Edwin Albert Zundel (29 March 1893 – 13 February 1985) was a
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
brigadier general who served on the
Western Front during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, in the
Southwest Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, and as Inspector General, Far East Command, and Inspector General, United Nations Troops—Korea during the
Korean War
The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
. He was a member of the West Point class of 1915, "
the class the stars fell on
"The class the stars fell on" is an expression used to describe the class of 1915 at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. In the United States Army, the insignia reserved for generals is one or more stars. Of the 164 gradu ...
" that also included
Omar Bradley
Omar Nelson Bradley (12 February 1893 – 8 April 1981) was a senior Officer (armed forces), officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He wa ...
and
Dwight Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...
.
Zundel commanded an artillery battalion on the
Western Front during World War I, and was artillery officer of the
Sixth United States Army
Sixth Army is a Theater Army (United States), theater army of the United States Army. The Army service component command of United States Southern Command, its area of responsibility includes 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty in ...
in the
Southwest Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...
during World War II, participating in many of the operations there. In May 1944 he became commander of the
41st Infantry Division Artillery, and was decorated for gallantry in the
Battle of Biak
The Battle of Biak was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II, fought between the United States Army and the Imperial Japanese Army, Japanese Army from 27 May to 17 August 1944. Taking place on the island of Biak, in Geelvink Ba ...
and the
Battle of Mindanao
The Battle of Mindanao ( Filipino: ''Labanan sa Mindanaw;'' Cebuano: ''Panagsangka sa Mindanaw;'' Japanese: ミンダナオの戦い) was fought by the Americans and allied Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese forces on the island of Min ...
. After the war he became chief of the
Counter Intelligence Corps
The Counter Intelligence Corps (Army CIC) was a World War II and early Cold War intelligence agency within the United States Army consisting of highly trained special agents. Its role was taken over by the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps in 1961 and ...
and commandant of its Corps School. He served in the Korean War as Inspector General,
Far East Command, and Inspector General,
United Nations Command
United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command) is the multinational military force established to support the South Korea, Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first attempt at collective security by the U ...
.
Early life
Edwin Albert Zundel was born in
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The population was 14,976 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located southeast of Pittsburgh, Greensburg is a part of the Greater Pittsbu ...
, on 29 March 1893, the only son of Henry McClellan Zundel and his wife Elizabeth née Wineman.
He had four sisters: Bertha, Carolyn, Anna and Mary.
His early life was spent in Greensburg, where he went to school. He played football and for a time considered becoming a Lutheran minister.
Congressman
George F. Huff appointed Zundel to the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
at
West Point, New York
West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York (state), New York, General George Washington stationed his headquarters in West Point in the summer and fall of 1779 durin ...
,
which he entered on 12 June 1911. The class he joined would become famous as the
class the stars fell on.
Of the 164 graduates that year, 59, including Zundel, would wear the stars of a general officer, the most of any class in the history of the Academy.
Classmates included
Omar Bradley
Omar Nelson Bradley (12 February 1893 – 8 April 1981) was a senior Officer (armed forces), officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He wa ...
and
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...
. At West Point he played on the
polo
Polo is a stick and ball game that is played on horseback as a traditional field sport. It is one of the world's oldest known team sports, having been adopted in the Western world from the game of Chovgan (), which originated in ancient ...
team.
World War I
Zundel was commissioned as an additional
second lieutenant in the
3d Field Artillery on graduation on 12 June 1915. He was ranked 29th in the class. It was the largest graduating class up to that time, and the Army had only 105 slots available for them. His first posting was therefore to
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a United States Army, U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.
"Fort Sam Houston, TX • About Fort Sam Houston" (overview), US Army, 2007, webpageSH-Army. Known colloquially as "Fort Sam", it is named for the first president o ...
, Texas. He was transferred to the
4th Field Artillery on 2 November 1915, and then the
6th Field Artillery
Sixth is the ordinal form of the number six.
* The Sixth Amendment, to the U.S. Constitution
* A keg of beer, equal to 5 U.S. gallons or barrel
* The fraction
Music
* Sixth interval (music)s:
** major sixth, a musical interval
** minor sixth ...
on 5 January 1916. The 6th Field Artillery operated in support of units on the Mexican Border with the
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—now known officially in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, but originally referred to as the "Punitive Expedition, US Army"—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the para ...
. He was promoted to
first lieutenant
First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.
The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...
on 1 July 1916, and then
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
on 15 May 1917.
On 4 September 1917, Zundel went to
Leon Springs, Texas
Leon Springs is an unincorporated community in Bexar County, Texas, United States, now partially within the city limits of San Antonio. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 137 in 2000. It is located within t ...
, as an instructor at the 2d Officers' Training Camp. He was subsequently posted to
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, that lies in the north-west to south-east running Sulphur Springs Valley. Douglas has a Douglas, Arizona Port of Entry, border crossing with Mexico at Agua Prieta and a history of min ...
, on 30 November 1917, and then to the
United States Army Field Artillery School
The United States Army Field Artillery School (USAFAS) trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander. The school further devel ...
at
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post north of Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Oklahoma City. It covers almost .
The fort was first built during the Indian Wars. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark a ...
, Oklahoma, on 4 February 1918. On 19 April 1918, he joined the
11th Field Artillery at
Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma
Camp Doniphan was a military base adjacent to Fort Sill, just outside Lawton, in Comanche County, Oklahoma, that was activated for use in World War I for artillery training. The post was closed in 1918 and incorporated into Fort Sill.
History
T ...
, where he was promoted to
major
Major most commonly refers to:
* Major (rank), a military rank
* Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits
* People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames
* Major and minor in musi ...
on 3 July 1918. Two days later the 11th Field Artillery began moving to France for service on the
Western Front. Zundel served as a battalion commander in the 78th Field Artillery at the Artillery Training Center at Camp Valdahon until 12 October 1918, when he joined
III Corps
III or iii may refer to:
Companies
* Information International, Inc., a computer technology company
* Innovative Interfaces, Inc., a library-software company
* 3i, formerly Investors in Industry, a British investment company
Other uses
* I ...
Headquarters as the corps counter battery staff officer. On 1 November 1918, he joined the 305th Field Artillery as a battalion commander.
Between the wars
With World War I over, Zundel returned to the United States, where he served with the
Quartermaster Corps
Following is a list of quartermaster corps, military units, active and defunct, with logistics duties:
* Egyptian Army Quartermaster Corps - see Structure of the Egyptian Army
* Hellenic Army Quartermaster Corps (''Σώμα Φροντιστών ...
at
Camp Meade
Camp George G. Meade near Middletown, Pennsylvania, was a camp established and subsequently abandoned by the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish–American War.
History
Camp Meade was established August 24, 1898, and soon thereafter was occupi ...
, Maryland, and then in San Antonio, Texas. He reverted to the rank of captain on 6 May 1920, but became a major again on 1 July, when he was sent to Hawaii to command a battalion of the
13th Field Artillery at
Schofield Barracks
Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation and census-designated place (CDP) located in Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Hawaii. Schofield Barracks lies adjacent to the town of Wahiawā, separated ...
. He reverted to the rank of captain again on 4 November 1922. On 7 June 1923, he was appointed an instructor in mathematics at West Point. He was promoted to major again on 5 February 1924.
From 1927 to 1928, Zundel was an Advanced Course student at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. He married Eleanor Clay Lewis at the
West Point Cadet Chapel
The Cadet Chapel at the United States Military Academy is a place of Protestant denomination worship for many members of the United States Corps of Cadets. The chapel is a late example of Gothic Revival architecture, with its cross-shaped floor ...
on 14 July 1928. They had a daughter, Eleanor, who was born in 1932. From 1928 to 1930, Zundel attended the
Command and General Staff School
The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...
at
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., an ...
, Kansas.
He was a field artillery instructor with the
Rhode Island National Guard
The Rhode Island National Guard consists of the:
* Rhode Island Army National Guardbr>* Rhode Island Air National Guardbr>** 102nd Information Warfare Squadron
** 143d Airlift Wing
** 281st Combat Communications Group
** 282nd Combat Communicat ...
's 68th Field Artillery Brigade and
103d Field Artillery at
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...
, from 1930 to 1934, and then went to Washington, D.C., where he served with the National Guard Bureau from 1934 to 1938. Some 18 years after he was first promoted to major, he was finally promoted to
lieutenant colonel on 1 May 1936.
World War II
After a quick refresher course at Fort Sill, Zundel assumed command of the 2d Battalion,
83d Field Artillery, at
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg (formerly Fort Liberty from 2023–2025) is a United States Army, U.S. Army Military base, military installation located in North Carolina. It ranks among the largest military bases in the world by population, with more than 52,000 m ...
. In July 1940 he assumed command of the 83d Field Artillery at
Fort Benning
Fort Benning (named Fort Moore from 2023–2025) is a United States Army post in the Columbus, Georgia area. Located on Georgia's border with Alabama, Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve compone ...
, Georgia, where he also served as the artillery officer of the
4th Infantry Division. In October 1940 he became commander of the 42d Field Artillery Battalion there. The following year he became the commander of the 1st Antitank Group at
Camp Claiborne
Camp Claiborne was a U.S. Army military camp in the 1930s continuing through World War II located in Rapides Parish in central Louisiana. The camp was under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Eighth Service Command, and included 23,000 acres (93&nbs ...
, Louisiana. He was promoted to colonel on 14 October 1941, and in December became the artillery officer of
II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to:
France
* 2nd Army Corps (France)
* II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...
, which was based in
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the List of municipalities in Delaware, most populous city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish colonization of the Americas, Swedish settlement in North America. It lie ...
, and then in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
. He became artillery officer of the
XI Corps 11 Corps, 11th Corps, Eleventh Corps, or XI Corps may refer to:
* 11th Army Corps (France)
* XI Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* XI Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army
* ...
, then based in Chicago, in June 1942.
In February 1943,
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
Walter Krueger
Walter Krueger (26 January 1881 – 20 August 1967) was an American soldier and general officer in the first half of the 20th century. He commanded the Sixth United States Army in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. He rose fro ...
, the commander of the
Sixth United States Army
Sixth Army is a Theater Army (United States), theater army of the United States Army. The Army service component command of United States Southern Command, its area of responsibility includes 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty in ...
, picked Zundel as his artillery officer. He was soon on his way to
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
, Australia. As Sixth Army Artillery Officer participated in a number of operations in the
Southwest Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...
, including
Operation Chronicle
Operation Chronicle was the Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of Woodlark Island, Woodlark and Kiriwina, Kiriwina Islands, in the South West Pacific, during World War II. The operation was a subordinate action that formed part of the wid ...
, the landings on Woodlark and Kiriwina Islands;
Operation Dexterity
Operation Dexterity was a military operation, part of Operation Cartwheel in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) for the Allies in the Pacific theater of World War II. The operation was directed by the Supreme Allied Commander in the SWPA, Genera ...
, the landings at Arawe and Cape Gloucester; the
Admiralty Islands campaign
The Admiralty Islands campaign (Operation Brewer) was a series of battles in the New Guinea campaign of World War II in which the United States Army's 1st Cavalry Division took the Japanese-held Admiralty Islands.
Acting on reports from air ...
; and Operation Reckless, the
landings at Hollandia. For his services with the Sixth Army, he was awarded the
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...
.
On 24 May 1944 Zundel assumed command of the
41st Infantry Division Artillery, with the rank of
brigadier general. He led this command with distinction in the
Battle of Wakde
The Battle of Wakde ''(Operation Straight Line)'' was part of the New Guinea campaign of World War II. It was fought between the United States and Japan from 17 May 1944 to 21 May 1944 in Dutch New Guinea (now Papua (province), Papua, in Indonesi ...
, the
Battle of Biak
The Battle of Biak was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II, fought between the United States Army and the Imperial Japanese Army, Japanese Army from 27 May to 17 August 1944. Taking place on the island of Biak, in Geelvink Ba ...
, and the
Battle of Mindanao
The Battle of Mindanao ( Filipino: ''Labanan sa Mindanaw;'' Cebuano: ''Panagsangka sa Mindanaw;'' Japanese: ミンダナオの戦い) was fought by the Americans and allied Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese forces on the island of Min ...
. For Biak, he was awarded
oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a ribbon device to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. It is authorized by the United States Armed Forces for a spec ...
to his
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...
, and the
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...
for gallantry in action at Ibdi on 29 May 1944. He was awarded a second oak leaf cluster to his Legion of Merit for the fighting on Mindanao, along with the
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious a ...
. He received the
Air Medal
The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Criteria
The Air Medal was establi ...
in July 1945 for flights over enemy territory. These included flights in
U.S. Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionary ...
Douglas SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main Carrier-based aircraft, ...
es of
VMSB-243
Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 243 (VMSB-243) was a dive bomber squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron, also known as the "Flying Goldbricks", fought in World War II during the Battle of Bougainville and later in the Philippin ...
.
Postwar

After the war ended, Zundel participated in the occupation of Japan.
The 41st Infantry Division was inactivated on 31 December 1945, but he remained at
Kure
is a city in the Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 208,024 in 106,616 households and a population density of 590 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . With a strong industrial and naval heritage, ...
until February 1946, when he returned to the United States, and became artillery officer of the
Fourth United States Army
Fourth United States Army was a field army of the United States Army between 1932 and 1991.
History
Interwar period
Fourth Army (I)
The Fourth Army was authorized by the National Defense Act of 1920 and was originally to be composed of Organ ...
, the headquarters of which was located at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where his career had begun.
In January 1948, Zundel became chief of the
Counter Intelligence Corps
The Counter Intelligence Corps (Army CIC) was a World War II and early Cold War intelligence agency within the United States Army consisting of highly trained special agents. Its role was taken over by the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps in 1961 and ...
and commandant of its Corps School at
Fort Holabird
Fort Holabird was a United States Army post in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, active from 1918 to 1973.
History
Fort Holabird was located in the southeast corner of Baltimore and northwest of the suburban developments of Dundalk, Maryland, i ...
, Maryland.
His rank of brigadier general became permanent, with seniority backdated to 7 July 1944.
In November 1949, Zundel returned to Japan as Inspector General,
Far East Command. After the outbreak of the
Korean War
The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
in June 1950, he became Inspector General,
United Nations Command
United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command) is the multinational military force established to support the South Korea, Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first attempt at collective security by the U ...
in Korea.
Called upon to investigate the poor performance of the
24th Infantry, he attributed it not to the regiment being predominantly African-American, but to the fact that 62 percent of its men were in categories IV and V on the
Army General Classification Test
The Army General Classification Test (AGCT) is an assessment created by the United States Army to evaluate the intelligence and comprehension of military recruits.
World War I and World War II created the need for this type of testing and provide ...
- the lowest scores. Zundel recommended that units of the Far East Command, including those fighting in Korea, be racially integrated by assigning replacements to units regardless of race.
Zundel retired from the Army on 31 January 1953, and moved to
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota () is a city in and the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, United States. It is located in Southwest Florida, the southern end of the Tampa Bay area, and north of Fort Myers, Florida, Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, Florida, Punta Gord ...
, where he resided until his death in
Manatee Memorial Hospital
Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH) is a private 319-bed health care facility located in Bradenton, Florida.
History
Manatee Memorial Hospital was first proposed in 1939 by the Bradenton Women's Club and other prominent members of the community. Its ...
in
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Manatee County, Florida, Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city's population is 55,698, up from 49,546 at the 2010 census. It is a pri ...
, on 13 February 1985.
On 19 February 1985, he was interred at
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia.
...
alongside his wife Eleanor Lewis who died on 16 April 1968.
He was survived by his daughter, Eleanor Phillips, and two grandchildren.
Notes
References
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External links
Generals of World War II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zundel, Edwin Albert
1893 births
1985 deaths
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
People from Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
United States Army generals
United States Military Academy alumni
United States Army personnel of World War I
United States Army personnel of the Korean War
Graduates of the United States Military Academy Class of 1915
United States Army generals of World War II
Military personnel from Pennsylvania
United States Army Field Artillery Branch personnel