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Roderick Random Allen
Roderick Random Allen
Born (1894-01-29)January 29, 1894
Died February 1, 1970(1970-02-01) (aged 76)
Place of birth Marshall, Texas
Place of death Washington, D.C.
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Army seal United States Army
Years of service 1916-1954
Rank US-O8 insignia Major General
Service number 0-4652
Commands held 20th Armored Division (United States) 20th Armored Division
12th Armored Division (United States) 12th Armored Division
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Korean War
Awards Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star

Roderick Random Allen[1] (January 29, 1894 - February 1, 1970) was a Major General in the United States Army, who commanded the 20th and 12th Armored Divisions during World War II.

Early life[]

Roderick Random Allen was born on 29 January 1894 as a son of Jefferson Buffington and Emma Allen in the city of Marshall, Texas. He attended the Texas A&M University and earned his Bachelor of Science[2] in 1915. Subsequently he entered the army, and in 1916 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the 16th Cavalry Regiment.

Following the entry of US into the World War, Allen was sent with American Expeditionary Forces under command of general John J. Pershing to the Europe and served there until July 1919.

After return to the US with the rank of captain, he attended Cavalry school at Fort Riley, Kansas and then Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. Allen was then appointed a battalion commander of the 32nd Armor Regiment.

After some time, Allen was transferred back to the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, where he was appointed as an instructor. After two years at Fort Leavenworth Staff School, Allen was detached to Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and then to Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

His next post was a position in Chief of Staff office at War Department in Washington, D.C., where he served until July, 1940.[3] In this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant colonel on August 1, 1938.

Second World War[]

Then he was appointed an operations officer of the 1st Armored Regiment, located at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In April of the following year, he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana.

On October 14, 1941 Allen was promoted again, to the rank of Colonel and was appointed a commanding officer of the 32nd Armor Regiment. He spent in this capacity just two months and then was transferred to the 6th Armored Division under command of Major General William H. H. Morris, Jr. and became his chief of staff. On April of the year 1942, Allen was transferred to the 4th Armored Division and was appointed a commander of the Combat Command A. Subsequently, on May 23, 1942, Allen was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, Army of the United States. With his Combat Command A, Allen participated in the several maneuvers including Tennessee (1942) and California (1942–43).

At the end of January, 1943, Allen received a temporary rank of Major General and in October of the same year, he was transferred to the recently created 20th Armored Division at Fort Campbell, where he was appointed Commanding officer of the division. Allen stayed in the command until the end of September, 1944 in United States and subsequently was transferred to the 12th Armored Division.

Major General Allen assumed the command of freshly incoming 12th Armored Division, which was sent from United States to Liverpool to reinforce US forces in Europe. Allen succeeded Major General Douglass T. Greene in command of the division.

Postwar Life[]

Major general Roderick R. Allen retired from the Army on May 31, 1954 and lived in Washington, D.C., where he died at the age of 76 on February 1, 1970. He is buried together with his wife, Maydelle Campbell Allen (1891-1967) at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.[4]

Decorations[]

Major General Allen´s ribbon bar:[5][6]

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon
Silver Star ribbonLegion of Merit ribbon
Bronze Star ribbon Army Commendation Medal ribbon Mexican Border Service Medal ribbon
Gold star
World War I Victory Medal ribbon
American Defense Service ribbon American Campaign Medal ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon
World War II Victory Medal ribbon
Army of Occupation ribbon National Defense Service Medal ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
KSMRib
Legion Honneur Officier ribbon
Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm TCH CS Vojensky Rad Bileho Lva (1945) BAR Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 Bar United Nations Service Medal for Korea Ribbon
1st Row Army Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster Silver Star Legion of Merit
2nd Row Bronze Star Medal Army Commendation Medal Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal with one battle clasp
3rd Row American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars World War II Victory Medal
4th Row Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Korea Service Medal with two service stars Officer of the Legion of Honor (France)
5th Row French Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with Palm Military Order of the White Lion Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 United Nations Korea Medal

References[]

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Unknown
Commanding General of the 20th Armored Division
1943 – 1944
Succeeded by
Orlando Ward
Preceded by
Douglass T. Greene
Commanding General of the 12th Armored Division
1944 – 1945
Succeeded by
Willard Ames Holbrook, Jr.
Preceded by
Vernon Prichard
Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division
1945 – 1946
Succeeded by
Hobart R. Gay
Preceded by
Ray T. Maddocks
Commanding General of the 3rd Armored Division
1948 – 1950
Succeeded by
Raymond E. S. Williamson
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