George A. White

George A. White
Major General George A. White (18 July 1880 – 23 November 1941) was an American journalist, magazine editor, and senior officer of the Oregon National Guard, who helped organize The American Legion. He commanded the 41st Infantry Division, Oregon National Guard, from January 1930 until his death in November 1941.
Early life
George Ared White was born on July 18, 1880, in Saline County, Illinois. On August 1, 1895, he enlisted in the Utah National Guard as a musician. He was discharged in June 1898 in order to enlist in the U.S. Volunteers for the Spanish–American War. He remained in Federal service until discharged in December 1898. White re-enlisted in the Guard in 1899 was promoted to sergeant and later first sergeant before being discharged in 1903. He moved to Oregon, where he enlisted in the 3d Infantry, Oregon National Guard on August 4, 1907. The next day he was promoted to first lieutenant. White was promoted to Captain on March 21, 1911.
Military career
Mexican Border Service
White was appointed Adjutant General of Oregon on February 1, 1915. When the National Guard was Federalized for Mexican Border Service, he obtained a leave of absence in order to command a troop of Oregon cavalry. After service on the Mexican border from June 1916 to February 1917, White resumed his post in Oregon.
World War I
On March 23, 1917, the National Guard was mobilized. As Adjutant General of Oregon, White was involved in recruiting efforts to bring the State's units up to strength, and he directed the establishment of state machinery for conscription. He re-entered federal service on September 10, 1917, with the rank of major and assigned as Assistant Adjutant General of the 41st Division, a new division being organized from National Guard units from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
White served in France from January 1918 to June 1919. Initially, he was with the 41st but subsequently posted to the General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.). He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on November 13, 1918. For his services, White was appointed Knight of the French Order of the Black Star.
Later years
White was separated from Federal service on July 23, 1919, resumed his duties as Adjutant General on April 15, 1920. His first task was the reconstruction of the Oregon national Guard, in which he was promoted to colonel on June 23, 1920. He assumed command of the 82nd Infantry Brigade, a brigade composed of Oregon troops, the same day and was later promoted to brigadier general. White attended the Command and General Staff School from 1925 to 1926 and took part in training seminars organized by the War College in 1928. On January 3, 1930, he was promoted to major general and appointed to command the 41st Division.
The 41st Division's annual summer camp at Fort Lewis in June and July 1940 was extended from two weeks to three, and on September 16, 1940, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, the 41st Division was inducted into Federal service for one year. Selective service men began to arrive in February 1941. In May 1941, 41st Division moved to the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation where June war games pitted it against Major General Joseph Stilwell's 7th Infantry Division and the 40th Infantry Division. Large scale maneuvers continued in August on the Olympic Peninsula. George A. White would become Oregon's longest-serving adjutant general, having served from 1915-1918 and 1920-1941.Historical Outreach Foundation
White was also a pulp writer under the name Ared White, writing the following stories (with magazine name and date)according to http://www.philsp.com/:
White, (George) Ared (1880-1941) (about) (chron.)
Across the Lines, (ss) Adventure July 15 1929
The Agent from Berlin, (ss) Adventure December 1937
At Sunrise, (ss) Adventure December 15 1931
Attack on America, (sl) Adventure Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep 1939
Baited Cipher, (nv) Argosy March 23 1935
Buzzards, (ss) Everybody’s March 1928
By Command of, (ss) Adventure December 1 1932
Caissons, (ss) Everybody’s July 1927
The Cipher Trail, (ss) Adventure September 15 1929
Citizen Fouché, (ss) Adventure June 15 1932
The Courier from Spa, (nv) Argosy June 15 1935
Crooked Dice, (ss) Adventure May 1 1930
Devil Buster, (ss) Adventure February 15 1931
Diamond in Spain, (nv) The Blue Book Magazine December 1937
The Duel at Charleville, (ss) Adventure December 1 1930
Dungeon of Spies, (nv) Argosy May 23 1936
The Emperor’s Agent, (ss) Argosy December 29 1934
Escape, (sl) Adventure Feb 1, Feb 15, Mar 1 1933
General Yu Died Gloriously, (ss) Adventure August 1938
Gold Bars, (nv) Everybody’s May 1928
The Herr Kapitan, (sl) Adventure Aug, Sep 1933
The House on Rue Carnot, (nv) Adventure November 15 1929
The Imperial Code, (nv) Argosy February 15 1936
Imperial Shadows, (nv) Argosy April 13 1935
Intercepted by Radio, (ss) Everybody’s January 1927
Lilies of the Battlefield, (nv) Munsey’s Magazine December 1926
The Loyal Grenadier, (ss) Everybody’s October 1927
A Matter of Geometry, (ss) The Popular Magazine May 7 1915
Mlle. Belgique, (ss) Everybody’s February 1927
Monsieur Dix, (ss) Everybody’s September 1927
Monsieur Le Falcon, (sl) Adventure Aug 1, Aug 15, Sep 1, Sep 15 1931
The Monster of St. Gobain, (nv) Adventure September 1936
The Order of St. Peter, (ss) Adventure June 1934
Orders, (ss) Everybody’s November 1928
O’Vane’s Chevrons, (ss) Everybody’s May 1927
O’Vane’s Epa’lettes, (nv) Everybody’s June 1927
Over Paris, (nv) Adventure August 15 1932
The Parachute Courier, (ss) Adventure October 1933
Parachute Spy, (nv) Adventure January 1936
The Phantom Muscovite, (nv) Adventure February 1934
The Prisoner of Vincennes, (na) Adventure March 15 1930
The Prussian Spymaster, (nv) Adventure June 15 1930
Pursuit, (ss) Adventure June 1937
Secret Agent B-7, (sl) Adventure Sep 1, Sep 15, Oct 1, Oct 15, Nov 1 1934
Secret Orders, (ss) Everybody’s December 1927
Seven Tickets to Singapore, (sl) Short Stories Nov 10, Nov 25, Dec 10, Dec 25 1938
Silhouettes, (ss) Everybody’s January 1928
Sons of Allah, (nv) Everybody’s October 1928
The Spy at Charleville, (nv) Argosy July 21 1934
Argosy (Canada) July 21 1934
The Spy at Lyons, (ss) Adventure April 1 1932
Spy Cargo, (nv) Adventure July 1 1935
The Spy Double, (nv) Argosy August 15 1936
Spy Master, (nv) Adventure September 1 1935
Spy Nest, (na) Complete Stories 2nd December 1929
The Spy Net, (sl) Adventure Aug 1, Aug 15, Sep 1 1930
The Spy Trap, (na) Adventure April 15 1929
Submarine Bait, (ss) Adventure January 15 1931
Sun Cipher, (ss) Short Stories February 10 1938
Short Stories (UK) mid May 1938
Thumbs Down, (ss) Adventure May 15 1931
To the Colors, (ss) Everybody’s April 1928
The Trail for Jolo, (ss) Adventure November 15 1931
Under Paris, (ss) Adventure July 1 1931
Under the Front Lines, (nv) Adventure February 1 1935
War Bars, (ss) Short Stories May 25 1929
Short Stories (UK) early October 1929
The Watch on the Rhine, (ss) Everybody’s March 1927
Zeppelin Raider, (ss) Adventure September 1937
The American Legion
White was one of 20 officers at the Allied Officers' Club, Rue Faubourg St. Honore, on February 16, 1919, who were credited with the founding of The American Legion. He subsequently became its first national vice commander. He founded The American Legion magazine and was its first editor. For his services to The American Legion, and for promoting friendship between the United States and France, he was awarded the French Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor on July 9, 1934. He also wrote several short stories for both pulp magazines and "slick" magazines, such as Adventure, Everybody's Magazine and The Saturday Evening Post.
Illness and death
White contracted dysentery during the maneuvers at Hunter Liggett. He died from complications of the infection at his home in Clackamas, Oregon, on November 23, 1941.
Honors
White's legacy included one of the National Guard's best-trained World War II era divisions. In his honor, Camp White was named after him in 1942.
See also
List of members of the American Legion
References
Bibliography
External links
Maj. Gen. George A. White at The American Legion
1880 births
1941 deaths
20th-century American male writers
Adjutants General of Oregon
United States Army personnel of World War I
American magazine editors
American magazine founders
American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
Burials in Oregon
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Journalists from Illinois
Military personnel from Illinois
National Guard (United States) generals
Organization founders
People from Saline County, Illinois
Pulp fiction writers
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
United States Army War College alumni
20th-century American writers
United States Army generals of World War II
United States Army generals