36 Facts About Karl Truesdell

Karl Truesdell was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of major general and was a veteran of both World War I and World War II.

Karl Truesdell was most notable for his leadership assignments as commander of the 1st Infantry Division and VI Corps, and commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Karl Truesdell enlisted in the United States Army, and served in the Coast Artillery Corps until 1904.

Karl Truesdell attained the rank of sergeant, and served until 1904, when he passed the examination for a commission and received appointment as a second lieutenant of Infantry.

Karl Truesdell served in Infantry assignments until 1912, when he was detailed for service in the Signal Corps.

In retirement, Karl Truesdell was a resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and maintained a summer home in Silver Lake, New York.

Karl Truesdell died in Silver Lake on July 16,1955, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Karl Truesdell was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, on August 27,1882, a son of Julius A Truesdell and Cornelia Truesdell.

Julius Karl Truesdell was a newspaper reporter and editor; he relocated to Washington, DC, soon after Karl Truesdell's birth.

Karl Truesdell attended the public schools of Washington and was a graduate of Washington's Central High School.

In 1903, Karl Truesdell took part in the competitive examination process for appointment as an officer.

Karl Truesdell passed, and in June 1904 he received his commission as a second lieutenant in the 5th Infantry Regiment.

Karl Truesdell joined his regiment at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York and his initial assignments included escorting military prisoners from the Castle Williams penitentiary on Governors Island, New York to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Karl Truesdell returned to the United States in 1909, and his duties after rejoining his regiment included assisting in planning and overseeing execution of 1909's annual Civilian Marksmanship Program National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.

In March 1911, Karl Truesdell was promoted to first lieutenant in the 15th Infantry Regiment.

In March 1912, Karl Truesdell was detailed to the Signal Corps.

On May 29,1912, Karl Truesdell was one of several officers taking part in a hot air balloon flight to learn how balloons facilitated radio communications.

In May 1913, Karl Truesdell relinquished command and was assigned as assistant to the chief signal officer on the staff of the army's Eastern Department, which was based at Fort Jay on Governors Island.

In February 1915, Karl Truesdell was assigned to the 25th Infantry Regiment with duty at Texas City, Texas.

In December 1915, Karl Truesdell rejoined the 25th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Karl Truesdell was commended for his work to establish telephone and radio networks that enabled American Expeditionary Forces units to communicate with each other, which facilitated success in combat by making it easier to gain and maintain situational awareness, transmit orders and reports, and coordinate for artillery support, logistics and transportation, and combat health support.

In June 1920, now returned to his permanent rank of captain, Karl Truesdell was assigned to the Fort Leavenworth School of the Line as a student.

Karl Truesdell graduated in 1922, and remained at the school as a faculty member.

In December 1926, Karl Truesdell was assigned to duty at the War Department as a member of the Army General Staff.

Now a lieutenant colonel, in October 1931 Karl Truesdell began attendance at a refresher course for Infantry officers which was offered at the Fort Benning Infantry School.

From 1932 to 1935, Karl Truesdell was executive officer of the 15th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in Tianjin, China.

From October 1939 to December 1940, Karl Truesdell served as commander of the 1st Infantry Division, first at Fort Benning, and later on Governors Island and at Fort Hamilton.

Karl Truesdell was promoted to major general in October 1940.

In January 1941, Karl Truesdell was assigned to command VI Corps with headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island.

In January 1942, Karl Truesdell was assigned to the Panama Canal Zone as deputy commander of the Caribbean Defense Command.

Karl Truesdell served in Panama only briefly because in March 1942 he was assigned to Fort Leavenworth as commandant of the Command and General Staff College.

Karl Truesdell remained in command through the end of the war and retired in November 1945.

In retirement, Karl Truesdell was a resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and maintained a summer home in Silver Lake, a hamlet in the village of Perry, which is in the town of Castile.

Karl Truesdell died at his summer home on July 16,1955.

The younger Karl Truesdell was a career officer in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, and attained the rank of major general.

Cecile Karl Truesdell was the wife of army Brigadier General Edgar Thomas Conley Jr.