General Henry Carlton Newton was one of the original "Monuments Men"
The "Monuments Men" were a group of approximately 345 men and women from thirteen nations, most of whom volunteered for service in the newly created Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) during World War II. Many had expertise as museum directors, curators, art historians, artists, architects, and educators. Their job description was simple: to protect cultural treasures so far as war allowed.
*******
Henry Carlton Newton was born in Rankin, IL to the parents of William and Josephine Balphe Newton. In early childhood Henry moved with his parents to Santa Barbara, California and eventually to Los Angeles where he attended Los Angeles Polytechnic and studied architecture.
Henry entered the U.S. Army In 1918, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery. After his WWI service, he returned to Los Angeles and began his career as an architect and also taught architecture at the University of California. In 1921 he accepted a commission in the 160th Infantry Regiment, National Guard of California where he served in a variety of capacities over a twenty year period, including serving as regimental commander.
For the period 1921 to 1940, Newton had established himself as a respected ecclesiastical architect. Newton, a devout Catholic, along with two other architectural firm partners, designed at least nine buildings in the Los Angeles area, most of which were Catholic churches. The most notable was the Precious Blood Catholic Church with its Italian Romanesque design located on Occidental Boulevard in the Westlake section of Los Angeles. He was elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1932 and named a Fellow in 1943.
In 1940 Newton's 160th California National Guard Infantry was called into active service and within a year Newton was promoted to Brigadier General and transferred to the armored branch at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he made a name for himself in armored infantry tactics. At Fort Knox, he commanded the Armored Officers' School which became known as "Newton's College."
In early 1944 Newton was selected by David Finley, Director of the National Gallery of Art and Vice Chairman of the Roberts Commission, to coordinate the work of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Newton's selection came about as a result of a recommendation from D. K. Este Fisher, the Washington, D.C. representative of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in late October 1943. In a letter from Finley to Fischer he noted that the Commission was looking for an individual who "not only has the artistic knowledge and judgment expected of a cultivated architect, but exceptional administrative and organizing abilities, great force of character, balance, and a high degree of diplomacy."
When Newton was approached by Este Fisher in the fall of 1943 seeking his services with the MFAA, Newton was serving as Deputy Commanding General of the 12th Armored Division in Camp Barkeley, Texas which eventually deployed to the European Theater where it fought as part of General Patton's Third Army. Newton's initial response to Fisher indicated that while he was personally interested in work of this nature, at the time he was torn between service with the Roberts Commission and his desire for combat service. After several letters to David Finley and Paul Sachs, Chairman of the Committee on Personnel for the Roberts Commission, and a personal interview with the Commission itself in early 1944, Newton decided to accept the assignment but at a reduced rank due to Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy's feeling that an officer with the rank of Brigadier General assigned overseas might disturb the equilibrium by having too many officers with equal or greater responsibility within General Eisenhower's command. In May 1944, Newton, now a colonel, was sent to the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force(SHAEF) in London.
Newton served as a Monuments Officer at the SHAEF from May 1944 – October 1945. In this capacity Newton represented the Roberts Commission interest with SHAEF, in essence serving as a liaison officer between the Commission and the U.S. Army. As a Monuments Officer, Newton served in several positions including: War Department Representative of the MFAA to SHAEF from May 1944-September 1944; field inspector and advisor to the MFAAA in Italy between September 1944 – November 1944; Deputy Chief of the MFAA from December 1944-February 1945; Chief of the MFAA branch, Reparation, Deliveries and Restitution Division (RDRD) from March 1945-May 1945; and Chief of Ministerial Archives Collecting Point in Kassel, Germany from May 1945-October 1945.
Regarding his work with the MFAA, fellow Monuments Officer Lt. Col. Mason Hammond wrote of Newton "...he was a sincere and ardent supporter of the Monuments program. He worked tirelessly to get its needs recognized and to secure promotion for its officers, and during the period in which he was officially in a position to help it, as Director of Reparation, Restitution and Deliveries Division he was of assistance to us in getting our plans put across."
Newton left the MFAA in October 1945, and volunteered for occupation duty where he was named Assistant Commandant of the newly formed U.S. Constabulary School in Sonthofen, located in the Allgaeu region of Bavaria – the purpose of which was to provide security in war ravaged Germany.
During the early phase of the occupation, the U.S. Constabulary's first commander, Major General Ernest Harmon, sought out capable personnel as commanders and instructors. According to armor branch historian, Robert Cameron, "[a]mong the most important of these officers was Col. Henry Newton who became the assistant commandant and was largely responsible for the school's curriculum and daily operations." Newton served in this capacity until 1948, when he was transferred to command the U.S. Army's Kitzingen Training Center –the largest school and training command in Europe - located in the Franconian region of Bavaria. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1950, Newton was assigned to the U.S. Army Intelligence School at Ft. Holabird, Maryland where he was responsible for its reorganization and served as Assistant Commandant. Newton's final military assignment was Director of Instruction and Assistant Commandant at the Armored School in Ft. Knox. Newton retired at the rank of Brigadier General on July 31, 1956.
Among the military awards and decorations he received while serving as a Monuments Officer were the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Bronze Star. On June 10, 2014, General Newton posthumously received, along with all of the other Monuments Men of WWII, the Congressional Gold Medal; Congress' highest recognition for distinguished achievements and contributions.
After retiring from the Army, Newton began a life-long affiliation with Marymount University – a Catholic University founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary - in Arlington, Virginia. Marymount, at the time, was working on gaining accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and growing as an institution. As a founding member of the Board of Regents, Newton served as Chairman of the college's building committee and he eventually served as Chairman on the University's Board of Trustees in 1960. For his dedicated service to the university, he received Marymount's President's Award in June 1969.
In addition to his service at Marymount, Newton also served as a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and served in a variety of advisory roles and conducted major staff studies designed to improve the Army School System.
Henry and his wife, Bessie Burke Newton, had no children. Bessie died in 1979. Brigadier General Henry Carlton Newton died on November 20, 1981 at Walter Reed Medical Center. He and Bessie are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
1. The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of the Arts: http://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org/the-heroes/the-monuments-men/newton-col.-henry-c
Accessed 12/27/2014
2. Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD):
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/architect/architects/680/
Accessed 12/27/2014
3. U.S. Army Military History Institute Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa. 17013-5008
4. William Timothy Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834800
Accessed 12/27/2014
5. Josephine Honora Balfe Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834788
Accessed 12/27/2014
*******
Obit for Henry Carlton Newton
Source: Washington Post, 11/23/1981
Henry C, Newton, 85
Henry C. Newton, 85, a retired army brigadier general and former chairmen of the board of Marymount College in Arlington, died of pneumonia Friday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Gen Newton, who was born in Rankin, Ill., was commissioned in the field artillery during World War I. After the war, he remained in the Reserves. he lived in California, where he was an architect.
During World War II, he returned to active duty and held various training and staff positions in this country and in Europe. He later served in West Germany. he was assistant commandant of the Armored School when he retired in 1956. His military decorations include two Legions of Merit.
A resident of Falls Church since the 1950's, Gen. Newton began his affiliation with Marymount College in 1958. He was chairman of the college building committee and was elected chairmen of the board in 1960.
His wife, Bessie B. Newton, died in 1979. He leaves no immediate survivors.
*******
From: https://www.facebook.com/160INF/posts/683423205018703
Accessed 12/27/2014
COL Henry C. Newton
Commander 160th Infantry Regiment 1938
"Remember this generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. A man who is guided by these precepts will have the moral and intellectual ability to perceive his duty and then perceiving it, the intellectual ability and courage to do it. Without a high ideal and a fine leadership, without a systematic conception of life, it is not possible for us to rise above feebleness and discouragement. Great sacrifices are demanded of us now and they will be demanded to the end. Accept these sacrifices, gentlemen willingly – not only for our own country but for all humanity. With that spirit, America faces the future; and with that inspiration, we of the Army face the task ahead, undaunted and unafraid."
The "Monuments Men" were a group of approximately 345 men and women from thirteen nations, most of whom volunteered for service in the newly created Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) during World War II. Many had expertise as museum directors, curators, art historians, artists, architects, and educators. Their job description was simple: to protect cultural treasures so far as war allowed.
*******
Henry Carlton Newton was born in Rankin, IL to the parents of William and Josephine Balphe Newton. In early childhood Henry moved with his parents to Santa Barbara, California and eventually to Los Angeles where he attended Los Angeles Polytechnic and studied architecture.
Henry entered the U.S. Army In 1918, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery. After his WWI service, he returned to Los Angeles and began his career as an architect and also taught architecture at the University of California. In 1921 he accepted a commission in the 160th Infantry Regiment, National Guard of California where he served in a variety of capacities over a twenty year period, including serving as regimental commander.
For the period 1921 to 1940, Newton had established himself as a respected ecclesiastical architect. Newton, a devout Catholic, along with two other architectural firm partners, designed at least nine buildings in the Los Angeles area, most of which were Catholic churches. The most notable was the Precious Blood Catholic Church with its Italian Romanesque design located on Occidental Boulevard in the Westlake section of Los Angeles. He was elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1932 and named a Fellow in 1943.
In 1940 Newton's 160th California National Guard Infantry was called into active service and within a year Newton was promoted to Brigadier General and transferred to the armored branch at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he made a name for himself in armored infantry tactics. At Fort Knox, he commanded the Armored Officers' School which became known as "Newton's College."
In early 1944 Newton was selected by David Finley, Director of the National Gallery of Art and Vice Chairman of the Roberts Commission, to coordinate the work of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Newton's selection came about as a result of a recommendation from D. K. Este Fisher, the Washington, D.C. representative of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in late October 1943. In a letter from Finley to Fischer he noted that the Commission was looking for an individual who "not only has the artistic knowledge and judgment expected of a cultivated architect, but exceptional administrative and organizing abilities, great force of character, balance, and a high degree of diplomacy."
When Newton was approached by Este Fisher in the fall of 1943 seeking his services with the MFAA, Newton was serving as Deputy Commanding General of the 12th Armored Division in Camp Barkeley, Texas which eventually deployed to the European Theater where it fought as part of General Patton's Third Army. Newton's initial response to Fisher indicated that while he was personally interested in work of this nature, at the time he was torn between service with the Roberts Commission and his desire for combat service. After several letters to David Finley and Paul Sachs, Chairman of the Committee on Personnel for the Roberts Commission, and a personal interview with the Commission itself in early 1944, Newton decided to accept the assignment but at a reduced rank due to Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy's feeling that an officer with the rank of Brigadier General assigned overseas might disturb the equilibrium by having too many officers with equal or greater responsibility within General Eisenhower's command. In May 1944, Newton, now a colonel, was sent to the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force(SHAEF) in London.
Newton served as a Monuments Officer at the SHAEF from May 1944 – October 1945. In this capacity Newton represented the Roberts Commission interest with SHAEF, in essence serving as a liaison officer between the Commission and the U.S. Army. As a Monuments Officer, Newton served in several positions including: War Department Representative of the MFAA to SHAEF from May 1944-September 1944; field inspector and advisor to the MFAAA in Italy between September 1944 – November 1944; Deputy Chief of the MFAA from December 1944-February 1945; Chief of the MFAA branch, Reparation, Deliveries and Restitution Division (RDRD) from March 1945-May 1945; and Chief of Ministerial Archives Collecting Point in Kassel, Germany from May 1945-October 1945.
Regarding his work with the MFAA, fellow Monuments Officer Lt. Col. Mason Hammond wrote of Newton "...he was a sincere and ardent supporter of the Monuments program. He worked tirelessly to get its needs recognized and to secure promotion for its officers, and during the period in which he was officially in a position to help it, as Director of Reparation, Restitution and Deliveries Division he was of assistance to us in getting our plans put across."
Newton left the MFAA in October 1945, and volunteered for occupation duty where he was named Assistant Commandant of the newly formed U.S. Constabulary School in Sonthofen, located in the Allgaeu region of Bavaria – the purpose of which was to provide security in war ravaged Germany.
During the early phase of the occupation, the U.S. Constabulary's first commander, Major General Ernest Harmon, sought out capable personnel as commanders and instructors. According to armor branch historian, Robert Cameron, "[a]mong the most important of these officers was Col. Henry Newton who became the assistant commandant and was largely responsible for the school's curriculum and daily operations." Newton served in this capacity until 1948, when he was transferred to command the U.S. Army's Kitzingen Training Center –the largest school and training command in Europe - located in the Franconian region of Bavaria. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1950, Newton was assigned to the U.S. Army Intelligence School at Ft. Holabird, Maryland where he was responsible for its reorganization and served as Assistant Commandant. Newton's final military assignment was Director of Instruction and Assistant Commandant at the Armored School in Ft. Knox. Newton retired at the rank of Brigadier General on July 31, 1956.
Among the military awards and decorations he received while serving as a Monuments Officer were the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Bronze Star. On June 10, 2014, General Newton posthumously received, along with all of the other Monuments Men of WWII, the Congressional Gold Medal; Congress' highest recognition for distinguished achievements and contributions.
After retiring from the Army, Newton began a life-long affiliation with Marymount University – a Catholic University founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary - in Arlington, Virginia. Marymount, at the time, was working on gaining accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and growing as an institution. As a founding member of the Board of Regents, Newton served as Chairman of the college's building committee and he eventually served as Chairman on the University's Board of Trustees in 1960. For his dedicated service to the university, he received Marymount's President's Award in June 1969.
In addition to his service at Marymount, Newton also served as a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and served in a variety of advisory roles and conducted major staff studies designed to improve the Army School System.
Henry and his wife, Bessie Burke Newton, had no children. Bessie died in 1979. Brigadier General Henry Carlton Newton died on November 20, 1981 at Walter Reed Medical Center. He and Bessie are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
1. The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of the Arts: http://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org/the-heroes/the-monuments-men/newton-col.-henry-c
Accessed 12/27/2014
2. Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD):
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/architect/architects/680/
Accessed 12/27/2014
3. U.S. Army Military History Institute Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa. 17013-5008
4. William Timothy Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834800
Accessed 12/27/2014
5. Josephine Honora Balfe Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834788
Accessed 12/27/2014
*******
Obit for Henry Carlton Newton
Source: Washington Post, 11/23/1981
Henry C, Newton, 85
Henry C. Newton, 85, a retired army brigadier general and former chairmen of the board of Marymount College in Arlington, died of pneumonia Friday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Gen Newton, who was born in Rankin, Ill., was commissioned in the field artillery during World War I. After the war, he remained in the Reserves. he lived in California, where he was an architect.
During World War II, he returned to active duty and held various training and staff positions in this country and in Europe. He later served in West Germany. he was assistant commandant of the Armored School when he retired in 1956. His military decorations include two Legions of Merit.
A resident of Falls Church since the 1950's, Gen. Newton began his affiliation with Marymount College in 1958. He was chairman of the college building committee and was elected chairmen of the board in 1960.
His wife, Bessie B. Newton, died in 1979. He leaves no immediate survivors.
*******
From: https://www.facebook.com/160INF/posts/683423205018703
Accessed 12/27/2014
COL Henry C. Newton
Commander 160th Infantry Regiment 1938
"Remember this generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. A man who is guided by these precepts will have the moral and intellectual ability to perceive his duty and then perceiving it, the intellectual ability and courage to do it. Without a high ideal and a fine leadership, without a systematic conception of life, it is not possible for us to rise above feebleness and discouragement. Great sacrifices are demanded of us now and they will be demanded to the end. Accept these sacrifices, gentlemen willingly – not only for our own country but for all humanity. With that spirit, America faces the future; and with that inspiration, we of the Army face the task ahead, undaunted and unafraid."
General Henry Carlton Newton was one of the original "Monuments Men"
The "Monuments Men" were a group of approximately 345 men and women from thirteen nations, most of whom volunteered for service in the newly created Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) during World War II. Many had expertise as museum directors, curators, art historians, artists, architects, and educators. Their job description was simple: to protect cultural treasures so far as war allowed.
*******
Henry Carlton Newton was born in Rankin, IL to the parents of William and Josephine Balphe Newton. In early childhood Henry moved with his parents to Santa Barbara, California and eventually to Los Angeles where he attended Los Angeles Polytechnic and studied architecture.
Henry entered the U.S. Army In 1918, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery. After his WWI service, he returned to Los Angeles and began his career as an architect and also taught architecture at the University of California. In 1921 he accepted a commission in the 160th Infantry Regiment, National Guard of California where he served in a variety of capacities over a twenty year period, including serving as regimental commander.
For the period 1921 to 1940, Newton had established himself as a respected ecclesiastical architect. Newton, a devout Catholic, along with two other architectural firm partners, designed at least nine buildings in the Los Angeles area, most of which were Catholic churches. The most notable was the Precious Blood Catholic Church with its Italian Romanesque design located on Occidental Boulevard in the Westlake section of Los Angeles. He was elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1932 and named a Fellow in 1943.
In 1940 Newton's 160th California National Guard Infantry was called into active service and within a year Newton was promoted to Brigadier General and transferred to the armored branch at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he made a name for himself in armored infantry tactics. At Fort Knox, he commanded the Armored Officers' School which became known as "Newton's College."
In early 1944 Newton was selected by David Finley, Director of the National Gallery of Art and Vice Chairman of the Roberts Commission, to coordinate the work of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Newton's selection came about as a result of a recommendation from D. K. Este Fisher, the Washington, D.C. representative of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in late October 1943. In a letter from Finley to Fischer he noted that the Commission was looking for an individual who "not only has the artistic knowledge and judgment expected of a cultivated architect, but exceptional administrative and organizing abilities, great force of character, balance, and a high degree of diplomacy."
When Newton was approached by Este Fisher in the fall of 1943 seeking his services with the MFAA, Newton was serving as Deputy Commanding General of the 12th Armored Division in Camp Barkeley, Texas which eventually deployed to the European Theater where it fought as part of General Patton's Third Army. Newton's initial response to Fisher indicated that while he was personally interested in work of this nature, at the time he was torn between service with the Roberts Commission and his desire for combat service. After several letters to David Finley and Paul Sachs, Chairman of the Committee on Personnel for the Roberts Commission, and a personal interview with the Commission itself in early 1944, Newton decided to accept the assignment but at a reduced rank due to Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy's feeling that an officer with the rank of Brigadier General assigned overseas might disturb the equilibrium by having too many officers with equal or greater responsibility within General Eisenhower's command. In May 1944, Newton, now a colonel, was sent to the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force(SHAEF) in London.
Newton served as a Monuments Officer at the SHAEF from May 1944 – October 1945. In this capacity Newton represented the Roberts Commission interest with SHAEF, in essence serving as a liaison officer between the Commission and the U.S. Army. As a Monuments Officer, Newton served in several positions including: War Department Representative of the MFAA to SHAEF from May 1944-September 1944; field inspector and advisor to the MFAAA in Italy between September 1944 – November 1944; Deputy Chief of the MFAA from December 1944-February 1945; Chief of the MFAA branch, Reparation, Deliveries and Restitution Division (RDRD) from March 1945-May 1945; and Chief of Ministerial Archives Collecting Point in Kassel, Germany from May 1945-October 1945.
Regarding his work with the MFAA, fellow Monuments Officer Lt. Col. Mason Hammond wrote of Newton "...he was a sincere and ardent supporter of the Monuments program. He worked tirelessly to get its needs recognized and to secure promotion for its officers, and during the period in which he was officially in a position to help it, as Director of Reparation, Restitution and Deliveries Division he was of assistance to us in getting our plans put across."
Newton left the MFAA in October 1945, and volunteered for occupation duty where he was named Assistant Commandant of the newly formed U.S. Constabulary School in Sonthofen, located in the Allgaeu region of Bavaria – the purpose of which was to provide security in war ravaged Germany.
During the early phase of the occupation, the U.S. Constabulary's first commander, Major General Ernest Harmon, sought out capable personnel as commanders and instructors. According to armor branch historian, Robert Cameron, "[a]mong the most important of these officers was Col. Henry Newton who became the assistant commandant and was largely responsible for the school's curriculum and daily operations." Newton served in this capacity until 1948, when he was transferred to command the U.S. Army's Kitzingen Training Center –the largest school and training command in Europe - located in the Franconian region of Bavaria. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1950, Newton was assigned to the U.S. Army Intelligence School at Ft. Holabird, Maryland where he was responsible for its reorganization and served as Assistant Commandant. Newton's final military assignment was Director of Instruction and Assistant Commandant at the Armored School in Ft. Knox. Newton retired at the rank of Brigadier General on July 31, 1956.
Among the military awards and decorations he received while serving as a Monuments Officer were the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Bronze Star. On June 10, 2014, General Newton posthumously received, along with all of the other Monuments Men of WWII, the Congressional Gold Medal; Congress' highest recognition for distinguished achievements and contributions.
After retiring from the Army, Newton began a life-long affiliation with Marymount University – a Catholic University founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary - in Arlington, Virginia. Marymount, at the time, was working on gaining accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and growing as an institution. As a founding member of the Board of Regents, Newton served as Chairman of the college's building committee and he eventually served as Chairman on the University's Board of Trustees in 1960. For his dedicated service to the university, he received Marymount's President's Award in June 1969.
In addition to his service at Marymount, Newton also served as a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and served in a variety of advisory roles and conducted major staff studies designed to improve the Army School System.
Henry and his wife, Bessie Burke Newton, had no children. Bessie died in 1979. Brigadier General Henry Carlton Newton died on November 20, 1981 at Walter Reed Medical Center. He and Bessie are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
1. The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of the Arts: http://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org/the-heroes/the-monuments-men/newton-col.-henry-c
Accessed 12/27/2014
2. Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD):
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/architect/architects/680/
Accessed 12/27/2014
3. U.S. Army Military History Institute Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa. 17013-5008
4. William Timothy Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834800
Accessed 12/27/2014
5. Josephine Honora Balfe Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834788
Accessed 12/27/2014
*******
Obit for Henry Carlton Newton
Source: Washington Post, 11/23/1981
Henry C, Newton, 85
Henry C. Newton, 85, a retired army brigadier general and former chairmen of the board of Marymount College in Arlington, died of pneumonia Friday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Gen Newton, who was born in Rankin, Ill., was commissioned in the field artillery during World War I. After the war, he remained in the Reserves. he lived in California, where he was an architect.
During World War II, he returned to active duty and held various training and staff positions in this country and in Europe. He later served in West Germany. he was assistant commandant of the Armored School when he retired in 1956. His military decorations include two Legions of Merit.
A resident of Falls Church since the 1950's, Gen. Newton began his affiliation with Marymount College in 1958. He was chairman of the college building committee and was elected chairmen of the board in 1960.
His wife, Bessie B. Newton, died in 1979. He leaves no immediate survivors.
*******
From: https://www.facebook.com/160INF/posts/683423205018703
Accessed 12/27/2014
COL Henry C. Newton
Commander 160th Infantry Regiment 1938
"Remember this generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. A man who is guided by these precepts will have the moral and intellectual ability to perceive his duty and then perceiving it, the intellectual ability and courage to do it. Without a high ideal and a fine leadership, without a systematic conception of life, it is not possible for us to rise above feebleness and discouragement. Great sacrifices are demanded of us now and they will be demanded to the end. Accept these sacrifices, gentlemen willingly – not only for our own country but for all humanity. With that spirit, America faces the future; and with that inspiration, we of the Army face the task ahead, undaunted and unafraid."
The "Monuments Men" were a group of approximately 345 men and women from thirteen nations, most of whom volunteered for service in the newly created Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) during World War II. Many had expertise as museum directors, curators, art historians, artists, architects, and educators. Their job description was simple: to protect cultural treasures so far as war allowed.
*******
Henry Carlton Newton was born in Rankin, IL to the parents of William and Josephine Balphe Newton. In early childhood Henry moved with his parents to Santa Barbara, California and eventually to Los Angeles where he attended Los Angeles Polytechnic and studied architecture.
Henry entered the U.S. Army In 1918, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery. After his WWI service, he returned to Los Angeles and began his career as an architect and also taught architecture at the University of California. In 1921 he accepted a commission in the 160th Infantry Regiment, National Guard of California where he served in a variety of capacities over a twenty year period, including serving as regimental commander.
For the period 1921 to 1940, Newton had established himself as a respected ecclesiastical architect. Newton, a devout Catholic, along with two other architectural firm partners, designed at least nine buildings in the Los Angeles area, most of which were Catholic churches. The most notable was the Precious Blood Catholic Church with its Italian Romanesque design located on Occidental Boulevard in the Westlake section of Los Angeles. He was elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1932 and named a Fellow in 1943.
In 1940 Newton's 160th California National Guard Infantry was called into active service and within a year Newton was promoted to Brigadier General and transferred to the armored branch at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he made a name for himself in armored infantry tactics. At Fort Knox, he commanded the Armored Officers' School which became known as "Newton's College."
In early 1944 Newton was selected by David Finley, Director of the National Gallery of Art and Vice Chairman of the Roberts Commission, to coordinate the work of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section (MFAA) in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Newton's selection came about as a result of a recommendation from D. K. Este Fisher, the Washington, D.C. representative of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in late October 1943. In a letter from Finley to Fischer he noted that the Commission was looking for an individual who "not only has the artistic knowledge and judgment expected of a cultivated architect, but exceptional administrative and organizing abilities, great force of character, balance, and a high degree of diplomacy."
When Newton was approached by Este Fisher in the fall of 1943 seeking his services with the MFAA, Newton was serving as Deputy Commanding General of the 12th Armored Division in Camp Barkeley, Texas which eventually deployed to the European Theater where it fought as part of General Patton's Third Army. Newton's initial response to Fisher indicated that while he was personally interested in work of this nature, at the time he was torn between service with the Roberts Commission and his desire for combat service. After several letters to David Finley and Paul Sachs, Chairman of the Committee on Personnel for the Roberts Commission, and a personal interview with the Commission itself in early 1944, Newton decided to accept the assignment but at a reduced rank due to Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy's feeling that an officer with the rank of Brigadier General assigned overseas might disturb the equilibrium by having too many officers with equal or greater responsibility within General Eisenhower's command. In May 1944, Newton, now a colonel, was sent to the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force(SHAEF) in London.
Newton served as a Monuments Officer at the SHAEF from May 1944 – October 1945. In this capacity Newton represented the Roberts Commission interest with SHAEF, in essence serving as a liaison officer between the Commission and the U.S. Army. As a Monuments Officer, Newton served in several positions including: War Department Representative of the MFAA to SHAEF from May 1944-September 1944; field inspector and advisor to the MFAAA in Italy between September 1944 – November 1944; Deputy Chief of the MFAA from December 1944-February 1945; Chief of the MFAA branch, Reparation, Deliveries and Restitution Division (RDRD) from March 1945-May 1945; and Chief of Ministerial Archives Collecting Point in Kassel, Germany from May 1945-October 1945.
Regarding his work with the MFAA, fellow Monuments Officer Lt. Col. Mason Hammond wrote of Newton "...he was a sincere and ardent supporter of the Monuments program. He worked tirelessly to get its needs recognized and to secure promotion for its officers, and during the period in which he was officially in a position to help it, as Director of Reparation, Restitution and Deliveries Division he was of assistance to us in getting our plans put across."
Newton left the MFAA in October 1945, and volunteered for occupation duty where he was named Assistant Commandant of the newly formed U.S. Constabulary School in Sonthofen, located in the Allgaeu region of Bavaria – the purpose of which was to provide security in war ravaged Germany.
During the early phase of the occupation, the U.S. Constabulary's first commander, Major General Ernest Harmon, sought out capable personnel as commanders and instructors. According to armor branch historian, Robert Cameron, "[a]mong the most important of these officers was Col. Henry Newton who became the assistant commandant and was largely responsible for the school's curriculum and daily operations." Newton served in this capacity until 1948, when he was transferred to command the U.S. Army's Kitzingen Training Center –the largest school and training command in Europe - located in the Franconian region of Bavaria. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1950, Newton was assigned to the U.S. Army Intelligence School at Ft. Holabird, Maryland where he was responsible for its reorganization and served as Assistant Commandant. Newton's final military assignment was Director of Instruction and Assistant Commandant at the Armored School in Ft. Knox. Newton retired at the rank of Brigadier General on July 31, 1956.
Among the military awards and decorations he received while serving as a Monuments Officer were the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Bronze Star. On June 10, 2014, General Newton posthumously received, along with all of the other Monuments Men of WWII, the Congressional Gold Medal; Congress' highest recognition for distinguished achievements and contributions.
After retiring from the Army, Newton began a life-long affiliation with Marymount University – a Catholic University founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary - in Arlington, Virginia. Marymount, at the time, was working on gaining accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and growing as an institution. As a founding member of the Board of Regents, Newton served as Chairman of the college's building committee and he eventually served as Chairman on the University's Board of Trustees in 1960. For his dedicated service to the university, he received Marymount's President's Award in June 1969.
In addition to his service at Marymount, Newton also served as a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and served in a variety of advisory roles and conducted major staff studies designed to improve the Army School System.
Henry and his wife, Bessie Burke Newton, had no children. Bessie died in 1979. Brigadier General Henry Carlton Newton died on November 20, 1981 at Walter Reed Medical Center. He and Bessie are interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
1. The Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of the Arts: http://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org/the-heroes/the-monuments-men/newton-col.-henry-c
Accessed 12/27/2014
2. Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD):
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/architect/architects/680/
Accessed 12/27/2014
3. U.S. Army Military History Institute Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa. 17013-5008
4. William Timothy Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834800
Accessed 12/27/2014
5. Josephine Honora Balfe Newton Find a Grave Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21834788
Accessed 12/27/2014
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Obit for Henry Carlton Newton
Source: Washington Post, 11/23/1981
Henry C, Newton, 85
Henry C. Newton, 85, a retired army brigadier general and former chairmen of the board of Marymount College in Arlington, died of pneumonia Friday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Gen Newton, who was born in Rankin, Ill., was commissioned in the field artillery during World War I. After the war, he remained in the Reserves. he lived in California, where he was an architect.
During World War II, he returned to active duty and held various training and staff positions in this country and in Europe. He later served in West Germany. he was assistant commandant of the Armored School when he retired in 1956. His military decorations include two Legions of Merit.
A resident of Falls Church since the 1950's, Gen. Newton began his affiliation with Marymount College in 1958. He was chairman of the college building committee and was elected chairmen of the board in 1960.
His wife, Bessie B. Newton, died in 1979. He leaves no immediate survivors.
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From: https://www.facebook.com/160INF/posts/683423205018703
Accessed 12/27/2014
COL Henry C. Newton
Commander 160th Infantry Regiment 1938
"Remember this generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. A man who is guided by these precepts will have the moral and intellectual ability to perceive his duty and then perceiving it, the intellectual ability and courage to do it. Without a high ideal and a fine leadership, without a systematic conception of life, it is not possible for us to rise above feebleness and discouragement. Great sacrifices are demanded of us now and they will be demanded to the end. Accept these sacrifices, gentlemen willingly – not only for our own country but for all humanity. With that spirit, America faces the future; and with that inspiration, we of the Army face the task ahead, undaunted and unafraid."
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