George Windle Read , Jr . George Windle Read , Jr . ( July 29 , 1900 — December 15 , 1974 ) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army . He was prominent as a top - tier polo player , a successful commander of World War II armor units , and the U . S . Army ' s Chief of Armor . Early life . The son of Major General George Windle Read ( 1860 – 1934 ) , one of the top commanders in the American Expeditionary Force during World War I , and the grandson of Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General S . B . M . Young , the younger Read was born at Fort Grant , Arizona on July 29 . 1900 . World War I . Raised on military posts throughout the United States , Read enlisted in the Army in May , 1917 . He served with the 15th Cavalry Regiment and the 30th and 42nd Infantry Divisions during World War I , attaining the rank of Sergeant . Post World War I . Read was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1919 . He soon transferred to Cavalry , and graduated from the Cavalry School Basic Course in 1921 . He served throughout the United States and overseas during the 1920s and 1930s . From 1922 to 1925 Read served in the Philippines as aide de camp to his father . A championship caliber polo player , Read took part in several tournaments during the 1920s and 1930s , playing on teams sponsored by the Army . Read graduated from the Cavalry School Regular Course in 1937 , afterwards serving in the Middle East as an observer in Palestine and a member of the Armored Force Board that was based in Cairo , Egypt . World War II . After graduating from the Command and General Staff College in 1941 , Read was assigned as Training and Operations Officer , G - 3 , for the 6th Armored Division . Read served with the 6th Armored Division in Europe throughout World War II , including assignments as commander of the 68th Tank Regiment , commander of the division ’ s Combat Command B , assistant division commander , and division commander from April to May , 1945 and again from July until the division was deactivated in September , 1945 . Post World War II . In the late 1940s Read served as President of Army Ground Forces Board 3 at Ft . Benning , Georgia . ( The Army created several ground forces boards to test new weapons and equipment and make procurement recommendations . ) From 1948 to 1950 Read served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics , G - 4 , for the United States Constabulary , During the early 1950s General Read commanded 1st Brigade , United States Constabulary in West Germany . From April 1952 to April 1953 Read served as commander of the 2nd Armored Division . In 1953 Read was assigned as commander of the U . S . Army Armor Center and School at Ft . Knox , Kentucky , where he remained until 1955 . He then commanded Allied Land Forces South East Europe , remaining in this post until 1957 . In 1957 Read assumed command of the Second United States Army , remaining in this position until his retirement in 1960 . Awards and decorations . General Read ’ s decorations included multiple awards of the Distinguished Service Medal , the Silver Star , and multiple awards of the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star . Retirement and death . General Read resided in Aptos , Santa Cruz County , California after his retirement from the Army , and died at Fort Ord ' s Silas B . Hays Army Hospital on December 15 , 1974 from the effects of lymphocytic leukemia . General Read was buried at Arlington National Cemetery External Resources . Find A Grave page , George Windle Read , Jr .