Krueger, Walter (1881-1967)

National Archives #SC 183951.

Cropped by author.

Walter Krueger was born in East Prussia and his family emigrated to the United States after the death of his father when he was eight. He enlisted in the Army in 1898 and fought in the Spanish-American war, rising to the rank of sergeant, and was commissioned in 1901. He graduated from the Infantry and Cavalry School in 1906 and the Command and General Staff School in 1907. He participated in Pershing’s expedition in Mexico. During World War I he held staff assignments in France. Between the wars, he continued to receive important assignments, and graduated from the Army and Navy War Colleges.

The outbreak of the war found Krueger in command of 3 Army as an acting lieutenant general, where he had achieved a notable "victory" in the Louisiana Maneuvers. On 18 February 1943 he assumed command of 6 Army in Australia. As such he should have been under the command of Thomas Blamey, who was the nominal Allied land forces commander in the theater.  However, MacArthur, who seems to have despised all things Australian, including Blamey, got around this by designating 6 Army as Task Force Alamo, thus putting Krueger under his direct command. Task Force Alamo fought all the way from New Britain to the Philippines.

Krueger was an able linguist and military historian as well as an excellent planner and trainer of troops. However, he was not an outstanding field commander. The conduct of his campaigns suggests that he was too often out of touch with the real situation in the field, particularly at Biak, where his orders made no sense given the tactical realities. After one operation he received to a report of high officer casualties with approval, believing this was proof the junior officers were leading as they should. Paradoxically, his fellow officers considered him excessively slow and cautious. However, MacArthur rewarded loyalty with loyalty, and Krueger was loyal to MacArthur, showing no interest in publicity for himself. It was not until the Leyte campaign that Krueger directly commanded his army in combat, and MacArthur was so dissatisfied with his performance that he considered relieving him. It was probably Marshall's patronage that saved Krueger's career.

Krueger directed the occupation of Honshu by 6 Army following the surrender, but retired immediately thereafter, in January 1946.

Service record

References

Boatner (1996)

Dupuy et al. (1992)

Generals.dk (accessed 2008-2-18)

Hastings (2007)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia (c) 2007-2008 by Kent G. Budge. Index

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