James Harbord
James G. Harbord | |
|---|---|
Harbord, pictured here in France in October 1918 when he was a major general | |
| Birth name | James Guthrie Harbord |
| Born | March 21, 1866 Bloomington, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 1947 (aged 81) Rye, New York, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1889–1922 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Service number | 0-18 |
| Unit | Cavalry Branch |
| Commands | 4th Marine Brigade 2nd Division Services of Supply, American Expeditionary Forces |
| Conflicts | Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Mexican Border War World War I |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
| Alma mater | Kansas State University (BS, MS) |
James Guthrie Harbord (March 21, 1866 – August 20, 1947) was a senior officer of the United States Army and president and chairman of the board of RCA. During World War I, he served from mid-1917 to mid-1918 as chief of staff of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), commanded by General John J. Pershing, before commanding a brigade and briefly a division and then the AEF Services of Supply. In the former role he was, in the words of former soldier-turned historian David T. Zabecki,
The U.S. Army's first modern operational-level chief of staff in a combat theater, and he would be the model for all others who followed. He played a key role in developing the staff structure and organization used throughout the U.S. military to this day, as well as by most NATO countries. He was one of the most influential U.S. Army officers of the early 20th century.