Samuel Rockenbach

Samuel Dickerson Rockenbach (27 January 1869 – 16 May 1952) was an American Brigadier General and father of the United States Tank Corps.

Samuel Dickerson Rockenbach
Rockenbach circa 1918
Born(1869-01-27)January 27, 1869
Lynchburg, Virginia
DiedMay 16, 1952(1952-05-16) (aged 83)
Washington, D.C.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1891-1933
RankBrigadier General
Service number0-397
UnitU.S. Army Cavalry Branch
Commands heldBase Section Number 1, Saint-Nazaire, France
Tank Corps, First United States Army
U.S. Army Tank Corps
U.S. Army Tank School
Military District of Washington
2nd Cavalry Brigade
2nd Field Artillery Brigade
Battles/warsAmerican Indian Wars
Pancho Villa Expedition
Spanish-American War
World War I
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Spouse(s)Emma Baldwin (m. 1898-1945, her death)
RelationsTheodore Anderson Baldwin (father-in-law)
Other workCommandant, Kemper Military School

Biography

Rockenbach was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on January 27, 1869, the son of Frank J. Rockenbach and Jane Nicolson Rockenbach.[1] He attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated third in the class of 1889 and was designated a distinguished graduate.[2][3]

In 1898, Rockenbach married Emma Baldwin, who was the daughter of Theodore Anderson Baldwin.[2]

Rockenbach was the commander of Kemper Military School and also served in the Missouri Militia.[2] He received a commission in the United States Cavalry in 1891.[4] He served repeatedly with John J. Pershing, including serving as quartermaster during the Pancho Villa Expedition.[4] In 1912, Rockenbach graduated from the United States Army War College.[5]

During World War I

In December 1917, he was appointed by Pershing to command the AEF's Tank Corps.[6]

In 1918, Rockenbach organized, trained, equipped, and deployed the first American tank units to the European Western Front during World War I.[7]

After World War I

He remained chief of the Tanks Corps until 1920. He directed the tank school at Fort Meade, Maryland until 1924.[8]

From 1928 to his retirement in 1933, he commanded the Second Artillery Brigade at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.[2]

Rockenbach died on May 16, 1952.[2]

Awards

Rockenbach received the Army Distinguished Service Medal.[9] In addition, he was a recipient of the French Croix de Guerre and Officer of the Legion of Honor awards, and the Commander of the Order of the Bath from Great Britain.[1]

Legacy

His papers are held by the Virginia Military Institute.[10]

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References
  1. Davis, Arthur Kyle, ed. (1923). Virginians of Distinguished Service of the World War. Richmond, VA: Virginia War History Commission. p. 140 – via Google Books.
  2. Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 313–314. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  3. "Virginia Military Institute: The Class". Staunton Spectator. Staunton, VA. July 10, 1889. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Hacker, Barton C.; Vining, Margaret (2006). American Military Technology: The Life Story of a Technology. Greenwood Press. p. 66. ISBN 0313333084. OCLC 62342068.
  5. U.S. Army Adjutant General (1912). Official Army Register. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 164 – via Google Books.
  6. Pershing, John J. (2013). My Life Before the World War, 1860-1917: A Memoir. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 317. ISBN 9780813141978.
  7. Samuel D. Rockenbach, "The Rockenbach Report: Operations of the Tank Corps A.E.F." (Silver Spring, MD: Dale Street Books, 2016), pp. 9-21.
  8. Hacker, Barton C.; Vining, Margaret (2006). American Military Technology: The Life Story of a Technology. Greenwood Press. p. 67. ISBN 0313333084. OCLC 62342068.
  9. "Valor awards for Samuel D. Rockenbach".
  10. "VMI Archives Catalog - Samuel D. Rockenbach Papers".
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