Troy H. Middleton

Troy H. Middleton

Lieutenant General Troy Houston Middleton (12 October 1889 – 9 October 1976) was a distinguished soldier-educator who served as a corps commander in Europe during World War II and later as President of Louisiana State University (LSU). He is best known for his decision to hold Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, contrary to the recommendation of General George Patton.

Enlisting in the United States Army in 1910, Middleton was first assigned to the 29th Infantry Regiment where he worked as a clerk. Here he did not become an infantryman as he had hoped, but he was pressed into service playing football, a sport strongly endorsed by the Army. Following two years of enlisted service, Middleton was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was given the opportunity to compete for an officer's commission. Of the 300 individuals who were vying for a commission, 56 were selected, and four of them, including Middleton, would become general officers. As a new second lieutenant, Middleton was assigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment in Galveston, Texas, which was soon pressed into service, responding to events created by the Mexican Revolution. Middleton spent seven months doing occupation duty in the Mexican port city of Veracruz, and later was assigned to Douglas, Arizona, where his unit skirmished with some of Pancho Villa's fighters.

Upon the entry of the United States into World War I, Middleton was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, and soon saw action as a battalion commander during the Second Battle of the Marne. Three months later, following some minor support roles, his unit led the attack during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and Middleton became a regimental commander. Because of his exceptional battlefield performance, on 14 October 1918 he was promoted to the rank of colonel, becoming at 29 the youngest officer of that rank in the American Expeditionary Forces. He also received the Distinguished Service Medal for his exemplary service. Following World War I, Middleton served at the United States Army Infantry School, the Command and General Staff School, the Army War College, and as Commandant of Cadets at LSU. He retired from the Army in 1937 to accept an offer as Dean of Administration at LSU and later became comptroller and the acting Vice President. His tenure at LSU was fraught with difficulty, as Middleton became one of the key players in helping the university recover from a major scandal where nearly a million dollars had been embezzled.

Recalled to service in early 1942, Middleton commanded the 45th Infantry Division during the Sicily and Salerno battles in Italy, and then in March 1944 moved up to command the U.S. VIII Corps. His leadership in Operation Cobra led to the capture of the important port city of Brest, France, and for his success he was awarded a second Distinguished Service Medal by General George Patton. His greatest World War II achievement, however, was in his decision to hold the important city of Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. Following this battle, and his corps' relentless push across Germany until reaching Czechoslovakia, he was recognized by both Dwight Eisenhower and Patton as being a corps commander of extraordinary abilities. Middleton logged 480 days in combat during World War II, more than any other American general officer. Retiring from the Army again in 1945, Middleton returned to LSU and in 1951 was appointed to the university presidency, a position he held for 11 years, while continuing to serve the Army in numerous consultative capacities. He resided in Baton Rouge, Louisiana until his death in 1976 and was buried in Baton Rouge National Cemetery. Both the Air Force/Army ROTC building at Mississippi State University, Middleton's alma mater, and the library at Louisiana State University are named for him.