Bates C. Burnell

152087044948026589 — Maj. Gen. Bates C. Burnell

Bates Cavanaugh Burnell, Sr. (15 August 1923 in Portland, Oregon - 5 April 2007 in Boise, Idaho) was a United States Army Major General and professional engineer. He was known for his long career with the Army's Corps of Engineers.

Early life[]

Bates was born in Portland, Oregon on August 15, 1923, to Ray L. and Beatrice I. M. Burnell. He also had two brothers (Ray Jr. and James)

Military service & assignments[]

151580237395371750 — Official 1945 West Point Graduation Photo

1941 - 1945: Attended the United States Military Academy, graduated on June 5, 1945
1945 - 1966: Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, (ASN 0–27241); saw action in World War II, the Korean War, and part of the Vietnam War
1966 - 1968: Deputy Director of Social Studies, United States Army
1968 - 1969: Troop Command Engineer and member of the 159th Engineer Group (Construction), United States Army
1969 - 1973: Division Engineering, Huntsville
1973 - 1975: Commanding General of the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command, Huntsville, Alabama, United States Army
1975 - 1977: Director of Military Construction, United States Army, Washington
1977 - 1978: Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of Logistics, United States Army
1978 - 1979: Deputy Chief of Engineers, United States Army
1979: Retired from the Army on May 31, 1979, with the rank of Major General

Dates of rank[]

June 5, 1945: Second Lieutenant (permanent)
October 4, 1946: First Lieutenant (temporary)
June 23, 1948: First Lieutenant (permanent)
October 17, 1950: Captain (temporary)
February 28, 1952: Major (temporary)
March 18, 1952: Captain (permanent)
June 5, 1959: Major (permanent)
July 14, 1960: Lieutenant Colonel (temporary)
June 5, 1966: Lieutenant Colonel (permanent)
June 29, 1966: Colonel (temporary)
June 5, 1970: Colonel (permanent)
October 22, 1970: Brigadier General (temporary)
August 1, 1974: Brigadier General (permanent)
September 1, 1974: Major General (temporary)
February 22, 1976: Major General (permanent)

Awards and decorations[]

His military decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak leaf clusters, and Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

Later life[]

After his retirement he became the Vice President of the Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc Company Inc. in Boise, Idaho which he held from 1979 to 1984. He later became the chairman and Managing Director of the Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc International Company from 1984 to 1988 which he retired from. He has been a senior associate with Lemley & Associations since 1989.

Education[]

Bates received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Military Academy in 1945 and his Master of Science Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1949. He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1956.

Personal life[]

He married Shirley E. Banks and together they had four children (Bates Jr, Barbara, Stuart, and Michael). She died on January 9, 2015.

Death[]

Bates passed away on April 5, 2007, in Boise, Idaho at the age of 83. He was buried in the USMA Post Cemetery in West Point, New York.