Halley Grey Maddox (January 29, 1899 – May 26, 1977) was a career officer in the United States Army. A 1920 graduate of the United States Military Academy, he was originally assigned to the Infantry branch and later transferred to Cavalry. A noted horseman, he took part in numerous equestrian shows as a member of U.S. Army teams and was also a member of numerous Army polo teams during the height of the sport's popularity in the 1920s.
After retiring from the military, Maddox served as assistant to the president of San Marcos Baptist Academy. He retired from this position in 1967 and was a resident of San Marcos, Texas. He died in there in 1977 and was buried at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Wimberley, Texas.
Early life
At West Point in 1920
Halley Grey Maddox was born in McHenry, Kentucky on January 29, 1899, a son of Claude H. Maddox and Susan (Stewart) Maddox.[1][2] He was raised and educated in Central City, Kentucky, and graduated from Hartford College, a two-year institution located in Hartford, Kentucky.[3]
Maddox served initially at Fort Stotsenburg, Philippines and received temporary promotion to first lieutenant in 1920.[1] He then transferred to the Cavalry branch and attended the Cavalry School Basic Course at Fort Riley, Kansas, afterwards remaining at the school to serve as an instructor.[1] He began to develop a reputation as an outstanding horseman, which led to participation in numerous equestrian activities, including the Army Horse Show Team.[1] He also participated on several Army polo teams as the sport's popularity in the Army grew during the 1920s.[1] Next assigned to the 4th Cavalry Regiment, he was posted to Fort Brown, Texas.[5] He was subsequently assigned to the 12th Cavalry, also at Fort Brown.[6] He reverted to his permanent rank of second lieutenant in 1922.[5]
In December 1941, Maddox received promotion to temporary lieutenant colonel,[8] and in June 1942 he was transferred to the General Staff Corps, the contingent of Army officers qualified to serve on staffs at division level and above.[8] He was then assigned as Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3), for 7th Armored Division.[14] His next posting was as assistant chief of staff for operations (G-3) for I Armored Corps, which was commanded by George S. Patton.[15] Maddox served on the corps staff during the unit's initial organization and training.[15]
Maddox as a brigadier general in the late 1940s
In September 1942, Maddox was promoted to temporary colonel.[8] He took part in the Operation Torch landings in French North Africa as a member of the operations staff (G-3) for the Western Task Force, again under the command of George Patton.[16] Assigned as G-3 of Seventh Army, again under Patton's command, Maddox took part in planning and executing the Allied invasion of Sicily in the summer of 1943.[1] In July 1943, he was promoted to permanent lieutenant colonel.[8]
When Patton was assigned to command Third United States Army in preparation for the 1944 Normandy landings and invasion of German-occupied France, Maddox was again assigned as Patton's G-3.[1] He planned and oversaw execution of Third Army's operations until the end of the war in 1945, and received promotion to temporary brigadier general in November 1944.[8] Word of Maddox's promotion came while Third Army was involved in combat during the Lorraine campaign; Patton immediately removed one star from each of his shoulder straps and used them to conduct an impromptu ceremony awarding Maddox his new rank.[17]
Post-World War II
After the war, Maddox reverted to the permanent rank of colonel.[17] He served as chief of staff of the United States Constabulary in Germany from 1947 to 1949.[1] He then served again as assistant chief of staff (G-3) for Third U.S. Army, and again received promotion to brigadier general, once more making use of the stars he had received from Patton in 1944.[17] In 1949 he was appointed to command the Fort Gordon, Georgia military post.[1] In 1951 he returned to Third Army, this time as chief of staff.[18] He then served as chief of staff for Army Field Forces at Fort Monroe, Virginia.[19] In September 1952, Maddox received promotion to major general.[20]
Korean War
From August 1953 to May 1954, Maddox commanded the 25th Infantry Division in South Korea.[1] Taking command as the Korean War was nearing resolution, Maddox oversaw the division's preparations to return to its home base in Hawaii for post-war reorganization.[21] In addition, he approved and presented numerous awards and decorations to recognize members of the division for their service and heroism in combat.[22] During the fall of 1953, Maddox also served as interim commander of I Corps, following the departure of Bruce C. Clarke and prior to the arrival of Blackshear M. Bryan.[23]
From June to November 1954, Maddox commanded the Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG).[1] In this position, he commanded 3,000 soldiers who were assigned to advise and assist the military of South Korea as it rebuilt and reorganized following the end of the war.[24]
Maddox as commander of the 25th Infantry Division in 1953
After his brief corps command, Maddox was assigned as chief of staff for United States Army Europe.[1] In July 1957, he was named deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe.[1] In March 1958, Maddox was appointed deputy commander of United States Second Army at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he remained until retiring in January 1959.[1]
Later life
In 1961, Maddox agreed to become assistant to the president of San Marcos Baptist Academy in San Marcos, Texas.[1] Among his efforts to provide military training to the school's cadets was the creation of an annual drill and ceremony competition, which included participants from numerous high schools and military academies.[27] Maddox remained on the academy staff until retiring in 1967.[1]
Maddox was also active in veterans and military retiree organizations in the San Marcos area, including participating in events to raise money for charity during Armed Forces Day celebrations.[28] With the release of the film Patton in 1970, members of the news media asked to interview him.[29] After screening the film, Maddox provided reporters with his impressions of the movie, which were generally favorable, and his recollections of his World War II service under Patton's command.[29]
In 1922, Maddox married Bertalee Bernard Roemer (1892–1975), who had previously been married to Theodore M. Roemer.[3][34][35][36] She was the mother of a daughter, Jean (b. 1920).[37][38] They divorced after World War II, and in December 1949 Maddox married Madeleine (Ehrheart) Chace (1907–2006).[1][39] She was the mother of two daughters, Madeleine and Sara.[1][40]
^Empric, Bruce E. (2024), Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Soviet Military Decorations in World War II, Teufelsberg Press, p. 101, ISBN979-8-3444-6807-5
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