Colonel James G. Depew

Colonel James G. Depew

Regimental Commander 102nd Armored Cavalry Regiment 1960 – 1961

Colonel Depew enlisted into the Cavalry on the 1 August 1939 in Troop E, Westfield, NJ. He reported for federal active duty with the Regiment on 6 January 1941 as a Sergeant. He attended officer’s candidate school in 1942 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry on 8 August 1942. He returned to the Regiment at Ft. Jackson and deployed to England on 25 September 1942. Colonel Depew was assigned to the 1st Squadron, which was reorganized and redesignated the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in 1943. On March 1, 1944, he was promoted to Captain and assumed command of Company F, 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron.

On December 13, 1944, Captain Depew was promoted to Major and appointed as the Executive Officer for the 102nd Squadron. Captain, Depew landed in Normandy on the Easy Red area of Omaha Beach late on 7 June 1944. He is one of three soldiers that are accredited with developing the famed hedgerow-busting “Rhino Plow.” A device attached to the front of tanks, which greatly assisted in the breakout from Normandy in late July 1944. For this accomplishment, Depew was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal.

His tank company participated in the Liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944. As the Squadron Executive Officer, he was involved with operations during the Battle of the Bulge, the Central Europe Campaign and breaching the Siegfried Line. The 102nd Squadron finished its World War II service in Pilzen, Czechoslovakia.

In 1946 Lieutenant Colonel Depew assumed command of the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in Newark, NJ. In 1950 he assumed command of Combat Command C, 50th Amored Division in Paterson, NJ. In 1960 Colonel Depew assumed command of the 102nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Colonel Depew passed away on 7 March 1975 and is buried in the Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Colorado.