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592:". After the West Point superintendent received a complaint about a full-time officer spending nights at bridge tournament, he audited Gruenther's 8 a.m. class. The Superintendent reported to his superiors that, "If I could be certain that being a bridge referee would have the same salutary effect on all the Military Academy's instructors as it has had on Lt. Gruenther, I would demand that they all become bridge referees in their spare time. I have never seen a finer chemistry instructor than Lt. Gruenther." Gruenther was considered the best bridge player in the U.S. Army, and was
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564:. As head of the Red Cross, Gruenther personally visited and inspected disaster areas in the United States. He made frequent public appearances, captivating the audience with "easy manner and conversational style." He received several awards for International Red Cross related activities, which included visits to Russia and Poland.
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In the 1956 presidential campaign, Gruenther's name was placed on the list of possible candidates for the
Republican nomination after Eisenhower's heart attack on September 24, 1955. After serving two terms, President Eisenhower considered Gruenther as a possible alternative to
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and later replaced him as SACEUR. From July 11, 1953 to
November 20, 1956, he was Supreme Allied Commander, Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (SACEUR/USCINCEUR). On December 31, 1956, Gruenther retired from the Army.
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at West Point and after studying for nineteen months, graduated early due to the war, on
November 1, 1918, with a rank of fourth in a class of 277. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery but after the
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Gen. Eisenhower characterized
Gruenther as "one of the ablest all-around officers, civilian or military, I have encountered." Gruenther served with distinction as staff officer in U.S. military operations in the
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and appointed as the Chief of Staff, Supreme
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (COFS SHAPE) under Gen. Eisenhower, who became the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). He continued to serve under Gen.
498:, and later suggested Gruenther as a potential vice-president for Nixon, but ultimately realized that Gruenther did not have the political base required to get either place on the ticket.
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and then Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1947-1949. In 1949, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and served as the U.S. Army's deputy chief of staff for plans and operations.
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After the end of World War II in 1945, Gruenther served as deputy commander of U.S. forces in
Austria. In 1946-1947, he was appointed deputy commandant of the recently established
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Until May 1935, when he was promoted to captain, he served various tours of duty including teaching mathematics, electricity and chemistry at West Point for eight years.
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In 1942, he was promoted to brigadier general and became a deputy chief of staff of Allied Force
Headquarters in London under Gen. Eisenhower, who assigned him the
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430:. He possessed a strong power of analytical reasoning with capacity both to detail and overall perspective for which his colleagues called him "the Brain".
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Biographical
Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. From Its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890
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372:, the largest war exercises since World War I. Nearly 400,000 troops were involved. His performance was noticed by the Chief of Staff of the
540:, who gave birth to two sons, Donald A. Gruenther, and Richard L. Gruenther; they both became career military officers. His great-grandson,
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608:, but I think I'll take Gruenther because he's the better bridge player". He was an honorary member of the National Laws Commission of the
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history He is also sometimes credited to be the youngest major general in the U.S. Army in World War II, but that distinction belongs to
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In
October 1941, Gruenther was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and became deputy chief of staff and then chief of staff of the
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magazine on
February 6, 1956. He appeared as a guest on the February 10, 1957, episode of the popular TV quiz show
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700:(1958). Altogether, he had honorary degrees from 38 universities and colleges and decorations from 20 nations.
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1126:: Sunday, March 10, 1957, with Guest General Alfred M. Gruenther. St. Paul, Minn: 3 MIM Press Co, 1972.
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298:. Several years later, at the age of fifty-two, he became the second youngest four-star general in the
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What's My Line? - Alfred Greunther; Fred MacMurray & June Haver; Tab Hunter (panel) (Feb 10, 1957)
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Appointment of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alfred B. Gruenther (US), July 1, 1953
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he was recalled to West Point to complete his training, and graduated a second time in June 1919.
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Address by Alfred Gruenther, Red Cross president, to the Empire Club of Canada, 25 February 1960.
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and several presidential commissions on draft, health and disarmament. He was a president of the
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Duplicate Contract Complete: A Guide to Playing in and Conducting All Duplicate Bridge Contests.
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development. A year later, he was promoted to major general and served as chief of staff of the
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Duplicate Contract Complete: A Guide to Playing in and Conducting All Duplicate Bridge Contests
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Finding aid for Alfred M. Gruenther Oral History, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
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Citation Accompanying the Distinguished Service Medal Presented to General Gruenther
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580:, and served as a referee at bridge national tournaments. In 1931, he refereed the
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Gen. Alfred Gruenther dies. He was the youngest four-star general in Army history
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Profile: Gruenther, Major General Alfred M., Director of the Joint Defense Staff.
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Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
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practitioner, Gruenther published several books on the subject, including
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Papers of Alfred M. Gruenther, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
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Presidential possibilities, 1956. Editorial Research Reports, Vol. II.
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in 1942-1945, and as supreme Allied commander in Europe, during the
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jet fighter on January 28, 2013, during a training mission over the
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Gruenther was the recipient of many national medals, including the
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In September 1941, Gruenther, now a major, took part in the Army's
596:'s favorite partner. Eisenhower was playing bridge when, in 1948,
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Alfred M. Gruenther, 84, Is Dead; Ex-Military Commander of NATO
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The Hands of Time: The Most Exciting Bridge Deals Ever Played!
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Captain Lucas Gruenther died at the age of 32 while flying an
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935:"Body of missing Aviano F-16 pilot found in Adriatic Sea"
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From January 1957 to March 1964, he was president of the
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Gruenther served on the boards of Dart Industries, Inc.,
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Alfred Maximilian Gruenther, General, United States Army
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Gruenther was an adviser and planner to top generals in
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Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
774:. Vol. VI-B: 1910–1920. Association of Graduates,
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telephoned him to ask him to take the post of head of
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United States Army Field Artillery Branch personnel
536:In 1922, Gruenther married Grace Elizabeth Crum of
951:"General Gruenther speaks to Open Red Cross Drive"
864:Dwight D. Eisenhower - American Presidency Project
664:, was promoted to major general at the age of 37.
263:(March 3, 1899 – May 30, 1983) was a senior
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520:Gruenther died of complications of pneumonia at
395:. Gruenther's immediate commanding officer was
1013:"D-Day Memories of the Bridge Player in Chief"
374:General Headquarters, United States Army (GHQ)
726:List of United States Army four-star generals
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1223:Commanders of United States European Command
836:Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of State, 1947.
1412:United States Army generals of World War II
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496:Republican presidential nomination in 1960
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630:Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
612:. He served as honorary president of the
731:List of Supreme Allied Commanders Europe
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667:Gruenther was featured on the cover of
648:In 1952, Gruenther became the youngest
286:, he served in the army throughout the
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1372:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
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1041:Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge 1963
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903:General Gruenther, Ex-NATO Chief, Dies
822:Alfred Maximilian Gruenther, 1899-1983
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754:Arlington National Cemetery biography.
679:and on the March 10, 1957, episode of
588:which was dubbed by the press as "The
411:From left to right, Alfred Gruenther,
399:, and the two became bridge partners.
52:(SACEUR) (NATO Photo 1251)
1377:United States Military Academy alumni
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1140:"Men, Missiles and Misunderstandings"
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639:Mediterranean theater of World War II
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824:, Nebraska State Historical Society
471:In 1951, Gruenther was promoted to
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524:on May 30, 1983, and is buried at
316:Supreme Allied Commander in Europe
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1227:Supreme Allied Commanders, Europe
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1071:, American Contract Bridge League
1001:Toronto, Ont: Master Point, 2005.
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628:A 1953 brochure on the symbol of
300:history of the United States Army
1402:American contract bridge players
1367:Military personnel from Nebraska
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226:Army Distinguished Service Medal
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1334:* only Supreme Allied Commander
1194:Supreme Allied Commander Europe
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503:New York Life Insurance Company
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353:. In June 1917, he entered the
205:Supreme Allied Commander Europe
50:Supreme Allied Commander Europe
1392:NATO Supreme Allied Commanders
967:"Red Cross...Gruenther Visits"
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776:United States Military Academy
768:(1920). Robinson, Wirt (ed.).
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355:United States Military Academy
322:Early life and military career
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986:New York: Bridge World, 1933.
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632:(SHAPE), signed by Gruenther
590:Bridge Battle of the Century
387:as a colonel under Lt. Gen.
7:
1417:United States Army generals
1011:Walker, Karen (June 2009).
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690:Distinguished Service Medal
660:, who, as commander of the
526:Arlington National Cemetery
466:Director of the Joint Staff
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294:, where he was primarily a
261:Alfred Maximilian Gruenther
251:president (1957–1964)
108:Arlington National Cemetery
61:Alfred Maximilian Gruenther
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1045:Thomas de la Rue & Co.
556:Head of American Red Cross
507:Pan American World Airways
27:United States Army general
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786:– via Google Books.
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1397:Laetare Medal recipients
1097:General Alfred Gruenther
1062:Gen. Alfred M. Greunther
809:, p. D16, May 31, 1983.
509:. He also served on the
306:, and succeeded General
1171:Generals of World War I
811:(subscription required)
614:World Bridge Federation
584:bridge championship in
538:Jeffersonville, Indiana
336:Platte Center, Nebraska
79:Platte Center, Nebraska
1067:March 6, 2016, at the
1051:, New York. p. v.
662:82nd Airborne Division
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515:English-Speaking Union
464:In 1947, he served as
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334:Gruenther was born in
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195:Field Artillery Branch
1085:The Spokesman-Review,
982:Gruenther, Alfred M.
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351:Saint Paul, Minnesota
330:As a West Point cadet
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153:Years of service
594:Dwight D. Eisenhower
459:National War College
397:Dwight D. Eisenhower
340:Platte Center Signal
278:player. After being
941:, January 31, 2013.
925:, January 31, 2013.
923:The Huffington Post
391:, headquartered in
370:Louisiana Maneuvers
282:towards the end of
239:US Military Academy
18:Alfred M. Gruenther
955:The Stanford Daily
807:The New York Times
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562:American Red Cross
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393:San Antonio, Texas
347:St. Thomas Academy
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265:United States Army
249:American Red Cross
147:United States Army
48:Alfred Gruenther,
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1206:Succeeded by
1179:Military offices
1103:February 6, 1956.
694:oak leaf clusters
650:four-star general
473:four-star general
304:Douglas MacArthur
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376:, Lt. Gen.
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