States Air Force General Nils O. Ohman (1914–1993).

References

External links Arlington National Cemetery: Charles Hartwell Bonesteel Jr. ANC Explorer Generals of World War II