Donald Prentice Booth

File:Donald Prentice Booth (1902–1993) at West Point in 1926.png

Donald Prentice Booth was the son of Colonel Alfred James Booth (1875–1937), a career Army officer and veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I. Donald Booth attended Hawaii's Punahou School, and high schools in San Antonio, Texas, Albany, New York, and Patchogue, New York before graduating from Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1921.[https://books.google.com/books?id=8XItAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Booth,+Alfred+J%22+spanish+american+war&pg=PA356 New York in the Spanish–American War 1898], published by New York Adjutant General, Volume 1, 1900, page 356[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1901/04/25/117962267.pdf "Lieutenants in the Army"], The New York Times, p. 5, April 25, 1901[http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=17284 Distinguished Service Medal citation, Alfred James Booth], Military Times Hall of Valor web site[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-nUAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22booth,+donald+prentice%22+punahou+school&pg=PA66 1914–1915 Catalogue] published by Punahou School, 1915, page 66[http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~glory/1921.htm The 1921 June Bug], Yearbook published by the Fiftieth Graduating Class, Leavenworth High School[https://books.google.com/books?id=QpsFAAAAMAAJ&q=%22booth,+donald+prentice%22 American Men in Government: A Biographical Dictionary and Directory of Federal Officials], by Jerome M. Rosow, 1949, page 40 He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1926 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Engineers.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/06/06/99027429.pdf "Military Cadets Named], New York Times, June 6, 1922Who's Who in Engineering, by John William Leonard, Winfield Scott Downs, and M.M. Lewis, Volume 6, 1948

After receiving his commission Booth pursued graduate studies in engineering at Cornell University.[http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/newscornell?a=d&d=CDS19271028.2.5.4&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=--------20--1-----all Calendar, Cornell Daily Sun], published by Cornell University, Volume XLVIII, Issue 29, October 28, 1927, Page 5

Booth graduated from the Army Engineer Officer Course in 1930.[https://archive.org/stream/officialarmyregi1949unit/officialarmyregi1949unit_djvu.txt Official US Army Register], published by US Army Adjutant General, 1949, page 54

From 1935 to 1939 he was an instructor at the US Military Academy.Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum, updated by Charles Braden and Edward Singleton Holden, 1891, Volume 8, Part 2, page 672

Booth graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1940. Later that year, he served with the 2nd Engineers at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and was then transferred to be Assistant to the District Engineer in Seattle from 1940 to 1942.Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Marquis Who's Who LLC, 1954, page 80

From 1942 to 1944, Booth served as Director of Ports for the Persian Gulf Command, receiving promotion to brigadier general in May 1944. The Persian Gulf Command was responsible for transporting supplies to the U.S.S.R. after it joined the Allied war effort.[https://www.nytimes.com/1944/06/09/archives/youths-win-place-among-generals-one-28-another-29-among-63.html "Youths Win Place Among Generals One 28 Another 29 Among 63 Brigadiers -- 2 Stars for 21 Others"], The New York Times, p. 7, June 9, 1944 {{Subscription required}} Booth served as Chief of Staff from 1944 to 1945, and commanded the organization from early 1945 until the end of the war.[https://www.nytimes.com/1945/01/08/archives/gen-connolly-replaced-gen-booth-takes-charge-of-persian-gulf.html "Gen. Connolly Replaced; Gen. Booth Takes Charge of Persian Gulf Command"], The New York Times, p. 10, January 8, 1945 {{Subscription required}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115547479/russian-medals-for-americans/ |title=Russian Medals for Americans |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=11 |date=March 13, 1947 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}The Papers of George Catlett Marshall: "The finest soldier," January 1, 1945 – January 7, 1947, by George Catlett Marshall, edited by Larry I. Bland and Sharon Ritenour Stevens, 2003, page 780{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115547578/persian-gulf-command-ends-red-supply-job/ |title=Persian Gulf Command Ends Red Supply Job |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |location=Tehran |agency=Reuters |page=8 |date=June 2, 1945 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}[https://www.nytimes.com/1945/06/02/archives/us-persian-gulf-unit-quits.html "U.S. Persian Gulf Unit Quits"], The New York Times, p. 3, June 2, 1945 {{Subscription required}}[https://www.nytimes.com/1948/07/24/archives/britain-decorates-more-us-officers-gen-wheeler-receives-high-award.html "Britain Decorates More U.S. Officers; Gen. Wheeler Receives High Award -- Underground Work Wins Medals for Three"], The New York Times, p. 16, July 24, 1948 {{Subscription required}}

Following World War II Booth served in positions of increasing visibility and responsibility, including a posting as Executive Assistant to the Undersecretary of War{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115548027/leave-denied-3-west-point-grid-players/ |title=Leave Denied 3 West Point Grid Players |first=Gerald |last=Griffin |newspaper=The Sun |location=Washington |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115548051/leave-denied-3-west-point-grid-players/ 2] |date=February 1, 1947 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}

From 1953 to 1954 General Booth was commander of the 28th Infantry Division in Germany when this National Guard organization was activated to replace active duty units sent to Asia during the Korean War.[https://www.nytimes.com/1953/11/07/archives/12-generals-promoted-president-advances-brigadiers-to-temporary.html "12 Generals Promoted; President Advances Brigadiers to Temporary 2-Star Rank"], The New York Times, p. 4, November 7, 1953 {{Subscription required}}

Booth commanded the 9th Infantry Division, also in Germany, from May to November, 1954.[http://www.9thinfdivsociety.org/9thcomm.html List of commanders], 9th Infantry Division Association web site[https://books.google.com/books?id=rKNN3PV2kX8C&dq=%22donald+p.+booth%22+9th+infantry+division&pg=PA23 9th Infantry Division: Old Reliables] published by Turner Publishing Company, 2000, page 23

From 1955 to 1957 Booth was the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115548157/end-of-draft-again-is-urged-by-stevenson/ |title=End of Draft Again is Urged by Stevenson |first=Chesly |last=Manly |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |location=Youngstown, Ohio |page=9 |date=October 19, 1956 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115548283/ex-nazi-rocket-expert-honored-by-us/ |title=Ex-Nazi Rocket Expert Honored by U.S. Army |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Washington |page=6 |date=October 31, 1957 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite book |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-GOVMAN-1955-01-01 |title=United States Government Organization Manual 1955-56 |date=June 1, 1955 |page=136 |publisher=Federal Register Division, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=2021-10-03}}

Promoted to lieutenant general in 1957, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel until 1958.{{cite book |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-GOVMAN-1957-01-01 |title=United States Government Organization Manual 1957-58 |date=June 1, 1957 |page=140 |publisher=Federal Register Division, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=2021-10-03}}

Booth served as US High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands from 1958 to 1961.[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0710F8355E127A93C5AB1789D85F4C8585F9 "Gen. Booth Gets Posts; Named High Commissioner of Ryukyus, Okinawa Leader"], The New York Times, p. 3, February 27, 1958 {{Subscription required}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115547275/us-armys-wise-policies-win-friends-in/ |title=US Army's Wise Policies Win Friends In Okinawa |first=William J. |last=Clew |newspaper=Hartford Courant |page=35 |date=June 19, 1960 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}

From 1961 to 1962 Booth was commander of the Fourth United States Army.[https://www.nytimes.com/1962/01/17/archives/head-of-fourth-army-named.html "Head of Fourth Army Named"], The New York Times, p. 16, January 17, 1962 {{Subscription required}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115548555/fourth-army-chief-arrives-at-sill/ |title=Fourth Army Chief Arrives at Sill |newspaper=Lawton Constitution |page=6 |date=April 12, 1961 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115548666/gen-booth-to-end-long-army-career/ |title=Gen. Booth to End Long Army Career |newspaper=Lawton Constitution |page=5 |date=February 16, 1962 |access-date=2022-12-31 |via=Newspapers.com}}

File:HICOM Booth receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.JPG

Booth's awards included multiple presentations of the Distinguished Service Medal. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics decorated him with the Order of Kutuzov Second Class for his service as Commanding General, Persian Gulf Command.{{citation |last=Empric |first=Bruce E. |title=Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Soviet Military Decorations in World War II |publisher=Teufelsberg Press |page=72 |year=2024 |isbn=979-8-3444-6807-5}} In 1961 he received the Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class to recognize his efforts as High Commissioner for the Ryukyu Islands.Official US Army Register, published by US Army Adjutant General, 1962, page 53"2,500 Bid Farewell to Booth," Pacific Stars and Stripes, February 9, 1961

File:ANCExplorer Donald Prentice Booth grave.jpg

In retirement, Booth lived in Santa Barbara, California, where he died on October 30, 1993.[https://books.google.com/books?id=HSzcAAAAMAAJ&q=%22donald+prentice+booth%22+high+school Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy], published by the West Point Alumni Association, 1973, page 388California Death IndexSocial Security Death Index He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3-HH, Row 2, Site 3.[http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1 Nationwide Gravesite Locator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517121033/http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1 |date=2019-05-17 }}, US Department of Veterans Affairs

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Donald Prentice Booth}}

• [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/dpbooth.htm Donald Prentice Booth page], Arlington National Cemetery web site

{{U.S. governors of the Ryukyu Islands}}

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Category:1902 births

Category:1993 deaths

Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers personnel

Category:United States Military Academy alumni

Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Military personnel from Albany, New York

Category:Military personnel from Santa Barbara, California

Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

Category:United States Army generals of World War II

Category:United States Army generals

Category:United States Military Academy faculty