Milton Reckord

Milton Atchison Reckord
Reckford as a Major general.
Born	(1879-12-28)December 28, 1879
Died	September 8, 1975(1975-09-08) (aged 95)
Place of birth	Harford County, Maryland
Place of death	Ruxton, Maryland
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1901–1920, 1941–1945 (US Army) 1920–1941, 1945–1966 (National Guard)
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Maryland National Guard 58th Infantry Brigade 29th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (4) Bronze Star Medal Legion of Honor

Milton Atchison Reckord (December 28, 1879 – September 8, 1975) was an important figure in the history of the National Guard of the United States. He also served as Adjutant General of the State of Maryland

Early life and family

Reckord was born to John and Lydia (Zimmerman) Reckord at their home in Harford County, Maryland. He commenced work at his father's milling plant in 1896 upon his graduation from Bel Air High School. He was married to Bessie Payne Roe from 1910 until her death in 1943, and had one daughter with her, Gladys Atchison Reckord.

Military career

Reckord expressed desire to serve in the military, but, at the request of his mother, delayed entry into service until he turned 21. He enlisted in Company D, 1st Maryland Infantry, Maryland National Guard on February 15, 1901, and would eventually rise to command the same company when he was commissioned as a captain in December 1904. As a major, in 1916, Reckord was given command of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Maryland Infantry, which deployed to the Mexican border and served in the Mexican Expedition commanded by Gen. John J. Pershing. When the 29th Infantry Division was created on the eve of World War I in 1917, Reckord was given command of one of its regiments, the 115th Infantry, which saw combat during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. In 1920, he was appointed Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard and, in 1934, while still serving as Maryland's Adjutant General, he assumed command of the 29th Infantry Division.

During the years between the First and Second World War, Reckord was a leading advocate for increasing the role of the National Guard in the United States' national defensive strategy. From 1923 to 1925, he served as president of the National Guard Association of the United States. In 1933, he authored legislation that permanently gave National Guard personnel status as both state and federal troops.

General Reckord speaks to a special services volunteer

Reckord was mobilized for World War II with the 29th Infantry Division in February 1941 and took a leave of absence from his post as Maryland's Adjutant General. Deemed by the Army to be too old to command a division in combat, he was relieved of command and assigned as the commander of the III Corps Area. He later deployed overseas and was named Theater Provost Marshal, European Theater of Operations.

After World War II, Reckord returned to his post as the Adjutant General of Maryland. He was promoted to Lieutenant General by Governor J. Millard Tawes in 1961, and continued to serve as Adjutant General until his retirement in 1966.

Legacy

The Reckord Trophy is a prize awarded annually to the Army National Guard battalion(s) that achieves the highest standards of training and readiness. The Reckord Trophy is one of the highest peacetime awards given to National Guard units.

Reckord Armory, a recreation and athletics building on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park, was named for Milton Reckord in 1961. There is also a National Guard facility in the town of Bel Air, in Harford County, Maryland known as Reckord Armory. It is now a Recreational facility.

Awards and medals

Lieutenant general Reckford´s decorations list include following awards and medals:

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters						Bronze Star Medal
2nd Row	Mexican Border Service Medal				World War I Victory Medal w/ two battle clasps				American Defense Service Medal				American Campaign Medal
3rd Row	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ 3 service stars				World War II Victory Medal				Army of Occupation Medal				National Defense Service Medal
4th Row	Alabama Distinguished Service Medal				Virginia Distinguished Service Medal				Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal				State of Maryland Distinguished Service Cross
5th Row	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath				Officer of the Legion of Honour				French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 w/ palm				French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 w/ palm

References

• Biographical information about Milton Reckord at UMD Archives

Further reading

• The Maryland National Guard: A History of Maryland's Military Forces 1634-1991, by Joseph M. Balkoski