Brigadier General James Edward Wharton (December 2, 1894 – August 12, 1944) was a career United States Army officer who briefly commanded the 28th Infantry Division in the Battle of Normandy before being killed in action during World War II.

Early life and military career Wharton was born in Elk, Chaves County, New Mexico on December 2, 1894.Port of San Francisco, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882–1957, U.S. Army Transport Thomas, entry for James E Wharton, April 26, 1923, page 107, retrieved February 28, 2014 He grew up in New Mexico and Arizona, and graduated from the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts at New Mexico State University in 1917.New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Annual Catalogue, 1919, pages 144, 165, 172, 205 He received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918, entry for James Edward Wharton, retrieved February 28, 2014

Wharton was commissioned in the Infantry Branch. His World War I and subsequent assignments included the 62nd and 57th Infantry Regiments in the Philippines, and he later served at Camp Fremont, Fort Benning, Fort Lee, and with the 3rd U.S. Infantry at Fort Snelling.New Mexico World War I Records, 1917–1919, entry for James Edward Wharton, retrieved March 4, 2014Army and Navy Register, The Army, April 23, 1921, page 417Russell K. Brown, Fallen in Battle: American General Officer Combat Fatalities from 1775, 1988, page 153 Wharton also served as an instructor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.Annual Report, 1936, page 3Virginia Adjutant General, Annual Report, 1921, page 50

In addition to graduating from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Wharton was a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, United States Army War College, and Army Industrial College.Wilson Allen Heefner, Twentieth Century Warrior: The Life and Service of Major General Edwin D. Patrick, 1995, page 61Army and Navy Journal, Inc., The Army, 1940, Volume 77, Issues 27–52, page 606

World War II and death

He was Chief of the Officer Branch in the Personnel Division (G-1) of the War Department General Staff when the United States entered World War II.John Greenwood, Normandy to Victory. In March, 1942, he was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general as Director of the Military Personnel Division in the Army Services of Supply.John Greenwood, editor, Normandy to Victory: The War Diary of General Courtney H. Hodges, 2008, page 429

In 1943 he served as Assistant Division Commander (ADC) of the 80th Infantry Division during its creation and initial training.Associated Press, Brig. Gen. Wharton Killed in Action, August 18, 1944

Wharton commanded the 1st Engineer Special Brigade on Utah Beach as part of the D-Day landings in Normandy.Joseph Balkoski, Utah Beach: The Amphibious Landing and Airborne Operations on D-Day, page xviii Engineer Special Brigades were large organizations (15 to 20 thousand soldiers) which were responsible for transferring equipment and personnel off the beachheads and making them available for assault operations.Alfred M. Beck, Technical Services, the Corps of Engineers, the War Against Germany, 1985, Page 337

After the D-Day invasion he succeeded Brigadier General Donald A. Stroh as ADC of the 9th Infantry Division, then commanded by Major General Manton S. Eddy and serving in Normandy.United States Department of the Army Historical Division, United States Army in World War II: The War Department, Volume 6, 1961, page 511

He remained in this post only briefly, however, as on August 12, Wharton succeeded Major General Lloyd D. Brown as Commanding General (CG) of the 28th Infantry Division.Turner Publishing, 28th Infantry (Keystone) Division (Mechanized):125 Years of Service, 2005, page 43 On the same day that Wharton took command, he was visiting his front line units in order to gain an understanding of their current situation. He was shot and killed by a German sniper while at the command post of the 112th Infantry Regiment near Sourdeval, Normandy, France.Russell K. Brown, Fallen in Battle He was succeeded by Norman Cota.

Wharton, the first of three American divisional commanders to be killed by enemy fire during the war, was temporarily interred in France. He was later buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 34, Site 1198.U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962, entry for James E Wharton, retrieved February 28, 2014

Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal for his achievements with the 1st Engineer Special Brigade and the 80th and 9th Infantry Divisions.Military Times, Hall of Valor, Award Recipient: James E. Wharton, retrieved February 28, 2014 Legion of Merit for superior service with the Services of Supply.Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum, Biography, James E. Wharton , 2009 Purple Heart (posthumous). World War I Victory Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one campaign star World War II Victory Medal (posthumous)

Legacy In 1952 the 112th Infantry Regiment was stationed in Heilbronn, Germany when the 28th Division was activated for the Korean War. The casern used as its headquarters was christened Wharton Barracks.Stars and Stripes, 112th RCT Dedicates Heilbronn Barracks to Gen Wharton, June 25, 2952 Wharton Barracks was closed in 1989.

Notes

Family In 1921 Wharton married Madelyn Burke of Petersburg, Virginia (1893–1952).Army Navy Register, Married, March 5, 1921, page 233The News (Frederick Maryland), Obituary, Mrs. James E. Wharton, February 23, 1952 Their children included sons Edward B. (1927–1991) and Robert H. (born 1929). Robert H. Wharton became a priest in 1954.Gettysburg Times, Mount Grad Will Head Department, September 29, 1965U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014, entry for Edward B. Wharton, retrieved February 28, 2014U.S. Army World War II Enlistment Records, 1938–1946, entry for Edward B. Wharton, retrieved February 28, 2014U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010, entry for Edward B. Wharton, retrieved February 24, 2014

References

External links Army Distinguished Service Medal, James E. Wharton at Military Times Hall of Valor Arlington National Cemetery Generals of World War II