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'''Hugh Franklin Foster Jr.''' (March 2, 1918 – December 13, 2004) was an American major general. He served in [[World War II]] and the [[Vietnam War]], as well as with the United Nations Forces in Korea after the [[Korean War]].
'''Hugh Franklin Foster Jr.''' (March 2, 1918 – December 13, 2004) was an American major general. He served in [[World War II]] and the [[Vietnam War]], as well as with the United Nations Forces in Korea after the [[Korean War]].

==Early life and education==
Born and raised in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], Foster became an [[Eagle Scout]].<ref name=obit>{{cite web |url=https://1sba.wildapricot.org/resources/taps/taps-foster.pdf |title=Major General Hugh F. Foster, Jr |date=October 1, 2012 |publisher=1st Signal Brigade Association |access-date=2022-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Howitzer |date=1941 |page=177 |publisher=U.S. Military Academy |location=West Point, New York}}</ref> He earned a B.S. degree from the [[United States Military Academy]] in 1941. Foster later received an M.S.E. degree in electrical engineering from [[Purdue University]]. His August 1949 master's thesis was entitled ''A study of the electrical power system at the United States Military Academy''.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cNeqibq2y1EC&pg=497 |chapter=Class of 1941—Register of Graduates |title=Register of Graduates and Former Cadets 1802–1971 of the United States Military Academy |date=1971 |page=497 |publisher=The West Point Alumni Foundation Inc. |access-date=2022-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |url=https://purdue.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma99147806940001081&vid=01PURDUE_PUWL:PURDUE |title=A study of the electrical power system at the United States military academy |first=Hugh Franklin, Jr |last=Foster |date=August 1949 |publisher=Purdue University |access-date=2022-07-22}}</ref> He graduated from the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College|Command and General Staff School]] in 1945 and the [[United States Army War College|Army War College]] in 1962.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rIhHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA191 |title=U.S. Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired List |date=January 1, 1966 |volume=I |page=191 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |access-date=2022-07-27}}</ref>


==World War II==
==World War II==
[[Image:Comanche codebook 3.jpg|right|thumbnail|75px|Foster's [[comanche language]] [[code book]] is on display in the [[National Cryptologic Museum]].]]
[[Image:Comanche codebook 3.jpg|right|thumbnail|75px|Foster's [[comanche language]] [[code book]] is on display in the [[National Cryptologic Museum]].]]


After graduating from [[West Point]] in 1941, Foster joined the [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|Signal Corps]]. He was assigned to the 4th Signal Company, 4th Infantry Division stationed at [[Fort Benning]]. There he worked with a platoon of Comanche Indians to develop a voice code based on their tribal language. See [[Comanche language|Comanche]] [[code talkers]].
After graduating from [[West Point]] in 1941, Foster joined the [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|Signal Corps]]. He was assigned to the 4th Signal Company, 4th Infantry Division stationed at [[Fort Benning]]. There he worked with a platoon of Comanche Indians to develop a voice code based on their tribal language. (See [[Comanche language|Comanche]] [[code talkers]].)


He went on to serve in the [[North African campaign]] and [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]]s.
He went on to serve in the [[North African campaign]] and [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]]s.
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==Career after Vietnam==
==Career after Vietnam==
Following his service in the Vietnam War, Foster was given command of the United States Army's [[Communications Electronics Command]] in [[Fort Monmouth]], [[New Jersey]] in May 1971, serving until August 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.monmouth.army.mil/historian/updates/33.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060723135132/http://www.monmouth.army.mil/historian/updates/33.htm |archive-date=2006-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Following his service in the Vietnam War, Foster was given command of the United States Army's [[United States Army Communications-Electronics Command#History|Electronics Command]] in [[Fort Monmouth]], [[New Jersey]] in May 1971, serving until August 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.monmouth.army.mil/historian/updates/33.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060723135132/http://www.monmouth.army.mil/historian/updates/33.htm |archive-date=2006-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Other Contributions and Achievements==
==Other Contributions and Achievements==
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In the 1980s when the Comanche Code Talkers received awards from the French government for their contributions to the war effort, they reached out and invited Foster to attend. This reconnected them. He and his family were adopted by a Comanche family and considered members of the Comanche nation. His name was "Telephone Red Sash."
In the 1980s when the Comanche Code Talkers received awards from the French government for their contributions to the war effort, they reached out and invited Foster to attend. This reconnected them. He and his family were adopted by a Comanche family and considered members of the Comanche nation. His name was "Telephone Red Sash."

==Personal==
Foster married 2nd Lt. Mary Jane Schneider, an Army nurse, on July 21, 1946 in the Cadet Chapel at West Point.<ref name=obit/><ref name=grave/> They had three sons and three grandchildren.<ref name=obit/>

He died at his home in [[Furlong, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=obit/> Foster and his wife were interred at the [[West Point Cemetery]].<ref name=grave>{{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/search-all/results/1/CgZGb3N0ZXISBE1hcnkaAUo-/ |title=Foster, Mary J |website=Army Cemeteries Explorer |publisher=U.S. Army |access-date=2022-07-22}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
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[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Burials at West Point Cemetery]]
[[Category:Military personnel from New York City]]
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[[Category:Newport Harbor High School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Purdue University College of Engineering alumni]]
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[[Category:United States Army War College alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
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[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Burials at West Point Cemetery]]




Revision as of 18:13, 27 July 2022

Commanding General 1st Signal Brigade, Vietnam, 1970

Hugh Franklin Foster Jr. (March 2, 1918 – December 13, 2004) was an American major general. He served in World War II and the Vietnam War, as well as with the United Nations Forces in Korea after the Korean War.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, Foster became an Eagle Scout.[1][2] He earned a B.S. degree from the United States Military Academy in 1941. Foster later received an M.S.E. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University. His August 1949 master's thesis was entitled A study of the electrical power system at the United States Military Academy.[3][4] He graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1945 and the Army War College in 1962.[5]

World War II

Foster's comanche language code book is on display in the National Cryptologic Museum.

After graduating from West Point in 1941, Foster joined the Signal Corps. He was assigned to the 4th Signal Company, 4th Infantry Division stationed at Fort Benning. There he worked with a platoon of Comanche Indians to develop a voice code based on their tribal language. (See Comanche code talkers.)

He went on to serve in the North African campaign and Italian campaigns.

Korea

During the Korean War, Foster was stationed in Austria as a battalion commander (63rd Signal Battalion). He was the Signal Officer for United Nations Forces in Korea in 1965–66.

Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, Foster commanded the 1st Signal Brigade.

Career after Vietnam

Following his service in the Vietnam War, Foster was given command of the United States Army's Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey in May 1971, serving until August 1975.[6]

Other Contributions and Achievements

After retirement, Foster eventually moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He designed the Bucks County World War II memorial in downtown Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

In the 1980s when the Comanche Code Talkers received awards from the French government for their contributions to the war effort, they reached out and invited Foster to attend. This reconnected them. He and his family were adopted by a Comanche family and considered members of the Comanche nation. His name was "Telephone Red Sash."

Personal

Foster married 2nd Lt. Mary Jane Schneider, an Army nurse, on July 21, 1946 in the Cadet Chapel at West Point.[1][7] They had three sons and three grandchildren.[1]

He died at his home in Furlong, Pennsylvania.[1] Foster and his wife were interred at the West Point Cemetery.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Major General Hugh F. Foster, Jr" (PDF). 1st Signal Brigade Association. October 1, 2012. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  2. ^ Howitzer. West Point, New York: U.S. Military Academy. 1941. p. 177.
  3. ^ "Class of 1941—Register of Graduates". Register of Graduates and Former Cadets 1802–1971 of the United States Military Academy. The West Point Alumni Foundation Inc. 1971. p. 497. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  4. ^ Foster, Hugh Franklin, Jr (August 1949). A study of the electrical power system at the United States military academy (Thesis). Purdue University. Retrieved 2022-07-22.{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ U.S. Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired List. Vol. I. U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1966. p. 191. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-07-23. Retrieved 2009-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ a b "Foster, Mary J". Army Cemeteries Explorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2022-07-22.


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