Lieutenant General Manton Sprague Eddy was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 10, 1892. He lived in the city and attended public schools until his high school days, where he enrolled in Shattuck School in Fairbault, Minnesota.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant during World War I, and served overseas with the 39th Infantry of the 4th Infantry Division. While commanding a machine gun company during this conflict, he was wounded in action. Upon his recovery, he rejoined his unit for further action against the enemy.
While on active duty at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1921, he met Miss Mamie Buttolph, a native of Columbus, Georgia. General Eddy and Miss Buttolph were married during this year.
During World War II, General Eddy commanded the 9th Infantry Division which was involved in the campaign in North Africa, Sicily, and the Normandy Invasion. In 1944, he commanded the XII Army Corps which was a part of General Patton's Third Army. This unit was the spearhead of many attacks against the enemy while on French soil.
In 1950, General Eddy was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the European Command. In 1952, he served as the Commander of the United States Army, Europe, which placed him in charge of 250,000 American troops stationed on the continent. He was cited by his government and several foreign nations for an outstanding job of building and maintaining excellent relations between the soldiers of his command, and foreign nations.
Upon his retirement
from military service, General Eddy made his home in Columbus, Georgia;
the birthplace of his wife. He immediately found his place in his
new civilian community. He served as Vice-President of Williams Construction
Company, a member of the Board of Directors of Williams Lumber Company,
Gas Light Company, Concrete Company, and Mass Construction. In his
civic endeavors, he was Senior Elder in the First Presbyterian Church,
chairman of the Safety Board, chairman of the United Givers campaign, headed
the Board of Managers of Armed Services
Y.M.C.A., and was elected president
of the Chamber of Commerce for two years.
General Eddy died on April 11, 1962. He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C..