Typed note, signed, with studio portrait inscribed and signed.
Item #27119
The typed note is on Headquarters, First United States Army, Office of the Chief of Staff, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and is dated 25 October 1945. The photograph is boldly signed, "W. B. Kean, Major General, Chief of Staff, First U.S. Army." William Benjamin Kean (July 9, 1897 – March 10, 1981) was a general in the United States Army. In March, 1943 Kean was assigned as chief of staff of the 28th Infantry Division. Just a month later he was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as chief of staff for the U.S. II Corps, then fighting in North Africa under the command of Omar Bradley. In late 1943 he was assigned as chief of staff for First U.S. Army, commanded by Courtney Hodges, receiving promotion to major general. Kean served in this position until the end of the war, and remained in Europe during the post-war occupation of Germany. While with II Corps Kean played a role in the incident in which General George S. Patton was accused of slapping a soldier. After Bradley had investigated, he entrusted the only copy of the written report to Kean, who was directed not to show it to anyone without Bradley's permission. During his assignment with First Army, Kean was one of the key planners of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Small stain on back of photo and letter from tape used in mounting, else fine.
Price: $115.00