John E. Sloan
{{short description|US Army major general (1887–1972)}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = John E. Sloan
|image = John E. Sloan (US Army major general).jpg
|alt = Black and white head and shoulders photo of Major General John E. Sloan as commander of the 88th Infantry Division in World War II
|caption = Sloan as 88th Infantry Division commander during World War II
|birth_date = {{birth date|1887|1|31}}
|birth_place = Greenville, South Carolina, US
|death_date = {{death date and age|1972|10|15|1887|1|31}}
|death_place = Asheville, North Carolina, US
|placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery
|branch = United States Navy
United States Army
|branch_label = Service
|serviceyears = 1910–1911 (Navy)
1911–1946 (Army)
|rank = Major General
|servicenumber = O3018
|unit = US Army Field Artillery Branch
|commands = Army Decorations Board
88th Infantry Division
76th Field Artillery Regiment
17th Field Artillery Regiment
Civilian Conservation Corps Camp 1711
Fourth Army Umpire School
30th Field Artillery Regiment
|battles = World War I
World War II
|battles_label = Wars
|awards = Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
|alma_mater = United States Naval Academy
United States Army Command and General Staff College
United States Army War College
|spouse = {{marriage|Helen Worrell Moore|1912|1917}}{{cite news |date=7 May 1912 |title=Marriage Notice, Helen Worrell Moore and John E. Sloan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star/73570548/ |work=The Evening Star |location=Washington, DC |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{cite news |date=1 August 1917 |title=Death Notice, Helen Moore Sloan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-post-obituary-for-helen-m/64675561/ |work=The Washington Post |location=Washington, DC |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{marriage|Amy Vance Eubank|1919|1971}}{{cite news |date=16 February 1919 |title=Engagement Notice, Amy Eubank and John E. Sloan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news/171058265/ |work=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=12 July 1971 |title=Death Notice, Mrs. Amy Eubank Sloan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news/64696906/ |work=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}
|relations = John Sloan Brown (grandson)
}}
John Emmitt Sloan (31 January 1887 – 15 October 1972) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of World War I and World War II, he attained the rank of major general as commander of the 88th Infantry Division during the Second World War. Sloan served from 1910 until retiring in 1946, and his awards and decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, and Legion of Merit.
Sloan was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina and attended Furman University before beginning studies at the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1910. He served in the United States Navy from 1910 to 1911, then transferred his military membership to the United States Army. Initially assigned to the Coast Artillery, he was subsequently reassigned to the Field Artillery. During World War I, he rose in rank to temporary colonel and command of the 30th Field Artillery Regiment. After the war, he continued to serve in command and staff assignments as he advanced through the ranks, including command of a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in Kansas and command of the Fourth Army Umpire School that trained evaluators for World War II's Louisiana Maneuvers and Carolina Maneuvers.
During the Second World War, Sloan organized and trained the 88th Infantry Division, which he led in combat in Italy until illness compelled his return to the United States. He was then appointed president of the Army Decorations Board, which considered and acted on recommendations for awards to recognize wartime heroism. Sloan retired from the army in 1946. He died in Asheville, North Carolina on 15 October 1972 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Early life
John E. Sloan was born in Greenville, South Carolina on 31 January 1887, a son of Thomas Majors Sloan and Anna Lucia (Johnston) Sloan.{{cite news |date=21 May 1942 |title=Sloan Is Given Major General Rank By Chief |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-rank/171001710/ |work=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |via=Newspapers.com}} He was raised and educated in Greenville, and attended Furman University as a member of the class of 1907.{{cite news |date=26 September 1946 |title=Furman Alumni Bulletin Out |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-bulletin/171002172/ |work=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1905, he began attendance at the United States Naval Academy, and he graduated in 1910 ranked 38th of 129.{{cite news |date=11 July 1905 |title=More Midshipmen Admitted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-capital-admitted/171002396/ |work=The Evening Capital |location=Annapolis, Maryland |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=1 June 1910 |title=Middies In Their Glory; How They Stand On Lists |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-middies/171002681/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |location=Baltimore |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}} According to regulations then in force, which required Naval Academy graduates to serve for two years before receiving commissions as ensigns, after graduation Sloan was posted to the armored cruiser USS North Carolina as a midshipman.{{cite news |date=6 June 1910 |title=It Is A Pity… |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record-pity/171003340/ |work=Columbia Record |location=Columbia, South Carolina |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date= 8 October 1910 |title=Officers On Duty Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-portsmouth-herald-duty/171003005/ |work=The Portsmouth Herald |location=Portsmouth, New Hampshire |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In February 1911, Sloan transferred to the United States Army and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Coast Artillery.{{cite news |date=9 February 1911 |title=To Be Second Lieutenant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-lieutenant/171004405/ |work=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Initially assigned to the 41st Coast Artillery Company, in March he began the basic course for Coast Artillery Officers at Fort Monroe, Virginia.{{cite news |date=8 March 1911 |title=Orders to Army Officers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/virginian-pilot-orders/171004726/ |work=The Virginian-Pilot |location=Hampton Roads, Virginia |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} Subsequently assigned to the 118th Coast Artillery Company, in September 1911 he was transferred to the 141st Coast Artillery Company.{{cite news |date=1 September 1911 |title=Army Orders: John E. Sloan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-post-orders/171004956/ |work=The Washington Post |location=Washington, DC |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was promoted to first lieutenant in July 1916 and captain in May 1917.{{cite book |author=US Army Adjutant General |date=1946 |title=Official Army Register |volume=I |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/U_S_Army_Register/a6GTj98_4bEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22sloan%2C%20john%20e.%22%20%22634%22&pg=PA634&printsec=frontcover |location=Washington, DC |publisher=US Government Printing Office |page=634 |via=Google Books}}
Early career
Sloan served in Coast Artillery assignments until 1917, including a posting to Panama.{{cite book |last=Brown |first=John Sloan |date=1986 |title=Draftee Division: The 88th Infantry Division in World War II |url=https://88thinfantrydivisionarchive.com/88th-infantrydivision/drafteedivision-254pgs.pdf |location=Lexington, Kentucky |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |pages=22–23 |isbn=978-0-8131-5152-6}} During World War I, he transferred from Coast Artillery to Field Artillery. After completing the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course as a student, he remained at Fort Sill's Field Artillery School as an instructor. He was promoted to temporary major in June 1918, temporary lieutenant colonel in September 1918, and temporary colonel in October 1918. In late 1918, Sloan commanded the 30th Field Artillery Regiment during its organization and training. In March 1920, he returned to his permanent rank of captain, and he was promoted to permanent major in July 1920.
After the war, Sloan continued to serve in the Field Artillery. He graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course in 1924, completed the United States Army Command and General Staff College as a distinguished graduate in 1924, and was a 1932 graduate of the United States Army War College. During the 1920s and 1930s, his assignments included the Coast Artillery defenses of Chesapeake Bay, command of the 17th Field Artillery Regiment, executive officer of the 13th Field Artillery Brigade and 11th Field Artillery Brigade, and command of the 76th Field Artillery Regiment.
Additional postings Sloan carried out prior to World War II included professor of military science and tactics at Texas A&M University, instructor at the Command and General Staff College, and professor of military science and tactics at Oregon State University. In addition, he commanded Civilian Conservation Corps Camp 1711, which was located in Pittsburg, Kansas.{{cite book |date=1937 |title=Official Annual, Arkansas District, Civilian Conservation Corps, Seventh Corps area |url=https://arstudies.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15728coll3/id/483838 |location=Little Rock |publisher=Arkansas CCC District |pages=78–79 |via=Central Arkansas Library System}} In 1939, he organized and led the Fourth Army Umpire School, which trained the umpires who adjudicated the results of the Louisiana Maneuvers, Carolina Maneuvers, and other military exercises. At the start of the Second World War, Sloan took part in the organization and training of the 7th Infantry Division Artillery and 8th Infantry Division Artillery.
Continued career
In July 1942, Sloan was assigned to command the 88th Infantry Division.{{cite book |author=US Army Adjutant General |date=1950 |title=The Army Almanac |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Army_Almanac/Dim5AAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22john+e.+sloan%22+88th+division+casablanca+magenta&pg=PA559 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=US Government Printing Office |pages=559–560 |via=Google Books}} At age 55, he was past the wartime age for appointment to command of a division, but his skills as an organizer and trainer led to his assignment to lead this all-draftee unit.{{cite web |last=Millsaps |first=Greg |date=21 July 2011 |title=Annapolis' Best General: The Values-Based Leadership of Major General John E. Sloan (USNA 1910) |url=https://suppliants.blogs.com/pura_vida/2011/07/annapolis-best-general-the-values-based-leadership-of-major-general-john-e-sloan-usna-1910-part-2.html |website=¡Viva la Vida! |location=Laredo, Texas |access-date=25 April 2025}} After completing pre-deployment requirements at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, the 88th Division departed for the European theatre in late 1943. It arrived in Casablanca in December 1943, then moved to Magenta, El Hacaiba, Algeria. In January 1944, the 88th Division departed for Italy, disembarked in Naples, and occupied an area near Piedimonte Matese, where it underwent final training and preparations for entering combat. The division took part in the Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and Po Valley campaigns in 1944 and 1945, and Sloan remained in command until September 1944, when illness led to his reassignment.{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Thomas R. |date=1996 |title=The War North of Rome June 1944 – May 1945 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_War_North_Of_Rome/HTPqSdxHb18C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22john+e.+sloan%22+88th+division+skin+disease&pg=PA142 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |publisher=Da Capo Press |page=142 |isbn=0-306-81256-8 |via=Google Books}}
Upon returning to the United States, Sloan was appointed president of the Army Decorations Board.{{cite book |last1=Converse |first1=Elliott V. III |last2=Gibran |first2=Daniel K. |last3=Cash |first3=John A. |last4=Griffith |first4=Robert K. Jr. |last5=Kohn |first5=Richard H. |date=1997 |title=The Exclusion of Black Soldiers From The Medal Of Honor In World War II |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Exclusion_of_Black_Soldiers_from_the/WLvwCQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22john+e.+sloan%22+army+decorations+board&pg=PA45 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=McFarland & Company |page=45 |isbn=978-0-7864-4044-3 |via=Google Books}} This panel reviewed requests to award top-tier decorations including the Medal of Honor, and either took action or recommended approval or disapproval to the chief of staff of the U.S. Army, depending on the level of the award. He retired on 31 October 1946.{{cite book |author=US Army Adjutant General |date=1956 |title=Official Army Register |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Official_Army_Register/n1ExAM0bKJMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22john+emmitt+sloan%22+army+register&pg=PA1053 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=US Government Printing Office |page=1053 |via=Google Books}} Sloan's wartime decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, and Legion of Merit from the United States.{{cite news |date=14 June 1953 |title=Elks Flag Day Group To Hear general Sloan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-elks/171000424/ |work=Asheville Citizen Times |location=Asheville, North Carolina |page=10B |via=Newspapers.com}} In addition, he received the Legion of Honor (Officer) from France and the division was awarded the Croix de Guerre with palm, both for participation with French troops in the Italian campaign's 1944 Battle of Garigliano.{{cite news |date=5 February 1959 |title=DeGaulle's Book Is Reviewed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-asheville-times-reviewed/171000593/ |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |location=Asheville, North Carolina |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}} In addition, he received the Order of Merit of Savoy (Commander) from Italy and the Order of the Military from Morocco.{{cite news |date= 16 October 1972 |title=Gen. Sloan Dies at 85; Served In Army 41 Years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-sloan/170998905/ |work=The Asheville Citizen |location=Asheville, North Carolina |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}
=Silver Star citation=
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major General John Emmit Sloan (ASN: 0-3018), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 19 May 1944, near Itri, Italy. Commanding General of the 88th Infantry Division, elements of which were attacking the enemy in Itri on 19 May 1944, Major General Sloan entered the town at about 1200 hours to determine the progress of his troops. At that moment the enemy launched a heavy counter-attack, supported by tanks and observed artillery and mortar fire, on the town. Observing that the attack of his troops had been stopped, Major General Sloan, without regard for his own safety moved forward and personally issued orders to his troops to continue the assault. His personal presence and gallant action so inspired the assaulting troops that they pushed forward, broke up the enemy counter-attack and drove the enemy from the town. Major General Sloan’s intrepid leadership and heroic conduct were an inspiring example to the members of his command, and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Service: United States Army Rank: Major General Division: 88th Infantry Division Action Date:
May 19, 1944 Orders: Headquarters, II Corps, General Orders No. 60 (1944){{cite web |title=Silver Star Citation, Major General John E. Sloan |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-100401/ |website=Hall of Valor |location=Tysons, Virginia |publisher=Military Times |access-date=26 April 2025}}
Retirement
In retirement, Sloan resided in Weaverville, North Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina. He was long active in civic causes, including leadership roles with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Tuberculosis Association, and Community Chest. He was also a member of the Asheville Military Manpower Committee, Buncombe County Welfare Planning Council, and Asheville Agricultural Development Council.
Sloan died in Asheville on 15 October 1972. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.{{cite news |date=17 October 1972 |title=Services Set For Gen. Sloan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-obituary-for-joh/170999112/ |work=The Asheville Citizen |location=Asheville, North Carolina |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Works by
- {{cite magazine |date=September–October 1925 |title=Instructions To A Reserve Captain On What To Do To Organize A New Battery From Draft Personnel |url=https://tradocfcoeccafcoepfwprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/fires-bulletin-archive/1925/SEP_OCT_1925/SEP_OCT_1925_FULL_EDITION.pdf |magazine=The Field Artillery Journal |location=Fort Sill, Oklahoma |publisher=US Field Artillery Association |pages=459–472 |access-date=25 April 2025}}
Dates of rank
- Major General (retired), 31 October 1946
- Major General (Army of the United States), 20 May 1942
- Brigadier General (Army of the United States), 7 April 1941
- Colonel (Army), 1 December 1939
- Lieutenant Colonel (Army), 1 August 1935
- Major (Army), 1 July 1920
- Colonel (National Army), 24 October 1918
- Lieutenant Colonel (National Army), 18 September 1918
- Major (National Army), 19 June 1918
- Captain (Army), 15 May 1917
- First Lieutenant (Army), 1 July 1916
- Second Lieutenant (Army), 3 February 1911
- Midshipman (United States Navy), 8 July 1905
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |title=Burial Record, John E. Sloan |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/index.html#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVzbG9hbhIEam9obhoBZQ--/ |website=Arlington National Cemetery |location=Arlington, Virginia |publisher=Office of Army Cemeteries |access-date=25 April 2025}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sloan, John E.}}
Category:People from Greenville, South Carolina
Category:People from Weaverville, North Carolina
Category:People from Asheville, North Carolina
Category:United States Naval Academy alumni
Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
Category:United States Army War College alumni
Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College faculty
Category:Texas A&M University faculty
Category:Oregon State University faculty
Category:United States Army personnel of World War I
Category:United States Army generals of World War II
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour
Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)