Philip C. Wehle

Philip Campbell Wehle (September 5, 1906 – September 20, 1978) was a Major General in the U.S. Army and the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington (MDW) (CG MDW) from 1963 to 1965.

Philip Campbell Wehle
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Born(1906-09-05)September 5, 1906
Westport, Connecticut
DiedSeptember 20, 1978(1978-09-20) (aged 72)
Washington, D.C.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1930-1965
Rank Major General
Service number0-18067
Commands heldMilitary District of Washington
Battles/warsWorld War II
Cold War
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit

Biography

Wehle was born in Westport, Connecticut, the son of John William Wehle, Sr. and Catherine Veronica Campbell Wehle. His older brother, John William Wehle, Jr. rose to Brigadier General in the Marines Corps. The boys were raised in Norwalk.

He graduated from Norwalk High School in 1924[1] then attended West Point, graduating in the Class of 1930 in June.[2]

During World War II, Wehle served a tour of duty in the Pacific Theater of Operations, where he was attached to the first Joint Army-Navy Task Force.

After his return to the United States, Wehle was transferred to Camp Hale, Colorado, where he was appointed commanding officer of an artillery battalion. He was subsequently assigned to the staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as an assistant artillery officer.

He next participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland Campaign and the Central European Campaign. For his service in this capacity, Colonel Wehle was decorated with the Legion of Merit.[3]

After the Second World War, he served with the Allied Occupation Forces in Heidelberg, Germany, and subsequently in the Plans Section until 1949.

He was later appointed the Secretary of the General Staff, Army Field Forces Headquarters at Fort Monroe, Virginia. In 1950, Wehle was transferred back to Europe, to serve as chief of the personnel branch of United States Army, Europe.

In August 1963, Wehle was appointed the commanding general of the Military District of Washington. As CG MDW, he helped plan three state funerals, all of which happened within a span of 12 months:

All three state funerals General Wehle helped plan had one thing in common: the riderless horse was Black Jack. Black Jack would be the riderless horse in one more state funeral: that of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973.

For his service as the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington, Major General Wehle was decorated with the Army Distinguished Service Medal.[4]

He subsequently retired from the Army on September 19, 1965.

Following his retirement, Wehle worked on the staff of the Research and Analysis Corporation in McLean, Virginia. He later taught English language and History at the Heights School in Washington, D.C.

Major General Philip C. Wehle died on September 20, 1978 at Walter Reed Army Hospital, following complications from lung cancer.[5]

He was interred together with his wife Eloise McElroy Wehle (1911-1977) in Arlington National Cemetery.[6]

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Wehle:
1st Row Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit
2nd Row American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with one service star European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars
3rd Row World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster South Korean Order of Military Merit, 2nd Class
Glider Badge

Notes
  1. "NHSAA Honorees" Archived 2008-12-28 at the Wayback Machine, Norwalk High School
  2. "apps.westpointaog.org". Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  3. "Hall of Valor". Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  4. "NHSAA Wall of Honor". Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  5. "The Washington Post". Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  6. "Find a Grave Memorial". Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
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