Landrum, Eugene Manuel.

Landrum, Eugene, born in Pensacola, Florida on 06-02-1891, to Captain Confederate states Army Samuel Winburn Landrum (1834–1896( and his wife Mary Susan, born Chapman Landrum (1848–1930) Eugene had onre sister and two brothers, Kate Chapman Landrum (1885-1965) , William Morgan Landrum (1876–1958) and Banjamin Alonzo Landrum (1876–1958) Eugene in 1918 was married with, Frances Richardson, born Yeater Landrum (1894–1961)

Eugene Sr. was educated in Florida and enlisted in the Alabama National Guard’s Company M, 1^st Regiment in 1909. He joined the Army as a member of the Coast Artillery Corps on 20-10-1910, age 19 and quickly transferred to the Infantry. Landrum served in the 17^th and 2^nd Infantry Regiments, and attained the rank of Sergeant. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 20^th Infantry Divison on November 1916. He served initially in Hawai, where he was promoted to First Lieutenant. At the start of World War I Landrum was assigned to the 43^rd Infantry Regiment, and performed duty as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Robert Kennon Evans   in the Philippines. Evans died on 03-07-1926. Landrum later took part in action in Russia as part of American Expeditionary Force Siberia. After the war Landrum continued his Army career, receiving promotion to Captain and carrying out Infantry and Adjutant General assignments in Washington D.C. and at forts including Leavenworth, Benning, and Lewis. He was promoted to Major in 1927. Landrum graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff Collegein in 1933 and the United States Army War College in 1936. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1938. When World War II began Landrum was Chief of Staff of the 3^rd Infantry Division, nickname “Rock of the Marne”  at Fort Lewis, and he received temporary promotion to Colonel. Casualties of the 3^rd Infantry Division during the war were 3.177 killed in action with 12.940 wounded. In 1942 he was promoted to temporary Brigadier General. Landrum commanded the 7^th Infantry Division, nicknamed  “Hourglass Division, “Bayonet Division”, or California Division” and other forces in Alaska during combat as the United States reclaimed islands in the Atleutians which had been seized by the Japanese. On 01-07-1940, the 7^th Division was reactivated at Camp Ord, California, under the command of Major General Joseph Warren Stilwell. For his service in Alaska Landrum received both the Army and Navy Disingquist Service Medal. During World War II, soldiers of the 7^th Infantry Division were awarded three Medals of Honor, 26 Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, 982 Silver Star Medals, 33 Legion of Merit Medals, 50 Soldier’s Medals, 3.853 Bronze Star Medals, and 178 Air Medals. Landrum was promoted to temporary Major General in 1943. Landrum commanded the commanded 8^th Infantry Division, nickname “Golden Arrow Division”  during its training in the United States. Landrum went to Europe shortly before the D-Day invasion, with Twelfth United States Army Group commander Omar “Brad” Bradley intending to keep him unassigned and available to command a division on short notice. The 90^th Infantry Division, nickname “Tough Ombres”    took part in the D-Day invasion,

   American   coming ashore at D-Day plus one and conducting combat activities in Normandy. In July, 1944, VII Corps Commander James Lawton Collins became concerned that the 90^th Division was not performing effectively in combat. As a result, he relieved division commander Brigadier General Jay Ward Mackelvie  and two regimental commanders. Landrum was then assigned to replace MacKelvie, who died very old age 95, on 05-12-1985. . Landrum commanded the 90^th Infantry Division during the rest of July and into August. Casualties of the 90^th total 7.549, KIA 1.091, WIA 6.458. During this period Landrum became involved in a verbal altercation with his Assistant Division Commander, Brigadier General, Samuel Tankersley Williams  and requested that Williams be reduced in rank to Colonel and reassigned. Williams died old age 86, on 26-04-1984. Landrum’s superiors concurred, and the action was carried out. Williams remained in the Army and was promoted again to Brigadier General in 1951, and advanced to Lieutenant General before retiring in 1960. In August, Landrum’s corps and army group commanders were still not satisfied with the performance of the 90^th Division, and Landrum was relieved. He was succeeded by Raymond McLain and returned to the United States. Upon returning to the United States Landrum commanded the 71^th Infantry Division during its mobilization and training before it departed for combat in Europe. He then commanded the Infantry Advance Replacement Training Center at Camp Maxey. Following World War II Landrum returned to his permanent rank of Colonel and continued his career, including assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Fifth Army  in Chicago. During the Korean War Landrum served with the Eighty Army, first as Deputy Chief of Staff and then Chief of Staff. At the time numbered army commanders were not officially authorized to have deputy commanders, so Landrum served as the de facto deputy for General Walton Harris Walker, the Eighth Army commander. Walker, who had served with Landrum at Fifth Army, relied on him during the Eighth Army’s organization of the Pusan Perimeter as the Eighth Army organized the defensive action which enabled U.S. and South Korean forces to begin the counterattack that pushed the North Korean north across the 38^th Parralel. Walker, who always referred to Landrum as “General Landrum” in recognition of his temporary World War II rank, made Landrum responsible for finding replacement troops and reinforcements and employing them where they could be most effective. Landrum received a second award of the Distinguished Service Medal to recognize his efforts in Korea. Landrum served until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, retiring in a ceremony at Fort Mason, California.

Death and burial ground of Landrum, Eugene Manuel.

In retirement Landrum resided in San Jose , California. Eugene Manuel Landrum died in Springfield, Illinois on 24-07-1967, age 76 and was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery, Section DE, Site 17-A.

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