Orlando Ward

Orlando Ward (November 4, 1891 – February 4, 1972) was a career United States Army officer. During World War II, as a major general, he commanded the 1st Armored Division during Operation Torch and during the first five months of the Tunisia Campaign, being relieved in March 1943. He trained and returned to Europe in 1945 as commander of the 20th Armored Division.

Ward also served as Secretary to Army Chief of Staff George Marshall in the critical years prior to the war and made major contributions to field artillery procedures in the 1930s that, a decade later, made the American field artillery especially effective in World War II.

Early life and career

Orlando Ward graduated from West Point in 1914. His first assignment was as a lieutenant of black cavalry troops (Troop E of the 9th Cavalry Regiment) on border patrol in the wilds of Arizona and New Mexico. He later was part of Pershing's forces chasing Pancho Villa into Mexico. He was awarded the Mexican Service Medal for serving on this campaign.