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|unit=
|unit=
|commands= [[35th Infantry Division (United States)|35th Division]]
|commands= [[35th Infantry Division (United States)|35th Division]]
|battles=
⚫
|battles= [[Spanish–American War]]<br/>[[Philippine–American War]]<br/>[[Mexican Expedition]]<br/>[[World War I]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/trumanralph.htm|title=Ralph E. Truman Papers|accessdate=2015-12-29}}</ref>
{{tree list}}
⚫
*[[Meuse-Argonne Campaign]]
* [[Spanish–American War]]
* [[Philippine–American War]]
* [[Mexican Expedition]]
⚫
* [[World War I]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/trumanralph.htm|title=Ralph E. Truman Papers|accessdate=2015-12-29}}</ref>
⚫
** [[Meuse-Argonne Campaign]]
* [[World War II]]
{{tree list/end}}
|awards=
|awards=
|relations= Lieutenant General [[Louis W. Truman]] (son)<br/>[[Harry S. Truman]] (cousin)
|relations= Lieutenant General [[Louis W. Truman]] (son)<br/>[[Harry S. Truman]] (cousin)
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==Early life==
==Early life==


Ralph E. Truman was born on May 10, 1880, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was orphaned before he was a year old, and was adopted by a farm family and raised in [[Johnson County, Missouri]].
Ralph E. Truman was born on May 10, 1880, in Kansas City, Missouri. His mother died before he was a year old, and his father remarried and moved to Texas with Truman's two older siblings. Before the move, Truman's father arranged for his son’s adoption by a family in Kansas City.


== Military service ==
== Military service ==


At the age of eighteen, Truman enlisted in the U.S. Army from Missouri during the [[Spanish-American War]] on May 21, 1898, serving until May 20, 1901. He reached the rank of [[corporal]]. He was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the Missouri National Guard on June 19, 1916, serving on the Mexican border during the [[Pancho Villa Expedition]] from June 27, 1916 to February 28, 1917. On March 26, 1917, he was called into federal service as part of the Machine Gun Company, Fourth Missouri Infantry, after the United States entered [[World War I]]. He served in France with the [[140th Infantry Regiment (United States)|140th Infantry Regiment]] of the 35th Division, being promoted to [[first lieutenant]] on January 28, 1918, to [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]] on July 16, 1918, and to [[Major (United States)|major]] on March 1, 1919. He was discharged on May 28, 1919.
Truman enlisted in Company F, [[20th Infantry Regiment (United States)|20th U.S. Infantry]], during the [[Spanish-American War]] on May 21, 1898, at the age of eighteen, He was wounded on March 15, 1899. He served until May 20, 1901, reaching the rank of [[corporal]]. He was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the Machine Gun Company, 3rd Missouri Infantry, of the Missouri National Guard, on June 19, 1916, serving on the Mexican border during the [[Pancho Villa Expedition]] from June 27, 1916 to February 28, 1917. On March 26, 1917, he was called into federal service as part of the Machine Gun Company, Fourth Missouri Infantry, after the United States entered [[World War I]]. He served in France with the [[140th Infantry Regiment (United States)|140th Infantry Regiment]] of the 35th Division, being promoted to [[first lieutenant]] on January 28, 1918, to [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]] on July 16, 1918, and to [[Major (United States)|major]] on March 1, 1919. He was discharged on May 28, 1919.


On May 5, 1921, Truman was commissioned a captain in the Missouri National Guard as plans and training officer on the staff of the Sixth Missouri Infantry, later designated the 140th Infantry.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 9, 1921|title=Second Battalion Hdq, Sixth Inf. To Be at Kennett|work=Dunklin County News|location=Kennett, Missouri}}</ref> He advanced to [[lieutenant colonel]] as executive officer of the 140th Infantry on January 24, 1924,<ref>{{cite news|date=January 13, 1924|title=Ralph Truman, Guard Officer|work=Kansas City Star|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}</ref> and to [[colonel]] as chief of staff of the division on September 22, 1932.
On May 5, 1921, Truman was commissioned a captain in the Missouri National Guard as plans and training officer on the staff of the Sixth Missouri Infantry, later designated the 140th Infantry.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 9, 1921|title=Second Battalion Hdq, Sixth Inf. To Be at Kennett|work=Dunklin County News|location=Kennett, Missouri}}</ref> He advanced to [[lieutenant colonel]] as executive officer of the 140th Infantry on January 24, 1924,<ref>{{cite news|date=January 13, 1924|title=Ralph Truman, Guard Officer|work=Kansas City Star|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}</ref> and to [[colonel]] as chief of staff of the division on September 22, 1932.
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Truman was selected as commander of the division and was commissioned a major general on October 28, 1938.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 8, 1938|title=A New 35th Head Soon|work=Kansas City Times|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=September 8, 1938|title=Gen. Truman Leads 35th Division|work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> In addition, he held a commission in the [[Officers Reserve Corps]] from December 10, 1921 to April 26, 1927, reaching the rank of colonel.
Truman was selected as commander of the division and was commissioned a major general on October 28, 1938.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 8, 1938|title=A New 35th Head Soon|work=Kansas City Times|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=September 8, 1938|title=Gen. Truman Leads 35th Division|work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> In addition, he held a commission in the [[Officers Reserve Corps]] from December 10, 1921 to April 26, 1927, reaching the rank of colonel.


As part of the removal of over-age or militarily inefficient officers in the U.S. Army prior to potential American involvement in World War II, Truman was relieved of his command on October 4, 1941.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 4, 1941|title=Maj. Gen. Ralph Truman Relieved From Command of the 35th Division|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> Rather than being assigned to an administrative position with the [[Second United States Army|Second Army]], General Truman chose to resign.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 12, 1941|title=Maj. Gen. R.E. Truman Resigns From Army|work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> After the U.S. entered World War II, Truman withdrew his resignation, but was placed on the inactive list on January 15, 1942, pending a call back to active duty<ref>{{cite news|date=December 8, 1941|title=Gen. Truman Would Serve|work=Kansas City Times|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> He was retired for age from the Missouri National Guard upon his 64th birthday in May 1944, never having been re-ordered to active duty.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 13, 1944|title=Maj. Gen. Truman Retired|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref>
As part of the removal of over-age or militarily inefficient officers in the U.S. Army prior to potential American involvement in World War II, Truman was relieved of his command on October 4, 1941.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 4, 1941|title=Maj. Gen. Ralph Truman Relieved From Command of the 35th Division|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> Rather than being assigned to an administrative position with the [[Second United States Army|Second Army]], General Truman chose to resign.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 12, 1941|title=Maj. Gen. R.E. Truman Resigns From Army|work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> After the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, Truman withdrew his resignation, but was placed on the inactive list on January 15, 1942, pending a call back to active duty.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 8, 1941|title=Gen. Truman Would Serve|work=Kansas City Times|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref> He was retired for age from the Missouri National Guard upon his 64th birthday in May 1944, never having been re-ordered to active duty.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 13, 1944|title=Maj. Gen. Truman Retired|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==


As a civilian, Truman served as a special agent for the [[St. Louis-San Francisco Railway]], and was also an investigator on the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Truman's first wife was the former Nannie L. Watson, whom he married on July 4, 1903, in Texas. The couple had three children; a daughter, Henrietta, and two sons, Louis and Corbie. Nannie Truman died unexpectedly in 1931 at the age of fifty, and the next year, Ralph remarried to the former Olive L. Johnson. The couple did not have any children, and remained married until Ralph's death on April 30, 1962, at the age of eighty-two, from a heart attack.
After World War I, Truman moved to Springfield, Missouri, serving as the [[Railroad police|chief special agent]] for the [[St. Louis-San Francisco Railway]] in southern Missouri. In 1928, he became an investigator on the National Board of Fire Underwriters and moved back to Kansas City.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 September 1928|title=For A Stern Arson Law|work=Kansas City Star|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}</ref> Truman's first wife was the former Nannie L. Watson, whom he married on July 4, 1903, in Texas. The couple had three children; a daughter, Henrietta, and two sons, Louis and Corbie. Nannie Truman died unexpectedly of [[peritonitis]] in July 1931 at the age of fifty.<ref>{{cite news|date=2 July 1931|title=Nannie L. Truman|work=Springfield News-Leader|location= Springfield, Missouri}}</ref> The next year, Ralph remarried to the former Olive L. Johnson.<ref>{{cite news|date=11 October 1932|title=Olive Johnson, Ralph Truman Wed in Kansas|work=Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri}}</ref> The couple did not have any children, and remained married until Ralph's death on April 30, 1962, at the age of eighty-one, from a heart attack.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 May 1962|title=Gen. Ralph Truman Burial Site is Set|work=Kansas City Times|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}</ref>


Truman's oldest son, [[Louis W. Truman]], became a [[lieutenant general]] in the U.S. Army and served during World War II, the [[Korean War]], and the [[Vietnam War]], leading [[United States Army Central|Third United States Army]] from 1965-1967. Ralph E. Truman was the cousin of U.S. senator, vice president, and president [[Harry S. Truman]], who had also served in the 35th Infantry Division during World War I.<ref>{{cite web |title= Records of the Thirty-Fifth Division Association |url= http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/thirtyfifth.htm |website= The Truman Library |accessdate= 29 December 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Photos from Camp Robinson, Arkansas – 1941 |website= 134th Infantry Regiment |url= http://www.coulthart.com/134/camp%20robinson.htm |accessdate= 29 December 2015 }}</ref>
Truman's oldest son, [[Louis W. Truman]], graduated from the [[United States Military Academy]] in 1932 and served during World War II, the [[Korean War]], and the [[Vietnam War]], becoming a [[lieutenant general]]. He led the [[United States Army Central|Third United States Army]] from 1965-1967. Ralph E. Truman was a cousin of U.S. senator, vice president, and president [[Harry S. Truman]], who had also served in the 35th Infantry Division during World War I.<ref>{{cite web |title= Records of the Thirty-Fifth Division Association |url= http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/thirtyfifth.htm |website= The Truman Library |accessdate= 29 December 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Photos from Camp Robinson, Arkansas – 1941 |website= 134th Infantry Regiment |url= http://www.coulthart.com/134/camp%20robinson.htm |accessdate= 29 December 2015 }}</ref>

Truman’s personal papers are located at the [[Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum]] in [[Independence, Missouri]].


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 03:17, 22 August 2024

Ralph E. Truman
Born(1880-05-10)May 10, 1880
Kansas City, Missouri
DiedApril 30, 1962(1962-04-30) (aged 81)
Kansas City, Missouri[1]
Buried
Springfield National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1898-1901
1916-1919
1921-1944
RankMajor General
Commands35th Division
Battles / wars
RelationsLieutenant General Louis W. Truman (son)
Harry S. Truman (cousin)

Ralph Emerson Truman (May 10, 1880 – April 30, 1962) was an American major general who led the 35th Division of the Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska National Guards between 1938 and 1941.

In addition to World War II, he served in the Spanish–American War as well as World War I.

Early life

[edit]

Ralph E. Truman was born on May 10, 1880, in Kansas City, Missouri. His mother died before he was a year old, and his father remarried and moved to Texas with Truman's two older siblings. Before the move, Truman's father arranged for his son’s adoption by a family in Kansas City.

Military service

[edit]

Truman enlisted in Company F, 20th U.S. Infantry, during the Spanish-American War on May 21, 1898, at the age of eighteen, He was wounded on March 15, 1899. He served until May 20, 1901, reaching the rank of corporal. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Machine Gun Company, 3rd Missouri Infantry, of the Missouri National Guard, on June 19, 1916, serving on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition from June 27, 1916 to February 28, 1917. On March 26, 1917, he was called into federal service as part of the Machine Gun Company, Fourth Missouri Infantry, after the United States entered World War I. He served in France with the 140th Infantry Regiment of the 35th Division, being promoted to first lieutenant on January 28, 1918, to captain on July 16, 1918, and to major on March 1, 1919. He was discharged on May 28, 1919.

On May 5, 1921, Truman was commissioned a captain in the Missouri National Guard as plans and training officer on the staff of the Sixth Missouri Infantry, later designated the 140th Infantry.[3] He advanced to lieutenant colonel as executive officer of the 140th Infantry on January 24, 1924,[4] and to colonel as chief of staff of the division on September 22, 1932.

Truman was selected as commander of the division and was commissioned a major general on October 28, 1938.[5][6] In addition, he held a commission in the Officers Reserve Corps from December 10, 1921 to April 26, 1927, reaching the rank of colonel.

As part of the removal of over-age or militarily inefficient officers in the U.S. Army prior to potential American involvement in World War II, Truman was relieved of his command on October 4, 1941.[7] Rather than being assigned to an administrative position with the Second Army, General Truman chose to resign.[8] After the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, Truman withdrew his resignation, but was placed on the inactive list on January 15, 1942, pending a call back to active duty.[9] He was retired for age from the Missouri National Guard upon his 64th birthday in May 1944, never having been re-ordered to active duty.[10]

Personal life

[edit]

After World War I, Truman moved to Springfield, Missouri, serving as the chief special agent for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway in southern Missouri. In 1928, he became an investigator on the National Board of Fire Underwriters and moved back to Kansas City.[11] Truman's first wife was the former Nannie L. Watson, whom he married on July 4, 1903, in Texas. The couple had three children; a daughter, Henrietta, and two sons, Louis and Corbie. Nannie Truman died unexpectedly of peritonitis in July 1931 at the age of fifty.[12] The next year, Ralph remarried to the former Olive L. Johnson.[13] The couple did not have any children, and remained married until Ralph's death on April 30, 1962, at the age of eighty-one, from a heart attack.[14]

Truman's oldest son, Louis W. Truman, graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1932 and served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, becoming a lieutenant general. He led the Third United States Army from 1965-1967. Ralph E. Truman was a cousin of U.S. senator, vice president, and president Harry S. Truman, who had also served in the 35th Infantry Division during World War I.[15][16]

Truman’s personal papers are located at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Veterans Day 1941". Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  2. ^ "Ralph E. Truman Papers". Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  3. ^ "Second Battalion Hdq, Sixth Inf. To Be at Kennett". Dunklin County News. Kennett, Missouri. September 9, 1921.
  4. ^ "Ralph Truman, Guard Officer". Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. January 13, 1924.
  5. ^ "A New 35th Head Soon". Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. September 8, 1938.
  6. ^ "Gen. Truman Leads 35th Division". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. September 8, 1938.
  7. ^ "Maj. Gen. Ralph Truman Relieved From Command of the 35th Division". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. October 4, 1941.
  8. ^ "Maj. Gen. R.E. Truman Resigns From Army". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. October 12, 1941.
  9. ^ "Gen. Truman Would Serve". Kansas City Times. St. Louis, Missouri. December 8, 1941.
  10. ^ "Maj. Gen. Truman Retired". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. May 13, 1944.
  11. ^ "For A Stern Arson Law". Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. 19 September 1928.
  12. ^ "Nannie L. Truman". Springfield News-Leader. Springfield, Missouri. 2 July 1931.
  13. ^ "Olive Johnson, Ralph Truman Wed in Kansas". Springfield News-Leader. Springfield, Missouri. 11 October 1932.
  14. ^ "Gen. Ralph Truman Burial Site is Set". Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. 1 May 1962.
  15. ^ "Records of the Thirty-Fifth Division Association". The Truman Library. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Photos from Camp Robinson, Arkansas – 1941". 134th Infantry Regiment. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
[edit]
Military offices
Preceded by
??
 Commanding General 35th Infantry Division
1938–1941 		Succeeded by
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