Raymond Albert Wheeler
United States Army general (1885–1974) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raymond Albert Wheeler (31 July 1885 – 9 February 1974) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and an engineer of international recognition.[1] He fought in both World Wars, at the Marne in World War I, where he earned a Silver Star, and in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II, where he personally accepted the Japanese surrender in Singapore. During and after the war he held key roles in major engineering projects of the 20th century, to include construction of the Ledo Road, St. Lawrence Seaway, and Missouri Basin Program, the clearing of the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis, and the construction of tens of thousands of miles of rail and highway through Iraq and Iran during the development of Allied supply lines from Europe to Russia during World War II.[2]
Raymond Albert Wheeler | |
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![]() Official photo as a lieutenant general | |
Birth name | Raymond Albert Wheeler |
Nickname(s) | "Speck" |
Born | (1885-07-31)31 July 1885 Peoria, Illinois, United States |
Died | 9 February 1974(1974-02-09) (aged 88) Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., United States |
Burial place | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Years of service | 1911–1949 |
Rank | ![]() |
Service number | 0-3064 |
Unit | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
Commands held | Chief of Engineers (1945-1949) Commanding general of the India-Burma theater of operations Acting Governor of the Panama Canal Zone |
Battles/wars | Veracruz Expedition World War I World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (4) Silver Star Legion of Merit |
Alma mater | |
Spouse(s) | Olive Keithley
(m. 1912; died 1954)Virginia Morsey (m. 1959) |
Children | 1 |