Lorenzo D. Gasser | |
|---|---|
 Gasser as a colonel, circa 1930. Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress. | |
| Nickname(s) | Cap[1][2] |
| Born | May 3, 1876 Lykens, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 1955 (aged 79) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | Ohio National Guard United States Army |
| Years of service | 1893–1898 (National Guard) 1899–1940 (Army) 1941–1945 (Army) |
| Rank | Major General |
| Service number | O–1018[3] |
| Unit | U.S. Army Infantry Branch |
| Commands held | Company E, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Company A, 43rd Infantry Regiment Company I, 28th Infantry 31st Infantry Regiment Post of Manila 16th Infantry Brigade Fort Meade, Maryland War Department Manpower Board |
| Wars | Spanish–American War Philippine–American War United States Military Government in Cuba Pancho Villa Expedition World War I Japanese invasion of Manchuria World War II |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit Legion of Honor (Chevalier) (France) |
| Spouse(s) |
Molly Gregory Sugrue
(m. 1904–1951) |
Lorenzo Dow Gasser (May 3, 1876 – October 29, 1955) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, United States Military Government in Cuba, Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, and World War II, he attained the rank of major general and was a recipient of three awards of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). Gasser was best known for his command of the 31st Infantry Regiment as part of the 1932 U.S. response to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, his service as Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army (following George C. Marshall), and his Second World War presidency of the War Department Manpower Board.
A native of Lykens, Ohio, Gasser was raised and educated in Tiffin, Ohio, where he worked as a glassworker and store clerk and served in the Ohio National Guard. He enlisted as a private in 1893, was promoted to sergeant, and received his commission as a captain in 1898. Gasser commanded Company E, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish–American War, then served as a first lieutenant with the 43rd U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War. He then obtained a commission in the regular army, and served primarily with the 28th Infantry at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. From 1906 to 1909, he served with the 28th Infantry as part of the United States Military Government in Cuba. In early 1916, he took part in the Pancho Villa Expedition on the staff of the army's Southern Department headquarters in El Paso, Texas. During World War I, he served as assistant chief of staff of the 30th Division, assistant chief of staff of III Corps, and assistant chief of staff for transportation (G-4) at the American Expeditionary Forces headquarters. After the war, he served as deputy assistant chief of staff (G-4) in charge of disposing of enemy war materiel during the post-war occupation. Gasser's wartime service was recognized with award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and French Legion of Honor (Chevalier).
After the war, Gasser served on the War Department General Staff, as executive officer of the 10th Infantry Regiment, and on the staff of the army's Chief of Infantry. In 1931 he was assigned to command the 31st Infantry Regiment and the Post of Manila. In 1932, his regiment took part in the U.S. response to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. In June 1936, Gasser was promoted to brigadier general and in September he was assigned to command the 16th Infantry Brigade. From July 1939 to May 1940, Gasser served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and he retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64. His service as Deputy Chief of Staff was recognized with a second award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal.
In 1941, Gasser was recalled to active duty for World War II and served as the War Department representative at the Office of Civilian Defense. In 1942, he was assigned as OCD's assistant director in charge of civilian protection and promoted to major general. In March 1943, he was appointed president of the War Department Manpower Board, and he served in this position until retiring again in December 1945. His wartime service was recognized with a third award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and award of the Legion of Merit. In retirement, Gasser resided in Washington, D.C.. He died in Washington on October 29, 1955, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
- ^ Day, William (August 26, 1956). "Seneca's Repository of History: Tiffin Home Serves As County Museum". Toledo Blade Pictorial. Toledo, OH. pp. 25–26 – via Google News Archive.
The Edna Holtz room contains items collected by the Tiffin woman in her world-wide travels and the Gasser room, named after Cap Gasser, of Tiffin, who became a major general in the U.S. Army, contains many military items.
- ^ Eisenhower, Dwight (1970). The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower. Vol. VII, The Chief of Staff. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Press. p. 1196. ISBN 978-0-8018-2061-8.
To Lorenzo Dow Gasser, July 13 , 1946. Dear Cap: Both Mamie and I are delighted that the Board of Governors of Chevy Chase Club will give consideration to our application for membership.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Register1946was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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