Lt. General Clovis E. Byers
U.S. Army, World War II & Korean War

Background
Clovis Ethelbert Byers was born November 5, 1899 to parents William Ethelbert Byers and Minnie M. (née Potter) Byers in Columbus, Ohio. Byers attended Ohio State during 1917 and 1918 and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity until appointed to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point class of 1920. On July 2, 1920 commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-12769. His first posting was at U.S. Army Cavalry School at Fort Riley in Kansas for a year. Married Marie Richards. The couple had one son, Clayton Potter Byers born June 23, 1940

World War II
During June 1941, attached to the general staff of the G-1 Division (Personnel). On December 11, 1941 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On February 1, 1942 promoted to the rank of Colonel and that same month became chief of staff for Major General Robert L. Eichelberger for the reactivated 77th Infantry Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. On June 14, 1942 followed Eichelberger when he became the commander of I Corps. During August 1942 flown to Brisbane and soon afterwards moved to Rockhampton to supervise training. On October 31, 1942 promoted to the temporary rank of Brigadier General.

Assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division (32nd ID) "Red Arrow Division" as chief of staff for Brigadier General Albert W. Waldron. On December 5, 1942 when Brigadier General Albert W. Waldron was wounded near Buna, Byers succeeded him as Division commander.

On December 15, 1942 shot by a sniper and was evacuated, as the third U.S. Army General wounded in the Battle of Buna. For his actions, he earned the the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Purple Heart. Afterwards, flown to Brisbane to the the U.S. Army 42nd General Hospital in Stuartholme School in Toowong to recover from his wounds. In the middle or late December 1942, the three wounded Generals were photographed seated together.

On January 17, 1943 he returned to service as Chief of Staff of Advance New Guinea Force for nine days. By the end of the month returned to Australia. On July 2, 1943 demoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On September 2, 1944 became chief of staff for the 8th Army and served in the Philippines until the end of the Pacific War and occupation of Japan. On June 4, 1945 temporarily promoted to the rank of Major General.

Postwar
On January 24, 1948 promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. On March 3, 1948 became commander of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. On July 19, 1949 became Deputy Assistant Army Chief of Staff G-1 (Personnel) in Washington, D.C.

Korean War
On July 15, 1951, Byers replaced Major General Edward Almond as commander of X Corps, then engaged in combat in Korea. Byers was in overall command during the Battle of Bloody Ridge (August 18, 1951–September 5, 1951) and Battle of Heartbreak Ridge (September 13, 1951–October 15, 1951).

During 1954 became the deputy commandant of National War College. In 1955, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and that same year became the commandant of NATO Defense College in Paris, France. During June 1959, retired from military service.

Memorials
Byers died December 13, 1973 at age 74. On December 18, 1973 he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 2, grave 4737-E-LH.

His papers were donated to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

Awards
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Purple Heart.

Relatives
Marie L Richards Byers (wife died December 30, 1984)

References
U.S. Army in World War II Victory in Papua Chapter XIII Buna: The Second Two Weeks pages 241, 244, 248, 252, 258 (photo), 259, footnotes 27, 28, 61, 62, 64, 68, 73, 82
U.S. Army in World War II Victory in Papua Bibliographical Note pages 380, 382
Our Jungle Road to Tokyo (1950) page 41, 160
(Page 41) "Byers, who was wounded immediately after his troops jumped off, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross nine days later. The citation is in GHQ SWPA GO No. 63, 24 Dec 42."
Hall of Valor - Clovis Ethelbert Byers (award citations)
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Clovis Ethelbert Byers (grave photos)
FindAGrave - Clovis Ethelbert Byers (photos, grave photo)
Red Arrow Across the Pacific (2024) pages 141 (September 6, 1942), 194-195 (November 30, 1942), 199-200 (December 5, 1942), 211 (December 15, 1942 wounded), 237 (flight), 238 (MacArthur visit), 239 (April 1943), 242, June 22), 245 (Camp Cable), 450 (footnotes 12, 14), 455 (footnotes 56, 57, 59, 79), 457 (footnotes 128, 131, 132), 459 (footnote 39), 460 (footnote 51), 461 (footnote 69, 70), 486 (index Byers)

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