Sebree, Edmund Bower.

Sebree, Edmund Bower, born 07-01-1898 in Olmy, Illinois, was a General and commander of US Army forces during World War II. During the strategically significant Guadalcanal Campaign he briefly commanded the American Division units engaged with Japanese forces for control of the island. Following the Guadalcanal Campaign, General Sebree was returned to the U.S. to train and deploy with the 35^th Infantry Division, nickname “Santa Fe”  from October 1943 until February 1945, commander General William Simpson serving as its Assistant Division Commander. Casualties of 35^th Infantry Division during the war:  total, 7.296 with killed in action 1.018 and wounded in action 6.278. During World War I, Battery D of the 129^th Field Artillery Regiment  had, as a battery commander, Captain Harry Shipp Trumann, later President of the United States. During the Lorraine Campaign, Sebree led an independent task force of infantry and armored units with artillery and supporting arms in the liberation of Nancy. From 01-03-1945 he was Assistant Division Commander of the 28^th Infantry Division, nickname “Keystone”  under General Norman “Dutch” Cota. It is nicknamed the “Keystone Division,” as it was formed from units of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Pennsylvania is known as the “Keystone State”. It was also nicknamed the “Bloody Bucket” division by German forces during the Second World War due to its red insignia. Casualties during their 196 days of combat amount 16.762. Private Eddie Donald Slovik the only U.S. soldier executed for desertion during World War II was a member of the 28^th Division

 Although over 21.000 American soldiers were given varying sentences for desertion during World War II, including 49 death sentences, Slovik’s was the only death sentence that was actually executed on 31-01-1945, age 24. After the war, Sebree served as the first Defense Attaché to Australia.

Death and burial ground of Sebree, Edmund Bower.

  Sebree, died age 68, on 25-06-1966 and is buried on the National Cemetery in San Franscico. Ed married his high school sweetheart, Pauline “Polly’’ Weber, in 1919. Together they shared the joys and sorrows of his long and varied career. Polly only survived Ed by seven months, and they arc buried together in the Presidio of San Francisco National Cemetery. Both of them live on in the hearts of a host of friends. They leave three daughters, all married to Army men: Elizabeth (Mrs. Mark F. Brennan), Martha (Mrs. Robert C. McAlister), and Pauline (Mrs. John L. Olow).

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