Philip De Witt Ginder
Philip De Witt Ginder was a career soldier in the United States Army. A highly decorated combat veteran, he rose to the rank of major general during the Korean War, while commanding the [45th Infantry Branch (United States)|Infantry Division (United States)|45th Infantry Division]. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the United States' second-highest military award.
Early life
Ginder was born on September 19, 1905, in Plainfield, New Jersey, the son of Grant D. and Emma Edith Ginder. He was raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Scranton Central High School in 1923. In high school, Ginder was the senior class president, manager of the football team, and president of the school's athletic association.Ginder passed a competitive examination for a Congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy offered by Representative Laurence Hawley Watres. He began attendance at West Point in 1923, graduated in 1927, and was ranked 171st of 293. Ginder's graduation was the subject of news headlines because he took his final exams after having undergone an emergency appendectomy just one day prior. At graduation, he received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry.
Start of career
Ginder completed the infantry officer qualification course in 1933, and his early career included postings to: Fort Wadsworth, New York; Manila, Philippine Islands; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Missoula, Montana; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.World War II
During World War II, Ginder was the assistant chief of staff for personnel for the Fourth United States Army. Appointed to command the 357th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 90th Infantry Division, he was among the first ashore during the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Ginder developed a reputation for subpar performance in combat, with observers and subordinates calling him "obtuse" and "full of boast and posturing." 357th veteran William E. DePuy called Ginder "as close to being incompetent as it is possible to be." Ginder was ultimately relieved of command during combat and escorted to the division command post under armed guard.He was in command of the 9th Infantry Regiment when it captured the German town of Hürtgen as part of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. It was for this action that he received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions on November 28, 1944, when he personally led his reserve company through the town in bitter house-to-house fighting while armed only with his pistol and a hand grenade. The citation for the DSC reads:
Ginder was appointed the commanding officer of the 9th Infantry Regiment in the spring of the 1945, replacing Chester Hirschfelder. Ginder commanded the regiment until the end of the war, taking part in liberating the western part of Czechoslovakia, and ending the war in the town of Rokycany near Pilsen.
In addition to his DSC, Ginder was also awarded the Silver Star, "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy", and the Legion of Merit, "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States" for his service during the war.
Post-war service
From 1946 to 1949, Ginder attended the National War College and served in the Far East on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur. From 1949 to 1951, he served as senior military attaché in Prague, Czechoslovakia.Korean War and senior commands
Ginder commanded the 6th Infantry Regiment in Berlin from 1951 to 1952 and the 45th Infantry Division in Korea during 1953. He led the 37th Infantry Division at Fort Riley in 1954. From 1954 to 1955, he commanded the 10th Mountain Division, and he was succeeded by George E. Martin. Ginder commanded Fifth United States Army in 1955. He went to Korea as a colonel, and advanced to major general in less than two years, making him the youngest American general to command a combat division in Korea. His service in Korea included nearly 18 months spent north of the 38th parallel. His service there resulted in him being awarded with the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which reads:After the Korean War, Ginder commanded Fort Polk, Fort Riley, Camp McCoy, the Fifth United States Army, and served in the office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army as special assistant for Reserve and National Guard Forces. His final posting was to Governor's Island as deputy commander of First United States Army. He retired a major general in 1959, and was granted a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to his Legion of Merit, with the citation reading:
Post-military career
After his retirement from the army, Ginder was president of the Brazilian-American Export Company, and joined the boards of directors of several other companies.Ginder died at New York City's Trafalgar Hospital on November 7, 1968, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He was buried at West Point Cemetery, Section V, Row A, Site 41.