Akin, Spencer Ball, born 23-02-1889 in Mississippi,
two months before Adolf Hitler (did you know) (see Hitler parents), (Paula), (Alois) the son of Seddon Pleasants Akin and his wife Martha Giles, born Chaffin, Akin. Spencer attended the Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1910. Akin later graduated from the Infantry School advanced course in 1926, the Command and General Staff School in 1928, and the Army War College in 1936. He returned to the Virginia Military Institute to complete a B.S. degree in civil engineering in 1933.
Akin was commissioned as a second lieutenant of infantry in September 1910. Promoted to first lieutenant in July 1916 and captain in May 1917, he served as a temporary major from February 1918 to May 1920 during World War I.In July 1920, Akin was permanently promoted to Major and transferred to the Army Signal Corps. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August 1935 and Colonel in August 1939.
Sent to the Philippines in 1941, Akin became chief signal officer under General Douglas MacArthur. 
He received a temporary promotion to Brigadier General in December 1941. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross 
for his actions during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. He escaped with MacArthur from Corregidor to Australia in March 1942. 
There he became Chief Signal Officer, GHQ, Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area and helped to establish Central Bureau to coordinate Allied signals intelligence. Akin also equipped a flotilla of small vessels like Argosy Lemal as radio relay stations.
Akin declined to remain behind a desk in Australia, earning one Silver Star 
during the December 1942 invasion of New Guinea and a second one in 1944
Chief Signal Officer throughout World War II, Akin exercised strong control by being in the forefront of each operation. As Chief of Signal Intelligence in the Far East and of Army forces in the Pacific, Akin exploited the Japanese reliance on radio communications by keeping commanders appraised of pertinent information. He was not very popular with the other Generals. In one instance, an intercepted enemy radio message revealed that, expecting bombing raids, the Japanese had issued orders to move airplanes from a vulnerable airfield to a safer location. The Army Air Force 
used the information to attack before the move could be made, destroying large numbers of enemy aircraft. During the siege at Corregidor, commander Lieutenant General, Commander Allied Forces Philippines, Jonathan Wainwright
and Bataan in the Philippine Islands during the war, he was the one to report that the islands were holding. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star Medal 
and the Legion of Merit. 
His radio program “Voice of Freedom” was broadcast around the world.Death and burial ground of Akin, Spencer Ball.
General Stivers, Colonel Stevenot, General Marshall and General Spencer Akin. He was married with Eleanor Holt, born Stone Akin, 
who died 10-10-1959, age 69, in Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia, USA.
and Major General, Commander 1st Infantry Division, nickname “The Big red One “James Collins. The 1st Infantry Division 
of the United states Army the oldest division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917. It was officially nicknamed the The Big Red One after its shoulder patch and is also nicknamed The Fighting First. However, with typical soldier gallows humor, the division has also received troop monikers of The Big Dead One and The Bloody First as puns on the respective officially-sanctioned nicknames. It is currently based at Fort Rilley, Kansas. Other commanders Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen from August 42 – July 43, Major General Clarence R. Huebner
from July 43 – December 44, Major General 
, from December 44 – Augustus 46. Casualties during the European campaign, 4.411 killed in action, 7.201 wounded in action, 1.056 missing or died of wounds.
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