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Alfred Marcy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alfred Russell Marcy
Born(1900-07-21)July 21, 1900
Oneida, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 1977(1977-05-19) (aged 76)
Melbourne, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service31 years
Rank Colonel
Commands3rd Battalion, 108th Infantry
XO 54th Infantry Brigade, 27th Div
Signal Officer HQ X Corps FECOM
Battles / warsWorld War II
Eastern Mandates
Southwest Pacific
Western Pacific
Korean War
AwardsLegion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star
Air Medal

Alfred Russell Marcy (July 21, 1900 – May 19, 1977) was a United States Army colonel who was the Chief of the Radio Division and Deputy Signal Officer of the Central Pacific command during World War II. During the Korean War, he was specifically selected to become signal officer by General Edward Almond of the U.S. Army X Corps for the Inchon landings and operations in North Korea.

Early life

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Alfred Russell Marcy, son of Albert Theodore Marcy and Julia Edna (Park) Marcy was born in Oneida, New York, July 21, 1900.[1] His father worked as an industrial blacksmith and foreman for a steel company; his mother liked to write poetry and doted on crossword puzzles.

Following graduation from high school, Marcy entered into the New York Guard. While in the New York Guard, he worked in radio for WFBL, where he eventually became Chief Radio Engineer. By 1928, Marcy had been promoted to 2nd lieutenant of infantry of the 108th in the New York Guard as well as the US Army Reserve. Less than two years later, he was promoted to 1st lieutenant of infantry in both.

World War II

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On October 15, 1940, Marcy made the move from the New York Guard to the U.S. Army with the rank of major. At Fort Ord, California, while awaiting transfer overseas, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. While in Hawaii, he commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 108th Infantry until he was shifted to the island of Kauai, where he served as executive officer of the 54th Infantry Brigade, 27th Division. He also planned and supervised installation of radio navigation aids and point-to-point joint army-navy radio stations from Hawaii to New Zealand and throughout the Central Pacific.

Marcy was promoted to full colonel in September 1944. He then was engaged in communication planning for assaults against Japanese base stations in the Gilberts, Marshalls, Palaus, Marianas, Bonins and the Ryukyu Islands.[2] Colonel Alfred Russell Marcy served as the American Chief of the Radio Division and Deputy Signal Officer of the Central Pacific command during World War II.

Korean War

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After the war, he became deputy chief of the Army Communications System with headquarters in Washington, D.C. From August to October 1947, he served in Turkey in support of the Truman Doctrine.

When the Korean War broke out he was on a training mission with V Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then flown to Korea to become signal officer of the U.S. IX Corps during the Naktong River battles. He was then specifically selected by General Ned Almond to be signal officer of the U.S. X Corps for the Battle of Inchon landings and operations in North Korea.[3]

Dates of rank

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Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant Captain major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel
O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6
NGUS 11 July 1928 NGUS 7 June 1930 NGUS 8 August 1938 NGUS 15 October 1940 AUS 1 February 1942 AUS 6 September 1944
USAR 28 August 1928 USAR 8 July 1930 RA 24 August 1946 RA 15 July 1948 RA 15 May 1950

Awards and decorations

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References

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  1. ^ Genealogy of the Parke Families of Massachusetts: Including Richard Parke.
  2. ^ Pearl Harbor Attack: Hearings Before the Joint Committee on the Pearl Harbor Attack. Washington DC: GPO, 1946.
  3. ^ unknown (January 1948). "Col A.R. Marcy on Terminal Leave". Auburn Citizen.

Further reading

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  • Employment of Retired Military and Civilian Personnel by Defense Industries. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1959.
  • Wickersham, Virginia Voorheis. Interference in American Foreign Affairs by Unauthorized American Citizens. Leland Stanford Junior University, 1943.