Major General Eugene M. Landrum (February 6, 1891 – July 24, 1967) was a senior United States Army officer. He is known primarily for defeating the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands Campaign at the start of World War II, being relieved as commander of the 90th Infantry Division shortly after the D-Day landings, and organizing the Pusan Perimeter to blunt the North Korean offensive during the Korean War.
Early life and military career Eugene Manuel Landrum was born in Pensacola, Florida, on February 6, 1891. He was educated in Florida and enlisted in the Alabama National Guard’s Company M of the 1st Regiment in 1909.Alabama, National Guard Index Cards, 1897–1924 Record for Eugene M Landrum, 1909 He joined the United States Army as a member of the Coast Artillery Corps on August 20, 1910, and quickly transferred to the Infantry Branch.U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798–1914, Record for Eugene M Landrum, 1910 Landrum served in the 17th and 2nd Infantry Regiments, and attained the rank of sergeant.David T. Zabecki, Chief of Staff: The Principal Officers Behind History's Great Commanders, 2008, pages 169-171
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch, and was assigned to the 20th Infantry Regiment in November 1916.National Infantry Association, Infantry Journal, Volume 13, Part 2, 1917, page 613 He served initially in Hawaii, where he was promoted to first lieutenant.United States Committee on Public Information, Official U.S. Government Bulletin, Volume 1, 1918, page 51
Shortly after the American entry into World War I, in April 1917, Landrum was assigned to the 43rd Infantry Regiment, and performed duty as aide-de-camp to Robert K. Evans in the Philippines.Government of the Philippines, Official Gazette, Volume 16, Part 2, 1918, page 1190 Landrum later took part in action in Russia as part of American Expeditionary Force, Siberia.United States. Dept. of the Army. Historical Division, United States Army in World War II: The War Department, Volume 2, 1951, page 403
Between the wars 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.New York Times, Gen. Davis Assumes Direction of Bonus; Adjutant General Combines New Duties With Regular Ones of His Office, May 28, 19241920 United States Federal Census, entry for Eugene M. Landrum1940 United States Federal Census, entry for Eugene M. Landrum In the mid-1930s, he commanded the 23rd Forestry District of the Civilian Conservation Corps, with headquarters in Marion, Illinois.
Landrum graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School in 1933 and the U.S. Army War College in 1936. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 1, 1938.David T. Zabecki, Chief of Staff: The Principal Officers Behind History's Great Commanders, 2008, pages 169-171
World War II When the United States entered World War II in December 1941 Landrum was Chief of Staff of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, after receiving a temporary promotion to colonel in June 26.Army and Navy Journal, Inc., Army and Navy Journal, Volume 77, Issues 27–52, 1940, page 731
On March 12, 1942, he was promoted to temporary brigadier general and was assigned as assistant division commander (ADC) of the 3rd Infantry Division until June when William W. Eagles succeeded him. Landrum served with the 7th Infantry Division in the Aleutian Islands campaign during combat as the United States reclaimed islands in the Aleutians which had been seized by the Japanese.George L. MacGarrigle, Aleutian Islands, 1992, page 21Keith D. Dickson, World War Two Almanac, 2008, page 193Walter R. Borneman, Alaska, 2009, page 360New York Times, General Sums Up Situation, May 30, 1943 For his service in Alaska, Landrum received both the Army and Navy Distinguished Service Medals.Associated Press, The Evening Independent (St. Petersburg), Attu Conqueror Wins Decoration, August 12, 1943Time magazine, Double DSM, Volume 42, 1943, page 53Harry Gailey, War in the Pacific: From Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay, 2011
Landrum was promoted to temporary major general on March 13, 1943 and commanded the 87th Infantry Division during its training in the United States. He relinquished command and went to Europe shortly before the June 1944 D-Day invasion, with U.S. First Army commander Omar Bradley, keeping Landrum unassigned and available to command a division on short notice.New York Times, President Names 23 Major Generals, March 26, 1943
The 90th Infantry Division took part in the D-Day invasion, coming ashore on D-Day+1 and conducting combat activities in Normandy.U.S. Army Center of Military History, Combat Chronicle, 90th Infantry Division , accessed May 7, 2013 Major General J. Lawton Collins, commanding the VII Corps, became concerned that the 90th, which had not seen service in the war so far, was not performing effectively in combat. As a result, he relieved the division commander, Brigadier General Jay W. MacKelvie and assigned Landrum as his replacement.John C. McManus, The Americans at Normandy, 2005, page 99
Landrum commanded the division during the rest of June and into August. During this period, he became involved in a verbal altercation with his ADC, Brigadier General Samuel Tankersley Williams, and requested that Williams be reduced in rank to colonel and reassigned. Landrum's superiors concurred, and the action was carried out. (Despite this, Williams remained in the army and was eventually promoted again to brigadier general in 1951, and advanced to lieutenant general before retiring in 1960.)Benjamin L. Bradley, Searching For Competence: The Initial Combat Experience Of Untested U.S. Army Divisions In World War II, A Case Study Of The 90th Infantry Division, June–July 1944, 2005, page 9 In August, Landrum's corps, army and army group commanders were still not satisfied with the performance of the 90th Division, and Landrum was relieved. He was succeeded by Major General Raymond S. McLain, and returned to the United States.Martin Blumenson, Masters of the Art of Command, 1990, page 369
Upon returning to the United States Landrum succeeded Robert L. Spragins as commander of the 71st Infantry Division during its mobilization and training before it departed for combat in Europe.Headquarters, 71st Infantry Division, The History of the 71st Infantry Division, 1946, page 23 He did not remain in command when the division departed for Europe, but was reassigned to command the Infantry Advanced Replacement Training Center at Camp Maxey, Texas.David G. Chandler, James Lawton Collins, The D-Day Encyclopedia, 1994, page 340
Postwar 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.Boston Globe, , March 8, 1946Army and Navy Journal, Inc., Army and Navy Journal, Volume 86, Issues 1–26, 1948, page 273
Korean War During the Korean War Landrum served with Eighth Army, first as Deputy Chief of Staff and then Chief of Staff.
At the time, commanders of numbered armies were not officially authorized deputies, so Landrum served as the de facto deputy for General Walton Walker, the Eighth Army commander.Roy Edgar Appleman, United States Army in the Korean War, Volume 1, page 109
Walker, who had served with Landrum at Fifth Army, relied on him during organization of the Pusan Perimeter as Eighth Army organized the defensive action which enabled U.S. and South Korean forces to begin the counterattack that pushed the North Koreans north across the 38th Parallel. 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.Uzal W. Ent, Fighting on the Brink: Defense of the Pusan Perimeter, 1996, page 213Roy E. Appleman, Disaster in Korea: The Chinese Confront Macarthur, 209, page 336 Landrum received a second award of the Distinguished Service Medal to recognize his efforts in Korea.Military Times, Hall of Valor, Distinguished Service Medal citation, Eugene Manuel Landrum, accessed May 7, 2013
Landrum served until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60. He retired at his wartime rank of major general in a ceremony at Fort Mason, California.Associated Press, Corpus Christi Times, Col. Landrum Retires, March 1, 1951
Death and burial In retirement Landrum resided in San Jose, California.Army and Navy Journal Inc., Army, Navy, Air Force Journal, Volume 94, Issues 1–26, page 118 He died in Springfield, Illinois, on July 24, 1967, and was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery, Section DE, Site 17-A.U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Nationwide Gravesite Locator , accessed May 6, 2013California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1895–1985, entry for Major General Eugene M Landrum, 1967
Family Landrum was married to Frances Richardson Yeater (1894–1961), the daughter of Charles Yeater.Army and Navy Journal Incorporated, Army, Navy, Air Force Journal, Volume 98, Issues 27–52, 1961, page 1100Walter Williams, Floyd Calvin Shoemaker, Missouri, Mother of the West, Volume 4, 1930, page 93 Their children included son Eugene and daughter Marianna.Nelle Morris Jenkins, Morris Genealogy, 1605 to 1959, 1959, page 33
References
External resources Generals of World War II