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My pop was an army brat born in Lebanon, Tennessee, 6 June 1895. His parents were stationed in so many out of the way places that my grandmother Kate had to teach him until he entered the 9th grade at Leavenworth.</div>
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He was determined to follow his dad to the Point so he studied hard, took the Presidental exam and entered the Class of 1913 full of enthusiasm. He excelled in sports, lettered in three and played in five Navy games, all won by Army. As captain of the 1917 baseball team he batted .438. He quarterbacked the 1916 and 1917 football teams to victories over Navy. Not surprisingly, Pop was awarded the Athletic Association Sabre as the outstanding athlete of his class. He went on to become an outstanding horseman and a seven goal international polo player. In 1925 the Army team stunned the English by winning the first three out of five matches.</div>
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Shortly after graduation, Pop was assigned to the 89th division in France, participated in the Saint Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives and wound up as aide-de-camp to General W. M. Wright. He also had time to quarterback the 89th football team to the American Expeditionary Forces championships. Family rumors have it that Pop won enough betting on his team to buy my Mom a stunning engagement ring.</div>
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After the war he attended the troop officers anti advanced equitation courses at Fort Riley where he won the 55 mile night ride and many other individual trophies.</div>
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The next 20 years were spent in many cavalry posts, but in 1942 Pop was appointed commanding general of the 91st Infantry Division in Camp White, Oregon. While training the cadre in constant rugged training he would often use me at age ten as an example of how to go over the obstacle courses. I was fortunate to be an honorary sergeant and participant in training exercises.</div>
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In July 1943 Pop was assigned to the 29th Division. To quote him, "To me, the highlight was Commanding General 29th Division, World War II, one year training division in Devon and Cornwall, the D-day assault on Omaha Beach and the actions to capture Saint Lo, Vire, Brest, Roer River, Julich, Munchen-Gladbaehen and advance to the Elbe River. Not many soldiers have been offered this opportunity."</div>
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Pop received many decorations:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Order de la Couronne avec Palme, Order of War for the Fatherland, Union of Soviet Socialist Republic Croix de Guerre avec Palme, Belgium Order of Orange Nassau, French Croix de Guerre avee Palme, Chevalier of the Order of Leopold and countless campaign medals.</div>
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In his retirement in Winter Park, Florida, Pop used that boundless energy in many positions with the Episcopal Church, American Red Cross, Audubon Society, and Hispanic Institute.</div>
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Pop had a tremendous effect on everything and everyone he came in contact with. No man’s finer in the long gray line.</div>
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<em>—His son, C. H. Gerhardt Jr.</em></div>