Olinto Mark Barsanti(November 11, 1917 – May 2, 1973) was commander of the101st Airborne Division in Vietnamfrom 1967 to 1968, commanding during theTet Offensiveand during subsequent operations aroundBien HoaandHuế.He commanded the 3rd Battalion,38th Infantry Regiment,2nd Infantry Divisionduring World War II (in Normandy, Brittany, and Belgium). He served in theKorean Warfrom the beginning of the conflict in July 1950 until August 1951. During his tour in Korea his assignments included staff officer withX Corpsand commander of the9th Infantry Regiment,2nd Infantry Division. He is one of the most highly decorated American soldiers in history, receiving approximately 60 decorations, including the DSC, DSM, 5 Silver Stars, 2 Legions of Merit, 8 Bronze Stars, 7 Air Medals, 7 Purple Hearts, and the French Croix de guerre (WWII) with bronze palm.
Olinto M. Barsanti | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 11, 1917 Nevada,US |
| Died | May 2, 1973(aged 55) |
| Place of burial | |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1938–1971 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | 101st Airborne Division 9th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Cold War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star(5) Legion of Merit(2) Bronze Star Medal(8) with"V" Air Medal(7) with "V" Purple Heart(7) Croix de Guerrewith palms |
Barsanti died of stomach cancer in 1973. He is buried atArlington National Cemetery.[1]
World War II
editIn 1944, Barsanti arrived on the coast of France, the day after D-Day, as commander of the 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment. At 26 years old, he was one of the youngest battalion commanders in the Army. During his eight months serving in the war, Barsanti was awarded fivePurple Heartsand fourBronze Star Medals.Barsanti personally assisted each of his regiments during a successful defense against a German counter-attack, and helped take a German stronghold. These two acts earned him twoSilver Star Medals.[2]
During theBattle of Elsenborn Ridgehis unit, part of the2nd Infantry Division,defended the twin villages ofRocherath-Krinkelt.[3]
Korean War
editIn June 1950, two days afterNorth KoreainvadedSouth Korea,Barsanti and a few other officers arrived to establish a command post for General of the ArmyDouglas MacArthurinSuwon,South Korea. His efforts in setting up facilities, transportation, and necessary systems, unassisted except for indigenous personnel, earned him aLegion of Merit.[4]He went on to command the 9th Infantry Regiment during theKorean War,and was the youngest Regimental Commander in Korea at the age of 33. His successful completion of a lone mission to deliver secret orders to two South Korean infantry divisions 190 miles behind enemy lines earned him aDistinguished Service Cross.
Vietnam War
editIn 1967, Barsanti was assigned command of the101st Airborne Divisionwhich was stationed atFort Campbell,Kentucky. His orders were to prepare the division for combat inSouth Vietnam.In August 1967, Barsanti received orders to prepare for Operation Eagle Thrust, the largest air-flight transfer of men and equipment from the U.S. to Southeast Asia. Barsanti arrived in Vietnam on December 13, 1967, to report for duty. During Barsanti's seven months commanding the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, the unit had over 8,000 enemy kills, more than 350 detainees taken, and more than 2,650 weapons captured.[5]
| Jul 1940 – Sep 1940 | The Infantry School,Fort Benning,Georgia |
| Oct 1940 – Nov 1942 | 38th Infantry,Fort Sam Houston,Texas |
| Dec 1942 – Apr 1943 | The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia |
| May 1945 – Jan 1946 | 38th Infantry,Camp McCoy,Wisconsin |
| Oct 1943 – Apr 1945 | Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 38th Infantry, ETO, Europe |
| May 1945 – Oct 1945 | S-3, 25th Special Troops,Camp Gruber,Oklahoma |
| Nov 1945 – Jan 1946 | Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 38th Infantry,Camp Swift,Texas |
| Feb 1946 – May 1946 | Student, Command and General Staff College,Fort Leavenworth,Kansas |
| June 1946 – Jul 1946 | Executive Officer, 38th Infantry Regiment,Camp Carson,Colorado |
| Jul 1946 – Jul 1949 | Faculty Member, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas |
| Sep 1949 – May 1950 | Staff Officer, G-1, General, Far East Command, Tokyo, Japan |
| Jun 1950 – Jul 1950 | Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, General Headquarters, ADCOM, Korea |
| Aug 1950 – Feb 1951 | Assistant G-1, X Corps, Korea |
| Mar 1951 – Aug 1951 | Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, 9th Infantry Regiment, Korea |
| Sep 1951 – Dec 1951 | Operation and Training Officer, G-3, General Headquarters, Far East Command |
| Jan 1952 – Jun 1953 | Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, VI Corps,Camp Atterbury,Indiana |
| Jul 1953 – Jan 1954 | Student,Armed Forces Staff College,Norfolk, Virginia |
| Feb 1954 – May 1955 | Chief, Survey and Organization Branch, Comptroller, US Army, Europe |
| Jun 1955 – Jan 1957 | Chief of Staff, Berlin Command |
| Feb 1957 – Jul 1957 | Member, Regular Officer Augmentation Detachment Department of the Army, Washington, D.C. |
| Aug 1957 – Jun 1958 | Student,National War College,Washington, D.C. |
| Jul 1958 – Jun 1961 | Chief, Requirements Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C. |
| Jul 1961 – Jul 1963 | Chief, Manpower Division, JI, Joint Staff Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. |
| Jul 1963 – Aug 1964 | Assistant Division Commander for Combat Operations, 7th Infantry Division, Korea |
| Sep 1964 – May 1966 | Comptroller, US Army, Europe |
| May 1966 – Sep 1966 | Chief of Staff, V Corps, USAREUR |
| Oct 1966 – Jun 1967 | Comptroller and Director of Programs, US Army Materiel Command, Washington, D.C. |
| Jul 1967 – Jun 1968 | Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division,Fort Campbell,Kentucky (deployed to Vietnam Dec 13, 67) |
| Jul 1968 – Aug 1968 | Commanding General, 101st Air Cavalry Division |
| Aug 1968 – Sep 1971 | Chief of Staff, Fifth US Army,Fort Sheridan,Illinois |
 Combat Infantryman Badgewith star
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 Ranger Tab
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 Basic Parachutist Badge
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 Army Staff Identification Badge
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 Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge
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 101st Airborne DivisionShoulder Sleeve Insignia
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 7Overseas Service Bars
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Honors
editIn his memory, theUniversity of North Texasestablished the Barsanti Military History Center. The current director of the Barsanti program isGeoffrey Wawro.
Fort Campbellheld a dedication ceremony for the Olinto M. Barsanti Elementary School, a Department of the Defense Education Activity school. The new school is located in the southern portion of the Fort Campbell Army Post. The 93,000 square-foot, $18 million building was built to accommodate the growing availability of on-post-housing, and serves the Gardner Hills and The Woodlands housing areas. It opened its doors to approximately 550 Pre-K through 5th grade students on January 3, 2011.
References
edit- ^Burial Detail: Barsanti, Olinto M– ANC Explorer
- ^Leslie V. Dix (August 2, 1944)."Confidential letter to Major Olinto M. Barsanti".University of North Texas Special Collections.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.
- ^Beevor, Antony (2015).Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble.Viking. p. 160.ISBN978-0-670-91864-5.
- ^United States Army Far East Command (1952)."Citation for Legion of Merit".University of North Texas Special Collections.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.
- ^"The Screaming Eagle, Volume 1, Number 5".University of North Texas Special Collections. July 15, 1968.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.
- ^abBiographical Data and Military Service Resume, Major General Olinto Mark Barsanti.Located in the United States Army Major General Olinto Mark Barsanti Papers, Box 2096, Folder 1, Held by University of North Texas Special Collections.
External links
edit- Olinro M. Barsantiat ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website
- Barsanti Papers at UNT Special Collections Finding Aid
- Digitized Barsanti Papers from UNT Special Collections
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