Raymond H. Fleming

Raymond Hartwell Fleming
Major General Fleming as National Guard Bureau Chief, circa 1951
Born	July 5, 1889 Waxahachie, Texas
Died	November 23, 1974 (aged 85) New Orleans, Louisiana
Place of burial	Hillcrest Burial Park Cemetery, Waxahachie, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1916 - 1964
Rank	Major General
Unit	Louisiana Army National Guard National Guard Bureau
Commands held	55th Cavalry Brigade Adjutant General of Louisiana 39th Infantry Division Chief, Army Division, National Guard Bureau Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army) Legion of Merit

Raymond H. Fleming (July 5, 1889—November 23, 1974) was a United States Army Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau, commander of the 39th Infantry Division (the ”Delta Division”), and Adjutant General of Louisiana.

Early life

Raymond Hartwell Fleming was born in Waxahachie, Texas on July 5, 1889. He graduated from San Antonio’s Trinity University in 1915 and moved to Louisiana.^[1]

Pancho Villa Expedition

Fleming joined the Louisiana National Guard in 1916 and served on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition, attaining the rank of Sergeant.^[2]

World War I

In 1917 Fleming received his commission as a Second Lieutenant. Assigned to the 141st Field Artillery Regiment, he served in France throughout World War I, advancing to Captain as Commander of Battery D. His unit was mustered out in 1919, and he returned to Louisiana.^[3]

Post World War I

After the war Fleming continued his membership in the Louisiana National Guard and took part in its reorganization. He commanded Batteries A and D of the 141st Field Artillery Regiment as a Captain, and continued to advance through the ranks in command and staff positions of increasing responsibility.^[4][5] He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1925 and the United States Army War College in 1928.^[6]

Fleming also continued his academic studies by undertaking post-graduate work in economics and labor relations at Tulane University.^[7]

Adjutant General of Louisiana

In 1928 Fleming was appointed Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard with the rank of Brigadier General. He continued to serve in this position until 1948.^[8]

Seen as an ally of the political organization run by Senator Huey Long and Governor O.K. Allen, in 1934 Fleming deployed National Guardsmen to the offices of election officials in New Orleans when Allen declared martial law during a disputed election between the Long-Allen group and a group headed by Mayor T. Semmes Walmsley. In response, Walmsley deployed hundreds of New Orleans police officers. Fleming was charged with contempt of court for refusing a judge’s order to dismiss the troops. The dispute was resolved when the National Guard vacated the election offices (while remaining in New Orleans) and the police stood down, and the election proceeded as planned.^[9][10][11]

When Long was assassinated in 1935, Fleming commanded the honor guard for his funeral.^[12][13]

From 1940 to 1946 Fleming also commanded the 55th Cavalry Brigade, a unit of the 23rd Cavalry Division.^[14]

From 1940 to 1947 Fleming also concurrently served during World War II as the federal Director of Selective Service for Louisiana.^[15]

Post World War II

In 1946 Fleming was named Commander of the 39th Infantry Division, an assignment he carried out while still serving as Adjutant General.^[16] He was promoted to Major General in 1947.^[17]

National Guard Bureau

Fleming was appointed Chief of the Army Division at the National Guard Bureau in 1947. He was the first individual to hold this post, which was created as a result of the founding of the Air National Guard. The Chief of the Army Division and Chief of the Air Division each reported to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.^[18]

In 1948 also took on an additional assignment as an Assistant to Lewis B. Hershey, the federal Director of Selective Service.^[19]

In 1950 Fleming was named acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau, succeeding Kenneth F. Cramer.^[20] In 1951 Fleming’s nomination was confirmed, and he served as NGB Chief until reaching the federal military's mandatory retirement age in 1953.^[21][22]

In 1951 he was succeeded as commander of the 39th Infantry Division by Joseph A. Redding.^[23]

Return as Adjutant General

In 1952 Fleming was reappointed as Louisiana’s Adjutant General, serving until 1956. He resumed the Adjutant General’s post again in 1960, serving until his 1964 retirement.^[24]

Awards and decorations

Fleming’s awards included the Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army) and Legion of Merit.^[25][26]

Retirement and death

In retirement Fleming resided in New Orleans. He died there on November 23, 1974 and was buried in Waxahachie’s Hillcrest Burial Park Cemetery.^[27][28]

Legacy

The headquarters building at Jackson Barracks was named Fleming Hall. The building was damaged during Hurricane Katrina, but has since been rehabilitated. It is now used for ceremonies, conferences and other meetings.^[29]

References

1. Evans J. Casso, Louisiana Legacy: A History of the State National Guard, 1999, page 233
2. Powell A. Casey, Try Us: The Story of the Washington Artillery in World War II, 1971, page 10
3. National Guard Association of the United States, Official Proceedings, 1955, page 219
4. National Guard Bureau, Official National Guard Register, 1922, page 112
5. National Guard Bureau, Official National Guard Register, 1925, page 329
6. Southern Editors Association, The Southerner: A Biographical Encyclopedia of Southern People, Volume 1, 1945, page 172
7. William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons From A To J Part One, 2004, page 56
8. Louisiana Department of Military Affairs, Annual Report of Department of Military Affairs and Selective Service System, 1954, page 10
9. St. Joseph Gazette, Long Forces and Mayor’s Gird for War, August 4, 1934
10. Associated Press, Milwaukee Journal, Two of Huey Long’s Officers Judged Guilty, August 13, 1934
11. New York Times, Long's Troops Stay Despite Protests, September 10, 1934
12. Greensburg Daily Tribune, Death Ends Career of Sen. Huey Long, September 10, 1935
13. Boston Globe, Funeral of Long to be Tomorrow, September 11, 1935
14. National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman magazine, Volume 18, 1964, page 35
15. Christian Science Monitor, Roosevelt Names Draft Directors, October 24, 1940
16. Army and Navy Journal, Inc., Army and Navy Journal, Volume 86, Issues 1-26, 1948, page 197
17. New York Times, President Names 50 to be Generals, December 13, 1947
18. New York Times, Commanders Are Named In Guard Air Force, Army, October 13, 1948
19. Christian Science Monitor, Fleming Is Appointed Assistant to Hershey, September 13, 1948
20. New York Times, 43d Federalized, Chief Relieved of Civil Post, September 6, 1950
21. New York Times, Louisiana Officer Named U.S. Guard Bureau Head, August 2, 1951
22. New York Times, Gen. Fleming Leaves Guard Post, February 14, 1953
23. National Guard Association of the United States, The National Guardsman, Volume 5, 1951, page 29
24. Evans J. Casso, Louisiana Legacy: A History of the State National Guard, 1999, page 233
25. United States Army, General Orders, August 24, 1964, page 3
26. Military Times, Hall of Valor, Distinguished Service Medal, Raymond H. Fleming, accessed May 1, 2013
27. Louisiana History.org, Biography, Raymond Hartwell Fleming, accessed May 1, 2013
28. Raymond H. Fleming at Find A Grave
29. Gibbs Construction, Modernization of Fleming Hall, Jackson Barracks, 2010