U.S. ARMY CHEMICAL CORPS

Hall of Fame

2005

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General Anthony C. McAuliffe

 

General Anthony Clement McAuliffe was born in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 1898. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and, in January 1942, was designated Chief of the Ordnance and Coast Artillery Section. In August 1942, he joined the 101st Airborne Division and participated in the allied invasion of Normandy.

 

In December 1944, during the absence of the Division Commander, General McAuliffe commanded the Division and the attached troops in the defense of Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. When surrounded by the German Army and given an ultimatum to surrender, he responded with a single word answer, “NUTS.” He would receive the Distinguished Service Cross from General Patton “For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy,” for his leadership during the epic stand at Bastogne.

 

In 1946, General McAuliffe served at Bikini during the testing of atomic bombs. He then became Army Secretary of the Joint Research and Development Board. In 1947, he was designated Deputy Director for Research and Development of the Logistics Division. He was appointed Chief of the Chemical Corps, 1949-1951. As Chief of Chemical, he reactivated Dugway Proving Grounds and because he felt it was a safe area to test weapons it was expanded by 279,000 acres. General McAuliffe was also the first Chief of Chemical to address the American Chemical Society. In December 1954, he was named Commanding General, United States Army in Europe.

 

General McAuliffe retired on 31 May 1956 and passed away 11 August 1975.

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