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<em>Robert Lawrence Eichelberger</em> was born in Urbana, Ohio, on 9 March 1886. His father was a lawyer, “and a good one!” Bob was always quick to assert.</div>
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The years through high school were spent on a farm, the homestead of which was about a mile from the public square of Urbana. Bob was the youngest of five children. Together with his sister Susan (now Mrs. J. B. Zerbe) and brothers George, Fred, and Frank, they constituted such a nucleus of adventure that it is easy to understand how the homestead enjoyed a "distinct resemblance to Grand Central Station” that Bob frequently attributed to it.</div>
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After graduation from high school, there were two years spent at Ohio State University. In the genial atmosphere of the University, a being interested in his fellow man found new worlds to explore. Membership in Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and enthusiastic participation in the life on the campus won for Bob a host of friends whose survivors are still extolling the greatness of his spirit.</div>
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His father’s law partner, Judge William Wamock, was a member of Congress and in 1905 appointed Bob to the Military Academy. He went to Panama for duty with the 10th Infantry upon graduation in 1909. It was there that he met Emma Gudger, daughter of Federal Judge H. A. Gudger of Asheville, North Carolina, who was serving as Chief Justice of the Panama Canal Zone. They were married in April 1913. In the years that followed, their rich, full lives afforded such an example of mutual devotion that it constitutes a legend to their many friends.</div>
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Official records clearly set forth the illustrious path that was Bob’s career. From Panama he proceeded to the Mexican Border, General Staff in Washington, and through World War I with Major General William S. Graves as Intelligence Officer of the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia. Between the wars came the Command and General Staff College; the Army War College; the Adjutant General and Secretary of the Academic Board, USMA; a tour as Secretary, War Department General Staff, first under General MacArthur and then General Malin Craig; and finally command of the 30th Infantry. Demonstrated leadership brought promotion and assignment as Superintendent, USMA, in 1940. The recall of Earl (Bed) Blaik to be head football coach was one of Bob’s happiest memories of his period as Superintendent.</div>
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World War II interrupted the tour at West Point. Command of the 77th Division was quickly superseded by command of the I Corps which he took to Australia in August of 1942. Once again, Bob reported to General MacArthur and this relationship continued through the successive victories at Buna—first defeat of the Japanese in World War II—Hollandia, and Biak. Command of the Eighth Army followed in September 1944.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The new Army quickly went into combat. The complex Leyte operation, the Visayan Campaign, and finally Luzon were completed in rapid succession in coordination with the Sixth Army and culminated in the Japanese surrender.</div>
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Eichelberger’s Eighth Army was selected by General MacArthur to lead the Allied Forces into Japan. Bob’s landing at Atsugi Airfield on the morning of 30 August 1945 began his final active duty assignment as Commanding General, The Army of Occupation. He returned to the United States in the late summer of 1948 and retired I January 1949.</div>
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Bob and “Miss Em” returned to Asheville, North Carolina, Mrs. Eichelberger’s girlhood home, and embarked on as busy a retirement as anyone could imagine. He found time, between their trips to Australia, the Mediterranean, and around Africa, to participate on municipal and state committees, to write his book “Our Jungle Road to Tokyo” and, in addition, to prepare numerous articles for periodicals.</div>
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Bob’s activity diminished progressively during the last year of his life. He joked about his exploratory operation in letters written the day prior to his entry into the hospital. The operation was performed Monday afternoon, 25 September. He was in the best of spirit through dinner and as he said “Goodnight” to Miss Em and friends who accompanied her. A marked change in his condition was observed by the doctors about midnight. Bob breathed his last at 3:00 am., 26 September 1961. The cause of his death was diagnosed as pneumonia brought on by pulmonary complications following the exploratory operation.</div>
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With Bob’s passing the Military Academy and our nation lose one of its truly great individuals. Our country has had many distinguished military leaders, and Bob was one of the best for he knew thoroughly all of the Service’s complex departments. However, it was through his rare human understanding that he attained his greatest stature.</div>
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His well-known administrative ability had caused many to feel he should have been made The Adjutant General of the Army. His academic achievements were readily evident in the skill with which he directed the transition of the United States Military Academy from its peace-time activity to a war-time status during his tour of duty as Superintendent. A new side of this amazing person became evident during the desperate days in the tropical swamps of Buna. It was the indomitable courage, in almost hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese, of this individual who was supposed to be only an administrator.</div>
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Buna was the first of three crises in which Bob Eichelberger saved the day for General MacArthur and caused that great soldier to say that Bob "was one of the Army’s most brilliant commanders.” MacArthur remembers well the instructions with which he sent Eichelberger into the desperate situation that confronted us in the stinking muck of New Guinea’s northern shore. "Bob, the situation is desperate! Time is of the essence.” And, pausing in his restless pacing back and forth on his Moresby veranda, the Supreme Commander Allied Powers continued, “I want only one of two possible messages from you. Either that you have taken Buna or your body lies buried there!”</div>
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Bob Eichelberger’s fever-ridden forces took Buna. His same daring and relentless leadership inspired other divisions to retrieve Biak, the last vital step before the Philippine Campaign could be attempted, when all had acknowledged the situation as being critical on that island just north of Dutch New Guinea. And, again, at Nasugbu, southwest of Manila, elements of the Eighth Army made an amphibious landing that had been considered such a gamble by General MacArthur that he would authorize exploitation only under the personal direction of General Eichelberger. The 70-mile penetration through the Japanese forces in southern Luzon was made on a front less than a mile in width, but the speed and daring of the dash were so great that the outskirts of Manila were taken in three days. The Sixth Army that had driven down Luzon from Lingayen now had the Eighth Army forces constituting an anvil on which to break the back of the Japanese resistance. The Philippines had been retaken.</div>
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In recounting a few of the many facets in the personality of our distinguished graduate, his human understanding and regard for the individual have been saved for the last for therein lie the foundation upon which all his other attributes could surely rise.</div>
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In the early days in New Guinea just before the final drive could be launched, there was a difficult and frustrating stalemate. An American regiment was reinforcing an Australian command, and the Australian commanding general felt that the US troops were doing less than they should. He demanded that General Eichelberger relieve the regimental commander without delay. Bob said he never relieved anyone until he personally verified the justification for relief. He asked the Australian general to accompany him to the Australian front-line where they could both see for themselves how the US colonel was conducting the operation.</div>
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The following morning Bob picked up the Australian and jeeped forward. At regimental headquarters the party ascertained that the colonel was forward. Those at the battalion command post furnished the same information. The jeeps moved forward with their red-band capped Australian and three-starred US general. It was becoming a very lonesome trip. A US soldier was noticed in a foxhole in the kunai grass and asked where the Japanese were. “Over there in that bunker,” was the unconcerned reply as the mau pointed across the trail to a mound of earth about a hundred feet in front of him. “Do you know where your regimental commander is?’’ he was asked. “In that bunker,” he replied as he pointed to another mound of earth to his right about ten steps.</div>
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No undue haste was evident but common agreement promptly caused all to join the colonel in his bunker. The generals were shown the Japanese positions that had been verified down the trail. US patrols had negotiated the deep swamp by helping one another from the roots of one banyan tree to the roots of the next. Patrols had gone down each side of the trail dragging sound-powered telephones with them. Continual reporting had thus been possible and accurate location had been determined through reported minutes of movement and compass bearing. “The mortars are all in position,” said the colonel, “and as soon as the patrols withdraw to a safe distance, we’ll let them have it!”</div>
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Bob thanked the colonel, asked the Australian if he had any questions, learned there were none, and the party returned to the jeeps. The lonesome return journey had progressed for a period of minutes before a word was spoken. The Australian general’s deeply moving comment was, “Bob, I’ll be forever thankful for this lesson you’ve taught me. You have saved me from doing one of the greatest injustices a man ever could do!”</div>
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There had been a time-consuming preparation by the US colonel but it had been thorough. The mortar shelling was heard en route to the Australian headquarters. When Bob arrived at his own headquarters, a message was awaiting him with word from the Australian that the last strong points had been overrun and the US regiment had broken through to the coast.</div>
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Bob was concerned about people and people responded. He was asked to visit a very fine MP Battalion in Tokyo shortly after the landing in Japan. It was to have been an old-fashioned garrison inspection beginning with an observation of the men in ranks and continuing through barracks, kitchens, and recreation facilities. As Bob stood in front of the first man in ranks he asked, “What did you have this morning for breakfast?” The man’s response, “We haven’t eaten yet,” brought a violent reaction from Bob. He directed that the battalion be dismissed immediately. He refused to make any further inspection and stated that he would remain in the area only so long as it took for him to make certain that all men were fed a good breakfast promptly. This deep concern over the welfare of his men was manifest in all Bob’s service and throughout his life. It won for him the complete devotion of all who knew him.</div>
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<em>-C. E. B.</em></div>
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