Geoffrey Keyes

Geoffrey Keyes
Born	October 30, 1888 Fort Bayard, New Mexico
Died	September 17, 1967 (aged 78) Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C
Place of burial	West Point Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1913–1950
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	3rd Armored Division 9th Armored Division II Corps Seventh United States Army Third United States Army
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit Silver Star (2) Bronze Star

Geoffrey Keyes (October 30, 1888–September 17, 1967) was a highly decorated senior officer of the United States Army, with the rank of lieutenant general, who commanded II Corps during the Italian Campaign of World War II.

Early life

Geoffrey Keyes was born on October 30, 1888 in Fort Bayard, New Mexico as a son of U.S. Army officer, Captain Alexander S. B. Keyes and his wife, Virginia Maxwell Keyes. Like his father, Geoffrey Keyes enrolled as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point on March 2, 1908 and graduated on June 12, 1913 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. His first assignment was with the 6th Cavalry Regiment, where he served until October, 1916 and participated in the Pancho Villa Expedition.

His next assignment was at United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as an instructor of French language. He was also head football coach for one season in 1917. compiling a record of 7–1.

His interwar service included duty with Panama Canal Division as an Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3), instructor at United States Military Academy at West Point and at Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas and Chief of Supply of Supply Division within War Department. He also graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1926 and the Army War College in 1937.

World War II

In 1940, during World War II, he was Chief of Staff of the 2nd Armored Division. Keyes became Commanding General of the 3d Armored Division in 1942. From June to September 1942, he commanded the 9th Armored Division before going to North Africa as Deputy Commanding General of the I Armored Corps. From 1943 to 1945, he was Commanding General of II Corps. He commanded the Seventh Army from 1945 to 1946 and the Third Army from 1946 to 1947. In 1947, Keyes was appointed U.S. High Commissioner on the Allied Council for Austria. He served as Director, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group (WSEG) from 1951 to 1954. Keyes retired in 1954 and died on September 17, 1967 at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C..^[1] He is interred at West Point.

Decorations

Lieutenant general Keyes's ribbon bar:

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ two Oak Leaf Clusters				Silver Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster				Legion of Merit				Bronze Star Medal
2nd Row	Mexican Service Medal				World War I Victory Medal				American Defense Service Medal				American Campaign Medal
3rd Row	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ one silver and two bronze service stars				World War II Victory Medal				Army of Occupation Medal				National Defense Service Medal
4th Row	Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom)				Commandeur of the Legion of Honour				French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 w/ palm				Grand Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite
5th Row	Grand Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)				Silver Medal of Military Valor (Italy)				Grand Officer of the Military Order of the White Lion				Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945
5th Row	Military Order of Savoy (Italy)			Papal Lateran Cross (Vatican)			Officer of the Legion of Honour

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Army Cadets (Independent) (1917)
1917	Army	7–1
Army:		7–1
Total:		7–1

References

1. AP (September 19, 1967). "GEOFFREY KEYES, COMBAT LEADER; Commanding General of 2d Corps in Italy Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2011.

External links

• Geoffrey Keyes at the College Football Data Warehouse
• Geoffrey Keyes at Find a Grave