Clifford Bluemel | |
Nickname: | Blinky |
Birth Date: | 9 November 1885 |
Birth Place: | Trenton, New Jersey |
Death Place: | Trenton, New Jersey |
Placeofburial: | West Point Cemetery |
Allegiance: | United States of America |
Branch: | United States Army |
Serviceyears: | 1909–1947 |
Rank: | Brigadier General |
Servicenumber: | 0-2642 |
Commands: | Fort Benjamin Harrison 31st Division (Philippines) 45th Infantry Regiment |
Battles: | Battle of Bataan |
Awards: | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Prisoner of War Medal |
Clifford Bluemel (9 November 1885 – 27 June 1973) was an American brigadier general.[1] He commanded the 31st Division during the Battle of Bataan before being captured by Japanese forces and held as a prisoner of war.[2]
Bluemel was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from the United States Military Academy on June 11, 1909. After World War I, Bluemel graduated from the advanced course at the Infantry School in 1926 and then from the Command and General Staff School in 1927.[3] He was promoted to colonel effective September 1, 1938 and then temporarily advanced to brigadier general on December 24, 1941.[4] His final assignment was as commanding general of Fort Benjamin Harrison from 1946 to 1947.[5]
After his death, Bluemel was buried at the West Point Cemetery on June 29, 1973.[6]