Hal D. McCown explained

Hal Dale McCown
Birth Date:1916 11, df=yes
Placeofburial:Little Rock National Cemetery
Branch: United States Army
Serviceyears:1940–1972
Rank: Major general
Battles:World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Awards:Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (3)
Purple Heart

Major General Hal Dale McCown (26 November 19166 July 1999) was a United States Army officer who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Early life

McCown was born on 29 November 1916. He later attended Louisiana State University.

Military career

During World War II he served as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 119th Infantry Regiment. During the Battle of the Bulge, McCown was captured by Joachim Peiper’s Kampfgruppe on 21 December. As Peiper’s unit was surrounded at La Gleize, Peiper negotiated with McCown to release the U.S. prisoners and eventually the prisoners were released when Peiper’s men fled on foot towards German lines. McCown later testified at Peiper’s 1946 war crimes trial that he had not seen any American prisoners mistreated by the SS.[1]

During the Korean War he served in the 7th Infantry Division commanding the 17th Infantry Regiment from June 1951.[2]

During the Vietnam War he first served in South Vietnam as IV Corps adviser from 1962 to August 1963 and commanded John Paul Vann.[3] At the end of his advisory tour McCown overoptimistically reported that "during 1963 the posture of the VC Vietcong has clearly deteriorated in IV CTZ… we are winning clearly, steadily and, as far as I can see, inexorably."[4]

He served as commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand from June 1967 to 1969 and was instrumental in organising the deployment of the Royal Thai Volunteer Regiment to South Vietnam and the later deployment of the Royal Thai Army Expeditionary Division.[5]

He served as chief of staff of II Field Force, Vietnam and then as senior adviser, Delta Regional Assistance Command from January 1970 to April 1971.

McCown retired from the Army in 1972 as a Major General.

Later life

McCown died on 6 July 1999 and is buried at Little Rock National Cemetery.

Decorations

His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (3) and the Purple Heart.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Parker, Danny. Hitler's Warrior: The Life and Wars of SS Colonel Jochen Peiper. Da Capo Press. 2014. 978-0306821547. 148.
  2. Web site: History of the 7th Infantry Division. 7th Infantry Division Association. 29 June 2020. 9 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130309054031/http://www.7ida.us/documents/History_of_the_7th_Infantry_Division.pdf. dead.
  3. Book: Vietnam: Policy and Prospects, 1970: Hearings, Ninety-first Congress, Second Session on Civil Operations and Rural Development Support Program. US Government Printing Office. 1970. 114.
  4. Book: Krepinevich, Andrew. The Army and Vietnam. JHU Press. 1986. 9780801896125. 82.
  5. Book: Larsen, Stanley. Vietnam Studies Allied Participation in Vietnam. Department of the Army. 1975. 978-1517627249.