Doe, Jens Anderson.

Doe, Jens Anderson, born on 20-06-1891 in Chicago, Illinois. to Norwegian immigrant parents, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 11th Infantry on 12-06-1914. Among his classmates there were several future general officers, such as Carl Spaatz, Brehon Burke Somervell, James Bell Cress, Frank William Milburn, Robert Wilson Crawford, Orlando Ward, Harry Clyde Ingles, and William Henry Holcombe. Doe was initially stationed with the 11th Infantry nickname “Lafayette Division” successively at Texas City, Texas, Naco, Arizona, and Douglas, Arizona.

Doe was promoted to first lieutenant on 01-07-1916 and captain on 15-05-1917, a few weeks after the American entry into World War I. From May to August 1917 he was stationed with the 11th Infantry at Fort Oglethorpe. He attended a machine gun training course at Fort Sill before assuming command of the 15th Machine Gun Battalion in December 1917. In April 1918, he sailed for France.

Promoted to major on 07-07-1918, Doe served as 5th Infantry Division under command of Major General John Eugen McMahon, before assuming command of the 14th Machine Gun Battalion, also of the 5th Division, in July.  As such, he participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensive, where he was wounded. His gallantry earned him the Silver Star.

In November 1918, Doe organised and became an instructor at the Army Machine Gun School at Langres. He was an instructor at the II Corps Schools, and a student at the Artillery Center. In June 1919 he joined the 61st Infantry, returning to the United States with it in June 1919.

In September 1919 he became an instructor at the Infantry School at Fort Benning.

He attended the Field Officers’ Course in 1921-1922, after which he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, as a machine gun officer at Fort Custer, and to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Doe attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth from 1925 to 1926 and on graduation was posted to the 15th Infantry at Tientsin, China. He did not return to the United States until 1930, when he joined the 16th Infantry at Fort Jay. He then commanded the machine gun school at Fort Dix until 1932, when he left to attend the United States Army War College. After nearly 18 years as a major, he was finally promoted to lieutenant colonel on 01-01-1936. He was an instructor at the Command and General Staff College and Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of California, Berkeley.

Doe joined the newly reformed 7th Division at Fort Ord in September 1940 and assumed command of its 17th Infantry Regiment in November. He was promoted to colonel on 26-06-1941. In June 1942, six months after the United States entered World War II, Doe was sent to Australia to command the 163rd Infantry.

The 163rd Infantry was selected as the first regiment of the 41st Infantry Division to enter combat, at Sanananda in January 1943. For his leadership, Doe was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Brigadier General Jens Anderson Doe and his aide, First Lieutenant Rob D. Trimble during the landing at Arare, May 1944.

Major General George Alan Vasey, commanding the 7th Australian Division (left), chatting to Colonel Jens A. Doe, commanding the U.S. 163rd Infantry Regiment (center), and other Australian officers at a unit headquarters in the forward area during the advance to Sanananda, January 1943.

This action also resulted in Doe becoming the Assistant Division Commander (ADC) and being promoted to Brigadier General on 02-02-1943. Doe led the Persecution Task Force that landed at Aitape, and the Tornado Task Force that landed at Wakde, both of which were built around the 163rd Infantry. For these actions he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal..His task force was absorbed back into the 41st Infantry Division for the Battle of Biak. In this battle he earned an oak leaf cluster to the Silver Star he had won in the Great War. :

In the Southwest Pacific in June 1944, he displayed outstanding leadership and devotion to duty under Japanese machine gun, rifle and mortar fire, and in personally moving among forward assault troops. By his calm manner and courageous actions, he greatly assisted the advance.

At Biak the commander of the 41st Infantry Division, Major General Horace Hayes Fuller asked to be relieved of his command. Both Fuller and Major General Robert L. Eichelberger,

  commanding I Corps, had recommended Doe for the next available divisional command, so Doe assumed command of the 41st Infantry Division and was promoted to Major General on 01-08-1944. For his leadership at Biak he was also awarded an oak leaf cluster to his Distinguished Service Medal.

In February and March 1945, Doe led 41st Infantry Division at Palawan and Zamboanga, where he earned a second oak leaf cluster to his Silver Star. His citation read:

For gallantry in action at Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippine Islands from 10-03-1945 to 23-04-1945. During this time in the capacity of division commander General Doe directed the initial assault and the consequent capture of Zamboanga. His outstanding leadership, indomitable courage and skilful tactical knowledge resulted in his division scoring a firm foothold on Mindanao Island. On many occasions without regard to his personal safety, he went forward to units engaged in heavy fighting in order to gain first hand information bout the tactical situation.

Death and burial ground of Doe, Jens Anderson.

Doe remained in command of the 41st Infantry Division until it was inactivated in Japan at midnight on 31-12-1945. He returned to the United States for a brief tour of duty at the War Department before assuming command of the 5th Infantry Division, with which he had served in World War I, at Fort Campbell on 09-08-1946. On 29-09-1946 he assumed command of the 3rd Infantry Division and, from July 1947 until February 1949, he took command of the 4th Infantry Division

Doe was promoted to the permanent rank of Major General in 1948, backdated to 06-09-1944. He retired from the army in February 1949 and died on 25-02-1971, in California. Jens Doe is buried at West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York, United States. Section V, Row C, Site 164.

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