John B . Anderson ( general ) John Benjamin Anderson ( March 10 , 1891 - September 1 , 1976 ) was an American Major general , who commanded the XVI Corps during the World War II . Early life . John Benjamin Anderson was born on March 10 , 1891 as a son of Danish immigrants , Carl Christian Anderson and his wife Louisa Simonsen Anderson . Anderson attended the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York and graduated on June 12 , 1914 . He was commissioned a Second lieutenant in the Field artillery on that date . Many of his classmates later became general officers during World War II as he did . For example : Carl A . Spaatz , Brehon B . Somervell , Frank W . Milburn , Harold R . Bull , Harry C . Ingles , Jens A . Doe , Robert W . Crawford , Orlando Ward or James L . Bradley . Anderson was subsequently assigned to the 6th Field Artillery Regiment and transferred to El Paso , Texas with his unit , where he served on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition . During the World War I , Anderson was sent with his 6th Field Artillery to the France , where he served as a Regimental Adjutant in the Sommerville sector in October and November 1917 . In the spring of 1918 , Anderson served with the British Expeditionary Forces at Ypres , Belgium and subsequently he was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Artillery Brigade . Later , Anderson was transferred back to his 6th Artillery Regiment , where he served as Battery and also Battalion Commander during the Battle of Cantigny . After his return to the United States , Anderson was posted to the Fort Sill , Oklahoma , where he was appointed instructor at the local Field Artillery School . He also attended the Advanced Course at this institution during the years 1922 and 1923 . Anderson attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas in June 1925 and subsequently served as a battalion commander of the 24th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Stotsenburg , Philippines until July 1927 . From September 1927 to June 1928 Anderson studied at Army War College in Washington , D . C . and then he was assigned to the personal division of the War Department General Staff . In this capacity , he was sent to the Geneva , Switzerland in 1929 as a one of the U . S . Army representatives to the conference regarding the treatment of prisoners of war . He was transferred to the 13th Field Artillery Regiment stationed at Fort Bragg , North Carolina and served there until September 1934 . He was subsequently appointed the instructor at Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant colonel in this capacity . In July 1938 , Anderson was transferred to the staff of the Office of the Chief of Artillery in Washington , D . C . , where he was appointed Chief of Personnel Section . In this capacity , Anderson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier general at the end of October 1941 . World War II . A month later , he was appointed Chief Artillery officer of the 2nd Infantry Division ( " Indianhead " ) , which was stationed at Fort Sam Houston , Texas under the command of major general John C . H . Lee . On August 4 , Anderson was promoted to the rank of Major General . On September 15 , 102nd Infantry Division was activated at Camp Maxey , Texas and major general Anderson has been appointed its commanding officer . Anderson participated in the training with his division and served with it until December 1943 . In December 1943 , XVI Corps was activated at Fort Riley , Kansas and Anderson assumed command at the beginning of January 1944 . XVI Corps participated in the winter training exercises at Watersmeet Township , Michigan and subsequently has been deployed in the European Theater of Operations . Anderson commanded the XVI Corps as part of the Ninth U . S . Army in the Rhineland Campaign and also in Central Europe Campaign . XVI Corps under Anderson ' s command liberated the Dutch city of Roermond and participated in the combats in the Ruhr Pocket . Anderson was decorated for his leadership with the Army Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal by the government of the United States . Major general Anderson also received some foreign decorations ( see below ) . Postwar life . Anderson was succeeded in the command of XVI Corps by major general Thomas D . Finley in October 1945 and transferred back to the United States . He was retired from the army June 30 , 1946 due to disability . Major general John B . Anderson died on September 1 , 1976 at the age of 85 in Washington , D . C . and is buried together with his wife , Sue Palmer Anderson ( 1901 - 1991 ) at Arlington National Cemetery , Virginia . Decorations . Here is Major general Anderson´s ribbon bar :