Kendall J. Fielder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kendall Jordan Fielder
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Brigadier General Kendall J. Fielder
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| Nickname(s) | “Wooch” |
| Born | August 1, 1893 Cedartown, Georgia |
| Died | April 13, 1981 (aged 87) Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Buried |
Punchbowl Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1953 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit |  Infantry Branch |
| Commands held | Military Intelligence & Security, Hawaiian Department |
| Battles/wars | World War I
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| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal |
Brigadier General Kendall "Wooch" Jordan Fielder (born August 1, 1893 – died April 13, 1981) was an important officer in the United States Army during World War II. He was serving in Hawaii when the United States joined World War II. After the war, he even spoke to Congress to support Hawaii becoming a state.
When the Attack on Pearl Harbor happened, Kendall Fielder was a Lieutenant Colonel. He was the U.S. Army's G-2 Chief of Intelligence and Security. This meant he was in charge of gathering important information and keeping things safe. Later, Fielder helped create special Japanese American army groups. These included the Varsity Victory Volunteers, the 100th Infantry Battalion, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
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Early Life and World War I Service
Kendall J. Fielder was born in Cedartown, Georgia, on August 1, 1893. His parents were William and May Fielder. After finishing high school, he went to Georgia Tech. There, he played football for the famous coach John Heisman. Fielder was even the team captain from 1915 to 1916.
In the summer of 1916, Fielder earned a degree in textile engineering. He then started working as a real estate loan agent in Atlanta, Georgia.
Joining the Army for World War I
When the United States joined World War I, Fielder became a second lieutenant in the Army's Infantry branch. This happened on May 31, 1917. He went for basic training at Fort McPherson. After that, he joined the 56th Infantry Regiment in Texas.
Fielder trained hard for combat. In June 1918, his regiment sailed to France as part of the 7th Division.
Fighting in France
Fielder quickly rose to the rank of Captain. He took command of a machine gun company in his division. He led this unit during two major battles. These were the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918 and the fighting in the Argonne Forest from October to November that year. After the war ended in November 1918, he returned to the United States.
Between the World Wars
Fielder decided to stay in the Army after World War I. He was sent to Camp Funston, Kansas. There, he worked as an assistant to Brigadier General Harry Hill Bandholtz. Fielder later moved with the general to Fort Meade, Maryland.
After his brigade was deactivated in 1921, Fielder continued to work for General Bandholtz. He served as his assistant adjutant at the Military District of Washington headquarters. Fielder stayed in this role until July 1927. Then, he was sent to the Philippines.
Service in the Philippines and Further Training
In the Philippines, Fielder was stationed on Luzon island. He commanded Company I of the 57th Infantry Regiment until May 1930. After this, Fielder returned to the United States.
In June 1931, he completed an advanced course at the United States Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. He then became the commanding officer of troops at the United States Army War College in Washington, D.C..
In mid-1935, Fielder was promoted to Major. He became a battalion commander with the 34th Infantry Regiment at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Hawaii Assignment
In June 1937, Fielder attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After graduating a year later, he rejoined his battalion.
Fielder was sent to Hawaii in November 1938. He became the Executive Officer of the 22nd Infantry Brigade. He worked at Schofield Barracks and helped train Japanese Americans soldiers in the 298th Infantry Regiment. This regiment was part of the Hawaii National Guard. During this time, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
World War II Service
In February 1941, Fielder was promoted to Colonel. He moved to Fort Shafter in Honolulu. There, he became the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2) for the Hawaiian Department. He also took on the role of Commanding Officer for Military Intelligence and Counterintelligence in Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean areas.
Fielder was an active member of the Committee of Inter-Racial Unity. This group advised Hawaii's FBI Chief, Robert Shivers. Their goal was to promote harmony among the different ethnic groups on the islands.
After Pearl Harbor
After the devastating Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, Fielder's job was to calm the residents and stop rumors. He looked into claims of spying and sabotage. He also worked with the news media to make sure reports were accurate. He even gave two radio speeches to ease people's fears.
Following the attack, General Walter Short was replaced by Lieutenant General Delos C. Emmons. General Emmons had orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to consider putting Hawaii's Japanese population in internment camps. Emmons also created a Public Morale Division. This division advised Fielder on how to handle race relations.
Fielder tried to convince Emmons to resist the pressure from higher military command. Several members of the Public Morale Division confirmed that Fielder and Emmons had arguments. Hung Wai Ching, a member of the division, even thought Fielder might be removed from his position. John Burns, head of the Honolulu Police Contact Group, called Fielder "a man of exemplary courage."
Forming Japanese American Units
Soon after, Japanese Americans were released from the Hawaii Territorial Guard. This included ROTC students from the University of Hawaii. These students signed a petition to form a non-combat labor battalion. Fielder received this petition and convinced General Emmons to create the Varsity Victory Volunteers. This was a civilian Japanese American unit that helped with construction and other tasks.
Fielder then urged General Emmons to form a combat unit made up of Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) from the Hawaii Territorial Guard. Emmons agreed. He sent Fielder to the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C.. Fielder's mission was to convince Army Chief of Staff, General George Marshall, to form the unit.
Marshall enthusiastically agreed. A temporary infantry battalion of Japanese Americans was formed. It was sent to the mainland for training on June 6, 1942. This unit later became known as the 100th Infantry Battalion. Fielder also helped arrange meetings for Japanese American representatives with important leaders. These included Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. These meetings helped bring attention to Japanese American issues.
The "Father of the 442nd"
The success of the Varsity Victory Volunteers and the 100th Battalion helped lead to the creation of the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The 100th Battalion became the first battalion of this new regiment. Fielder and Emmons strongly supported efforts to form this unit. On January 1, 1943, General Marshall ordered its creation. Fielder became known as the "Father of the 442nd" for his efforts.
Fielder continued his role as Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence under the new commanding general, Robert C. Richardson Jr.. He visited military bases in the Pacific during the rest of the war. In early 1944, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He received several awards for his service in World War II. These included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, and the Bronze Star Medal.
During the Battle of Okinawa in May–June 1945, General Fielder asked Thomas Taro Higa to go to Okinawa. Higa helped convince the people of Okinawa to come out of caves and surrender. He was able to connect with them personally.
After the War
After World War II, Fielder returned to the rank of Colonel. He was sent to Washington, D.C.. There, he became the Deputy Chief of the Public Information Division for the Army.
In mid-1948, Fielder returned to Hawaii. He joined the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific. He served in several roles there, including Public Information Officer and Chief of Staff. When a new commanding general, John W. O'Daniel, was appointed in September 1952, Fielder became his Assistant Deputy Commander.
Fielder retired from active duty on July 31, 1953. He was promoted back to the rank of Brigadier General upon retirement. This was allowed by a law that let Army officers retire at the highest rank they held during their service. During a parade in his honor, General O'Daniel gave him a Certificate of Achievement for his outstanding service.
Life After the Army
After retiring from the Army, Fielder lived in Honolulu, Hawaii. He took a job on the Honolulu Police Commission. He stayed in this role until August 1954. Later, he served on the Board of Directors for Crown Corporation. This was a company in Hawaii involved in insurance, real estate, and other businesses.
Fielder was also a member of Rotary International, a service organization. He served as an Assistant Treasurer. Since December 1946, General Fielder was an honorary member of "Club 100." This was the veterans' group for the 100th Infantry Battalion. The 100th Battalion was the first active battalion of the 442nd Regiment.
The famous writer Edgar Rice Burroughs (who wrote Tarzan) lived in Honolulu around 1944. He mentioned playing bridge with Fielder sometimes. Burroughs also said that Fielder was a very good parlor magician. He was a member of the Society of American Magicians.
Brigadier General Kendall J. Fielder passed away on April 13, 1981, at the age of 87. He died at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific with his wife, May Crichton Fielder.
In Popular Culture
Fielder helped as a technical adviser for the 1953 movie From Here to Eternity. This means he gave advice to make sure the military details in the film were accurate. In 1970, actor Bill Edwards played Colonel Fielder in the movie Tora! Tora! Tora!.
Awards and Decorations
Here are some of the awards Brigadier General Fielder received:
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