USMA Class of 1915. Cullum No. 5446. Major General.
Vernon Edwin Prichard was born in Smithland, Iowa on January 25, 1892, the son of Jacob A. Prichard and Emma Grace Jones Prichard. At the age of 16 he entered Morningside College at Sioux City. Three years later at the age of 19, he received an appointment to the Military Academy and came to West Point as a member of the Class of 1915. He was elected captain of the football team and the Howitzer gave credit to his leadership on the gridiron. On June 12, 1915, he was assigned the rank of Second Lieut. in the infantry. He ranked 134 in a class of 164. He was sent to the 17th Infantry, at Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was part of the Punitive Expedition in Mexico. On July 1, 1916, he was promoted to First Lieut. and recalled to West Point for temporary duty during football season. On September 6, 1916, he married Charlotte Gibbs Blesse. They were the parents of one daughter. In December 1916, he returned to Mexico and two months later his regiment moved to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. On May 15, 1917, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 56th Infantry two months later. In January 1918 he sailed for France with the 2nd Division Trains. He was with the 23rd Infantry and Division Headquarters. General Omar Bundy selected him as an aide in May 1918 and he remained in that capacity until August. On July 30, 1918, he was temporarily promoted to major and was sent to the front with the VI Army Corps where he was in combat at Verdun and Chateau-Thierry. After the Armistice he went to Germany, where he remained at VII Army Corps headquarters until June 1919. He then returned to the United States. On August 20, 1919 he reverted to the rank of captain and was again assigned to West Point. Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur had selected a group of young graduates to help him to reinstate the traditions of the Corps as classes had been rushed through to early graduation during the war. They served as members of the Beast Detail and tactical officers. He was promoted to major on July 24, 1920. On March 29, 1923, he transferred to the Field Artillery and attended school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated from Sill in June 1924 and was assigned to the 6th Field Artillery at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. After three months, he went to Yale as Professor of Military Science & Tactics in September 1925 for four years. He helped coach the Yale football team, which beat both Harvard and Princeton. He was awarded the Y and a miniature gold football, which was the first time a non-graduate of Yale, had received such recognition. He was also made an honorary member of two of the secret societies. In June 1929, he was selected for Leavenworth. In 1931, he graduated with a record which led him to an instruction detail with the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. After a four year tour there in August 1935, he went to Hawaii, where he joined the 11th Field Artillery at Schofield Barracks. Eight months later he became aide to General Hugh A. Drum at Fort Shatter as Aide. Following December he was promoted to Lieut. Colonel. In 1937, he went with General Drum to Chicago and the Sixth Corps Area and later to Governors Island and the Second Corps Area. In September 1939, General Drum released him to attend the Army War College, at Washington, D.C. He graduated in June 1940 and was assigned to command the 27th F.A. Battalion at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Armored Force was in its infancy and he joined those engaged in working out new tactics. In April 1941, he was sent to Pine Camp, New York as chief of staff of the newly created 4th Armored. On June 26, 1941, he was promoted to Colonel. On February 16, 1942, he received his first star and made assistant division commander and was assigned to the14th Armored. On September 9, 1942, he was promoted to major general and went to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He received command of the First Armored Division, which had seen combat in North Africa and Italy on July 17, 1944. Their maneuvers kept the Nazi armies of Northern Italy from reaching the Bavarian Redoubt. They took Mantua, Brescia, Bergamo, Lecco and Como. He won the Purple Heart seven times. General Crittenberger wrote, In this epic thrust of the First Armored Division, to seal the last remaining enemy escape routes out of Italy, General Prichard’s personal leadership of his troops inspired his command to heroic efforts. It was a skillfully executed advance toward final victory, which will go down in history as one of the characteristically decisive uses of American armor in World War II.
The achievement was recognized by the D.S.M., the citation for which reads For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in the performance of duties of great responsibility during the period April 14, 1945 to May 2, 1945.
He also received the British Order of the Bath, (the highest decoration a foreigner may receive), the French Legion of Honor (Officer) and Croix-de-Guerre with Palm, the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus (Italy’s highest knighthood) and the War Medal from Brazil (a division of whose troops had fought beside his own). He was also awarded the Czechoslovakian War Cross in 1947. In September 1945, he became the Deputy, Foreign Liquidation Commission in the European Theatre. On March 31, 1946, he became Deputy G-3 at European Theatre Headquarters, reverting to his regular rank of colonel and being promoted to Brigadier General on the same day. On July 1, 1946, he was reduced to colonel again. On April 5, 1948, he was promoted to brigadier general. He was on duty at Headquarters EUCOM until January 7, 1949. Under Omar Bradley, who was now Chief of Staff, he became Chief' of the Amy’s Public Information Division in Washington, D.C. on February 1, 1949. He was again promoted to major general on March 11, 1949. On July 10, 1949, he and his wife joined a group of friends for a Sunday afternoon cruise aboard a small yacht on the Potomac. As the boat left the dock there was an explosion, a fire in the engine compartment and the boat sank almost immediately. He died in the explosion from a concussion. General Omar Bradley, then Chief of Staff, wrote to Charlotte Prichard, Vernon was one of my closest friends when we were Cadets. His leadership and friendliness endeared him to all of us. I know of no one who enjoyed life more.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
Vernon Edwin Prichard was born in Smithland, Iowa on January 25, 1892, the son of Jacob A. Prichard and Emma Grace Jones Prichard. At the age of 16 he entered Morningside College at Sioux City. Three years later at the age of 19, he received an appointment to the Military Academy and came to West Point as a member of the Class of 1915. He was elected captain of the football team and the Howitzer gave credit to his leadership on the gridiron. On June 12, 1915, he was assigned the rank of Second Lieut. in the infantry. He ranked 134 in a class of 164. He was sent to the 17th Infantry, at Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was part of the Punitive Expedition in Mexico. On July 1, 1916, he was promoted to First Lieut. and recalled to West Point for temporary duty during football season. On September 6, 1916, he married Charlotte Gibbs Blesse. They were the parents of one daughter. In December 1916, he returned to Mexico and two months later his regiment moved to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. On May 15, 1917, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 56th Infantry two months later. In January 1918 he sailed for France with the 2nd Division Trains. He was with the 23rd Infantry and Division Headquarters. General Omar Bundy selected him as an aide in May 1918 and he remained in that capacity until August. On July 30, 1918, he was temporarily promoted to major and was sent to the front with the VI Army Corps where he was in combat at Verdun and Chateau-Thierry. After the Armistice he went to Germany, where he remained at VII Army Corps headquarters until June 1919. He then returned to the United States. On August 20, 1919 he reverted to the rank of captain and was again assigned to West Point. Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur had selected a group of young graduates to help him to reinstate the traditions of the Corps as classes had been rushed through to early graduation during the war. They served as members of the Beast Detail and tactical officers. He was promoted to major on July 24, 1920. On March 29, 1923, he transferred to the Field Artillery and attended school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated from Sill in June 1924 and was assigned to the 6th Field Artillery at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. After three months, he went to Yale as Professor of Military Science & Tactics in September 1925 for four years. He helped coach the Yale football team, which beat both Harvard and Princeton. He was awarded the Y and a miniature gold football, which was the first time a non-graduate of Yale, had received such recognition. He was also made an honorary member of two of the secret societies. In June 1929, he was selected for Leavenworth. In 1931, he graduated with a record which led him to an instruction detail with the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. After a four year tour there in August 1935, he went to Hawaii, where he joined the 11th Field Artillery at Schofield Barracks. Eight months later he became aide to General Hugh A. Drum at Fort Shatter as Aide. Following December he was promoted to Lieut. Colonel. In 1937, he went with General Drum to Chicago and the Sixth Corps Area and later to Governors Island and the Second Corps Area. In September 1939, General Drum released him to attend the Army War College, at Washington, D.C. He graduated in June 1940 and was assigned to command the 27th F.A. Battalion at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Armored Force was in its infancy and he joined those engaged in working out new tactics. In April 1941, he was sent to Pine Camp, New York as chief of staff of the newly created 4th Armored. On June 26, 1941, he was promoted to Colonel. On February 16, 1942, he received his first star and made assistant division commander and was assigned to the14th Armored. On September 9, 1942, he was promoted to major general and went to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He received command of the First Armored Division, which had seen combat in North Africa and Italy on July 17, 1944. Their maneuvers kept the Nazi armies of Northern Italy from reaching the Bavarian Redoubt. They took Mantua, Brescia, Bergamo, Lecco and Como. He won the Purple Heart seven times. General Crittenberger wrote, In this epic thrust of the First Armored Division, to seal the last remaining enemy escape routes out of Italy, General Prichard’s personal leadership of his troops inspired his command to heroic efforts. It was a skillfully executed advance toward final victory, which will go down in history as one of the characteristically decisive uses of American armor in World War II.
The achievement was recognized by the D.S.M., the citation for which reads For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in the performance of duties of great responsibility during the period April 14, 1945 to May 2, 1945.
He also received the British Order of the Bath, (the highest decoration a foreigner may receive), the French Legion of Honor (Officer) and Croix-de-Guerre with Palm, the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus (Italy’s highest knighthood) and the War Medal from Brazil (a division of whose troops had fought beside his own). He was also awarded the Czechoslovakian War Cross in 1947. In September 1945, he became the Deputy, Foreign Liquidation Commission in the European Theatre. On March 31, 1946, he became Deputy G-3 at European Theatre Headquarters, reverting to his regular rank of colonel and being promoted to Brigadier General on the same day. On July 1, 1946, he was reduced to colonel again. On April 5, 1948, he was promoted to brigadier general. He was on duty at Headquarters EUCOM until January 7, 1949. Under Omar Bradley, who was now Chief of Staff, he became Chief' of the Amy’s Public Information Division in Washington, D.C. on February 1, 1949. He was again promoted to major general on March 11, 1949. On July 10, 1949, he and his wife joined a group of friends for a Sunday afternoon cruise aboard a small yacht on the Potomac. As the boat left the dock there was an explosion, a fire in the engine compartment and the boat sank almost immediately. He died in the explosion from a concussion. General Omar Bradley, then Chief of Staff, wrote to Charlotte Prichard, Vernon was one of my closest friends when we were Cadets. His leadership and friendliness endeared him to all of us. I know of no one who enjoyed life more.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
USMA Class of 1915. Cullum No. 5446. Major General.
Vernon Edwin Prichard was born in Smithland, Iowa on January 25, 1892, the son of Jacob A. Prichard and Emma Grace Jones Prichard. At the age of 16 he entered Morningside College at Sioux City. Three years later at the age of 19, he received an appointment to the Military Academy and came to West Point as a member of the Class of 1915. He was elected captain of the football team and the Howitzer gave credit to his leadership on the gridiron. On June 12, 1915, he was assigned the rank of Second Lieut. in the infantry. He ranked 134 in a class of 164. He was sent to the 17th Infantry, at Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was part of the Punitive Expedition in Mexico. On July 1, 1916, he was promoted to First Lieut. and recalled to West Point for temporary duty during football season. On September 6, 1916, he married Charlotte Gibbs Blesse. They were the parents of one daughter. In December 1916, he returned to Mexico and two months later his regiment moved to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. On May 15, 1917, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 56th Infantry two months later. In January 1918 he sailed for France with the 2nd Division Trains. He was with the 23rd Infantry and Division Headquarters. General Omar Bundy selected him as an aide in May 1918 and he remained in that capacity until August. On July 30, 1918, he was temporarily promoted to major and was sent to the front with the VI Army Corps where he was in combat at Verdun and Chateau-Thierry. After the Armistice he went to Germany, where he remained at VII Army Corps headquarters until June 1919. He then returned to the United States. On August 20, 1919 he reverted to the rank of captain and was again assigned to West Point. Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur had selected a group of young graduates to help him to reinstate the traditions of the Corps as classes had been rushed through to early graduation during the war. They served as members of the Beast Detail and tactical officers. He was promoted to major on July 24, 1920. On March 29, 1923, he transferred to the Field Artillery and attended school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated from Sill in June 1924 and was assigned to the 6th Field Artillery at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. After three months, he went to Yale as Professor of Military Science & Tactics in September 1925 for four years. He helped coach the Yale football team, which beat both Harvard and Princeton. He was awarded the Y and a miniature gold football, which was the first time a non-graduate of Yale, had received such recognition. He was also made an honorary member of two of the secret societies. In June 1929, he was selected for Leavenworth. In 1931, he graduated with a record which led him to an instruction detail with the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. After a four year tour there in August 1935, he went to Hawaii, where he joined the 11th Field Artillery at Schofield Barracks. Eight months later he became aide to General Hugh A. Drum at Fort Shatter as Aide. Following December he was promoted to Lieut. Colonel. In 1937, he went with General Drum to Chicago and the Sixth Corps Area and later to Governors Island and the Second Corps Area. In September 1939, General Drum released him to attend the Army War College, at Washington, D.C. He graduated in June 1940 and was assigned to command the 27th F.A. Battalion at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Armored Force was in its infancy and he joined those engaged in working out new tactics. In April 1941, he was sent to Pine Camp, New York as chief of staff of the newly created 4th Armored. On June 26, 1941, he was promoted to Colonel. On February 16, 1942, he received his first star and made assistant division commander and was assigned to the14th Armored. On September 9, 1942, he was promoted to major general and went to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He received command of the First Armored Division, which had seen combat in North Africa and Italy on July 17, 1944. Their maneuvers kept the Nazi armies of Northern Italy from reaching the Bavarian Redoubt. They took Mantua, Brescia, Bergamo, Lecco and Como. He won the Purple Heart seven times. General Crittenberger wrote, In this epic thrust of the First Armored Division, to seal the last remaining enemy escape routes out of Italy, General Prichard’s personal leadership of his troops inspired his command to heroic efforts. It was a skillfully executed advance toward final victory, which will go down in history as one of the characteristically decisive uses of American armor in World War II.
The achievement was recognized by the D.S.M., the citation for which reads For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in the performance of duties of great responsibility during the period April 14, 1945 to May 2, 1945.
He also received the British Order of the Bath, (the highest decoration a foreigner may receive), the French Legion of Honor (Officer) and Croix-de-Guerre with Palm, the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus (Italy’s highest knighthood) and the War Medal from Brazil (a division of whose troops had fought beside his own). He was also awarded the Czechoslovakian War Cross in 1947. In September 1945, he became the Deputy, Foreign Liquidation Commission in the European Theatre. On March 31, 1946, he became Deputy G-3 at European Theatre Headquarters, reverting to his regular rank of colonel and being promoted to Brigadier General on the same day. On July 1, 1946, he was reduced to colonel again. On April 5, 1948, he was promoted to brigadier general. He was on duty at Headquarters EUCOM until January 7, 1949. Under Omar Bradley, who was now Chief of Staff, he became Chief' of the Amy’s Public Information Division in Washington, D.C. on February 1, 1949. He was again promoted to major general on March 11, 1949. On July 10, 1949, he and his wife joined a group of friends for a Sunday afternoon cruise aboard a small yacht on the Potomac. As the boat left the dock there was an explosion, a fire in the engine compartment and the boat sank almost immediately. He died in the explosion from a concussion. General Omar Bradley, then Chief of Staff, wrote to Charlotte Prichard, Vernon was one of my closest friends when we were Cadets. His leadership and friendliness endeared him to all of us. I know of no one who enjoyed life more.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
Vernon Edwin Prichard was born in Smithland, Iowa on January 25, 1892, the son of Jacob A. Prichard and Emma Grace Jones Prichard. At the age of 16 he entered Morningside College at Sioux City. Three years later at the age of 19, he received an appointment to the Military Academy and came to West Point as a member of the Class of 1915. He was elected captain of the football team and the Howitzer gave credit to his leadership on the gridiron. On June 12, 1915, he was assigned the rank of Second Lieut. in the infantry. He ranked 134 in a class of 164. He was sent to the 17th Infantry, at Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was part of the Punitive Expedition in Mexico. On July 1, 1916, he was promoted to First Lieut. and recalled to West Point for temporary duty during football season. On September 6, 1916, he married Charlotte Gibbs Blesse. They were the parents of one daughter. In December 1916, he returned to Mexico and two months later his regiment moved to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. On May 15, 1917, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 56th Infantry two months later. In January 1918 he sailed for France with the 2nd Division Trains. He was with the 23rd Infantry and Division Headquarters. General Omar Bundy selected him as an aide in May 1918 and he remained in that capacity until August. On July 30, 1918, he was temporarily promoted to major and was sent to the front with the VI Army Corps where he was in combat at Verdun and Chateau-Thierry. After the Armistice he went to Germany, where he remained at VII Army Corps headquarters until June 1919. He then returned to the United States. On August 20, 1919 he reverted to the rank of captain and was again assigned to West Point. Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur had selected a group of young graduates to help him to reinstate the traditions of the Corps as classes had been rushed through to early graduation during the war. They served as members of the Beast Detail and tactical officers. He was promoted to major on July 24, 1920. On March 29, 1923, he transferred to the Field Artillery and attended school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated from Sill in June 1924 and was assigned to the 6th Field Artillery at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. After three months, he went to Yale as Professor of Military Science & Tactics in September 1925 for four years. He helped coach the Yale football team, which beat both Harvard and Princeton. He was awarded the Y and a miniature gold football, which was the first time a non-graduate of Yale, had received such recognition. He was also made an honorary member of two of the secret societies. In June 1929, he was selected for Leavenworth. In 1931, he graduated with a record which led him to an instruction detail with the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. After a four year tour there in August 1935, he went to Hawaii, where he joined the 11th Field Artillery at Schofield Barracks. Eight months later he became aide to General Hugh A. Drum at Fort Shatter as Aide. Following December he was promoted to Lieut. Colonel. In 1937, he went with General Drum to Chicago and the Sixth Corps Area and later to Governors Island and the Second Corps Area. In September 1939, General Drum released him to attend the Army War College, at Washington, D.C. He graduated in June 1940 and was assigned to command the 27th F.A. Battalion at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Armored Force was in its infancy and he joined those engaged in working out new tactics. In April 1941, he was sent to Pine Camp, New York as chief of staff of the newly created 4th Armored. On June 26, 1941, he was promoted to Colonel. On February 16, 1942, he received his first star and made assistant division commander and was assigned to the14th Armored. On September 9, 1942, he was promoted to major general and went to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He received command of the First Armored Division, which had seen combat in North Africa and Italy on July 17, 1944. Their maneuvers kept the Nazi armies of Northern Italy from reaching the Bavarian Redoubt. They took Mantua, Brescia, Bergamo, Lecco and Como. He won the Purple Heart seven times. General Crittenberger wrote, In this epic thrust of the First Armored Division, to seal the last remaining enemy escape routes out of Italy, General Prichard’s personal leadership of his troops inspired his command to heroic efforts. It was a skillfully executed advance toward final victory, which will go down in history as one of the characteristically decisive uses of American armor in World War II.
The achievement was recognized by the D.S.M., the citation for which reads For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in the performance of duties of great responsibility during the period April 14, 1945 to May 2, 1945.
He also received the British Order of the Bath, (the highest decoration a foreigner may receive), the French Legion of Honor (Officer) and Croix-de-Guerre with Palm, the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus (Italy’s highest knighthood) and the War Medal from Brazil (a division of whose troops had fought beside his own). He was also awarded the Czechoslovakian War Cross in 1947. In September 1945, he became the Deputy, Foreign Liquidation Commission in the European Theatre. On March 31, 1946, he became Deputy G-3 at European Theatre Headquarters, reverting to his regular rank of colonel and being promoted to Brigadier General on the same day. On July 1, 1946, he was reduced to colonel again. On April 5, 1948, he was promoted to brigadier general. He was on duty at Headquarters EUCOM until January 7, 1949. Under Omar Bradley, who was now Chief of Staff, he became Chief' of the Amy’s Public Information Division in Washington, D.C. on February 1, 1949. He was again promoted to major general on March 11, 1949. On July 10, 1949, he and his wife joined a group of friends for a Sunday afternoon cruise aboard a small yacht on the Potomac. As the boat left the dock there was an explosion, a fire in the engine compartment and the boat sank almost immediately. He died in the explosion from a concussion. General Omar Bradley, then Chief of Staff, wrote to Charlotte Prichard, Vernon was one of my closest friends when we were Cadets. His leadership and friendliness endeared him to all of us. I know of no one who enjoyed life more.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
Gravesite Details
According to USMA Post Cemetery staff, his remains were not interred at the USMA Post Cemetery site.
Family Members
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