Major General Withers A

Major General Withers A. Buress
Post Commander - Camp Atterbury
January to June, 1951

Withers A. Burress was born 24 November 1894 at Richmond, Virginia,. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1914 and on 30 November 1916 was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry.

In World War I General Burress served with the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the Second Division, taking part in four campaigns of that war. Between World War I and World War II he attended and graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and the Army War College in Washington, D. C. During World War II he activated, organized, trained, and commanded the 100th Infantry (Century) Division throughout its active existence.

As part of the Seventh U. S. Army the division was engaged in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central European campaigns. The division was in combat from 1 November 1944 until V-E Day.

After World War II General Burress commanded the VI Corps and the United States Constabulary in Europe. He also served as Inspector General and as Director of Intelligence of the European Command.

Upon his return to the United States in May, 1948, General Burress assumed command of the Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia, and in January 1951 he became Commander of the reactivated VI Corps at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

Decorations: Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit and Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster; La Solidaridad Medal (Panama); Legion of Honor (France); Croix de Guerre (France) and War Cross and Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia).