Ferdinand Joseph Chesarek (18 February 1914 – 20 November 1993) 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 ...

general.

World War II

Ferdinand Chesarek graduated from 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 ...

and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery in 1938. In November 1943, Chesarek went to the European Theater of Operations to become Commanding Officer of the 28th Field Artillery Battalion, 8th Infantry Division. He participated in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns and was awarded 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 ...

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 ...

with Oak Leaf Cluster,

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 ...

, and

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

. He also received the French

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

with Palm and Star for his part in these campaigns. Chesarek returned to the United States in July 1945 for detail to the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C., where he served as a legislative officer in the Logistics Division and received the

Army Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issu ...

. From June 1948 to April 1950, Chesarek attended

Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...

and received his master's degree in Business Administration. He returned to the Pentagon to serve as Assistant to the chairman, Munitions Board, until February 1953 when he entered the

Armed Forces Staff College The Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinat ...

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Korea

After graduation in July 1953, Chesarek went to Korea to serve with the Headquarters,

Eighth United States Army The Eighth Army is a U.S. field army which commands all United States Army forces in South Korea. It is headquartered at the Camp Humphreys in the Anjeong-ri of Pyeongtaek, Pyeongtaek, South Korea.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 ...

for his work. In May 1954, he took command of the 5th Artillery Group, which consisted of six United States and four Korean artillery battalions. He later received the Order of Ulchi from the Republic of Korea. In January 1955, Chesarek was assigned as Chief of the Military Personnel and Manpower Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, until August 1955 when he entered the

National War College In the United States, the National War College (NWC) is a school within the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. History The National ...

. Following graduation in June 1956, he served as Military Assistant and Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. In addition, he acted as International Conference Coordinator for the Secretary of Defense and participated in twelve major international conferences as a Defense Member of the United States delegation. During this assignment, he attended the six-week Advanced Management Program at

Harvard Business School Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate school, graduate business school of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university. Located in Allston, Massachusetts, HBS owns Harvard Business Publishing, which p ...

Chief of Staff

In August 1959, Chesarek became the Chief of Staff, United States Army Communications Zone, Europe. He went to Italy in July 1960 to be Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Southern European Task Force The Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF–AF), formally the United States Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, (SETAF-AF) is a formation of the United States Army headquartered at Caserma Del Din, Italy. History The Southern Eur ...

and was awarded the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () is the most senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of Italy, President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking honour of the Republi ...

by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army. He returned to France in March 1961 for duty as Commanding General, 4th Logistical Command, and received the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

from the French Government. Westmoreland Chesarek

In October 1962, Chesarek was assigned to the office of the deputy chief of staff for logistics, first as assistant deputy chief of staff for logistics (materiel readiness) and then, from August 1964, as assistant deputy chief of staff for logistics (programs). He was appointed Comptroller of the Army on 1 August 1966, and served in this assignment until 1 August 1967. Upon the reorganization of the Office of the Chief of Staff on 16 February 1967, he was designated the first occupant of the newly created position of assistant vice chief of staff from February 1967 to May 1968.

United Kingdom speaking tour and promotion

One of the highlights of Chesarek's career was his tour of the United Kingdom in May 1968 as United States 1968 Kermit Roosevelt Lecturer, during which he addressed the students at many British military schools. On 8 July 1968, Chesarek was appointed Senior United States Army Member of the Military Staff Committee of the

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, in addition to his primary duty as Assistant Vice Chief of Staff. On 10 March 1969, he was promoted to full general as the second Commanding General,

United States Army Materiel Command The U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) is the primary provider of materiel to the United States Army. The command's mission includes the management of installations, as well as maintenance and parts distribution. AMC operates depots; arsenals; am ...

, where he served until retiring in October 1970. Chesarek died on 20 November 1993, in Nashville, Tennessee, of complications from open heart surgery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chesarek, Ferdinand United States Army generals United States Military Academy alumni United States Army personnel of World War II Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit American recipients of the Legion of Honour American people of Slovenian descent Military personnel from Michigan 1914 births 1993 deaths American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) People from Calumet, Michigan Recipients of the Air Medal