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Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (9 March 1886 – 26 September 1961) was a general in the United States Army, who commanded the US Eighth Army in the Pacific during World War II.
Eichelberger was born at Urbana, Ohio, on 9 March 1886. His family had come from Switzerland in 1726. He entered the Army as an infantry lieutenant from the U.S. Military Academy in 1909. For the next several years, he saw service in Panama and the Mexican border before joining the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia. In the years 1918 to 1920 Major Eichelberger observed the Japanese incursion into Siberia and became aware of Japanese methods. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for repeated acts of bravery while assigned to the Expeditionary Force.
After further overseas duty in the Philippines and China, Eichelberger returned to the U.S. attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and the Army War College, progressing through promotions to Brigadier General in October 1940. With the beginning of World War II, Major General Eichelberger became Commanding General of US I Corps and left for Australia in 1942.
Eichelberger soon became a Lieutenant General, and General Douglas MacArthur ordered "Bob, I want you to take Buna, or not come back alive." LTG Eichelberger defeated the Japanese at Buna and continued winning victories on Hollandia and Biak with his joint Australian American Corps.
As Commanding General of the newly formed Eighth Army, he lead the invasion of the Philippines clearing the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Panay, Negros, Cebu and Bohol. By July 1945, Eichelberger's forces had defeated the Japanese on Mindanao. That August Eichelberger's Eighth Army began a three-year Occupation of Japan where he was instrumental in the rebuilding of a nation.
After nearly 40 years service he retired in 1948. Congress, in recognition of his service, promoted R.L. Eichelberger to full General in 1954.
General Eichelberger died at Asheville, North Carolina, on 26 September 1961. He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
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