Thomas D. Finley | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From 1947's The 89th Infantry Division, 1942-1945 | |
| Born | June 2, 1895 Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | December 19, 1984 (aged 89) Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1916–1946 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Service number | 04419 |
| Unit | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Army Infantry Branch |
| Commands | Company D, 7th Engineer Regiment 2nd Battalion, 7th Engineer Regiment I Corps Engineer School 2nd Battalion, 112th Engineer Regiment Company M, 12th Infantry Regiment 89th Infantry Division XVI Corps |
| Conflicts | Mexican Border War World War I Occupation of the Rhineland World War II |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal Legion of Honor (Chevalier) (France) Croix de Guerre (France) |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy United States Army Command and General Staff College United States Army War College |
| Spouse(s) |
Constance Bonner Bissell
(m. 1931–1968) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relations | Clement Finley (grandfather) Clement Flagler (first cousin) |
Thomas D. Finley (June 2, 1895 – December 19, 1984) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Mexican Border War, World War I, and World War II, he served from 1916 to 1946 and attained the rank of major general as the Second World War commander of the 89th Infantry Division. Finley's U.S. awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. His foreign awards and decorations included the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier) and Croix de Guerre with palm.
Finley was born in Annapolis, Maryland and was educated at various army posts as the Finley family traveled for his father's career. He graduated from high school at the Pennsylvania Military College in 1911, and from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1916. Assigned to the Corps of Engineers, he served in Texas during the Mexican Border War. During World War I, he commanded 2nd Battalion, 7th Engineer Regiment and the I Corps Engineer School in France. After the war, he transferred to the Infantry Branch, and he carried out staff and command assignments throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including member of the faculty at the Infantry School and professor of modern languages at West Point.
During World War II, Finley was assistant division commander of the 89th Infantry Division as a brigadier general, followed by promotion to major general and assignment as commander of the division. He led the 89th Division during combat in Europe during 1944 and 1945. After the German surrender, he commanded XVI Corps, then returned to the United States, where he was retired for disability in 1946.
In retirement, Finley resided in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He died in Colorado Springs on December 19, 1984. After cremation, some of his ashes were scattered at nearby Fort Carson and some were buried at West Point Cemetery.