Frederick Arthur Blesse – Brigadier General, United States Army

Biography and Photo Courtesy of Russell C. Jacobs: June 2007

Frederick Arthur Blesse (1888-1954)

Born in Illinois on November 12, 1888. M.D. from Hahnemann College in 1913. Commissioned in the Medical Section in 1918. Graduated from the Army Medical School in 1925. Instructor at Medical Field Service School 1926-1930.  Graduated from Command and General Staff School in 1932 and the Army War College in 1936. Medical Advisor to MacArthur while he was Military Advisor to the Philippine government 1936-1939. Surgeon at 3rd Division 1939-1940. In the support section of the War Department General Staff 1940-1941. Chief of Planning and Research in the Office of the Chief of the War Department Morale Branch in 1941.

Chief Surgeon for Army Ground Forces 1941-1942. Brigadier General in December 1942. Chief Surgeon for Fifth Army and the North African Theater of Operations 1943-1944. Chief Surgeon for Army Ground Forces, then Army Field Forces April 1944 until retirement in November 1948.

Decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit.

Died on June 4, 1954.

BLESSE, FREDERICK ARTHUR
Brigadier General, United States Army

• DATE OF BIRTH: 11/22/1888
• DATE OF DEATH: 06/04/1954
• BURIED AT: SECTION 2  SITE 4930-2
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

BLESSE, LUCY K

• DATE OF BIRTH: 02/27/1901
• DATE OF DEATH: 02/09/1975
• BURIED AT: SECTION 2  SITE 4930-1
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard