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Roderick Random Allen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 29, 1894 Marshall, Texas, United States |
| Died | February 1, 1970 (aged 76) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1916–1954 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Service number | 0-4652 |
| Commands | 32nd Armored Regiment 20th Armored Division 12th Armored Division 1st Armored Division 3rd Armored Division XVI Corps 9th Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star |
Major General Roderick Random Allen[1] (January 29, 1894 – February 1, 1970) was a senior United States Army officer, who commanded the 20th and 12th Armored Divisions during World War II. Under his command of the 12th AD, the division defended Strasbourg from recapture; it provided the armored contingent in the closure of the Colmar Pocket and the liberation of Colmar; it spearheaded General George Patton's drive to the Rhine; captured intact the remaining bridge over the Danube River and broke the German defense line; and played a major part in blocking the Brenner Pass, thereby trapping over a million German soldiers in Italy as the war ended. En route to the Brenner Pass it overran eleven concentration camps at Landsberg, Germany.[2]
During the Korean War, he served on General Douglas MacArthur's general staff, was Director of Intelligence for the Army Ground Forces and commanded XVI Corps and the 9th Infantry Division.[3][4]
- ^ "Officers of the US Army, 1939-1945". unithistories.com. 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ^ Saks, Julian. "Indescribable Horror" (PDF). 12th Armored Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ Monroe-Jones, Edward (2010). Crossing the Zorn: The January 1945 Battle at Herrlisheim as Told by the American and German Soldiers Who Fought It. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786447121.
- ^ Bradstreet, Ken (1987). Hellcats. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 0-938021-09-5. Retrieved 25 March 2016.