Roy E. Lindquist


Roy Ernest Lindquist was a highly decorated senior United States Army officer. He saw service during World War II and is most noted for his leadership of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment during the campaign in Western Europe from June 1944 to May 1945.

Early years

Roy was born on February 18, 1907, in West Newton, Massachusetts, as the first of the three sons to Ernst and Anna Lindquist. He attended Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. He also enlisted in the Maine Army National Guard in January 1924 in order to support his effort to be appointed to United States Military Academy.
Young Lindquist was finally appointed to United States Military Academy at West Point, New York as a Cadet on July 1, 1926. He graduated in June 11, 1930 and was also commissioned a Second lieutenant in infantry on that date. Subsequently, he was assigned to Fort Williams, Maine. He also married his fiancée Alice in December of the same year.
He spent the next decade on the various infantry assignments in the United States, and also attended the Company Officers's Course at Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1934. He was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant on August 1, 1935. By October 1939, Lindquist served with 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia.

World War II

In 1940, Roy joined the newly created 501st Parachute Battalion at Fort Benning and after two years of intensive training, he was appointed a commanding officer of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on October 20, 1942.
Lindquist commanded the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment throughout the whole war, during extensive training and maneuvers before the deployment oversea. The 508th Parachute Infantry arrived in England in January 1944 and participated in the Normandy Campaign, Operation Market Garden and Battle of the Bulge.
He was succeeded in command of the regiment by Lieutenant Colonel Otho E. Holmes in December 1945. For his leadership of the regiment during the War, he was awarded with Silver Star, Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge by the Government of the United States. He was decorated with the Bronze Lion by the Government of the Netherlands for his service during Operation Market Garden. France decorated him with the Croix de guerre 1939-1945 for his part in Normandy Campaign.

Postwar service

After World War II, Lindquist was assigned to Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was appointed an assistant commander of the Airborne Department of the school under command of Brigadier General William M. Miley. He served in this capacity until 1948, when he was transferred to Greece to become a member of the Joint Military Assistance Group during the Greek Civil War. He stayed there until 1950. For his service, Lindquist was awarded with the Order of the Phoenix in the grade of Officer by the Government of Greece.
After his return to the States, Lindquist attended the National War College in Washington, D.C.. After graduation, he was appointed to the office of Assistant Chief Of Staff within Army Ground Forces. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1953 and appointed a commander of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, which was stationed in Korea and consisted from several Airborne units in the size of brigade.
Lindquist stayed in Korea and was appointed a Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the IX Corps under the command of Lieutenant General James Edward Moore.
Now a major general, Lindquist was transferred back to the States and posted to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, before he was appointed a commander of the 3rd Infantry Division in March 1957.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Roy E. Lindquist: