Colonel Harold E. Potter’s 1938 Full Dress Uniform

[Jamecharles]

Hello Everybody,

 

first of all have a nice holiday season to you and your family!
Secondone I've recently bought this amazing lot of Colonel Harold E. Potter, I'm still looking for some photos or more infos about his career, due to his amazing ribbon set should had a great career since ww1.

 

Any further infos about him will be really appreciated:

Colonel Harold Edward Potter (0-8013) was born in Illinois in 1890. He entered service in the U.S. Army through the Officer’s Reserve Course, and began his active duty on August 15, 1917.

The uniform is in excellent condition, made by H.L. Abrahams, Brooklyn, NY, the cap was purchase from Isenberg, Inc., New Haven, Conn. Just a few smudges, on the white wool of the trouser stripes, I don’t notice any damage due to moth. The cap has some slight wear on the crown, and the back of the crown and underneath there was a mouse chew that was restored. The blue silk banding on the cap is a vibrant Prussian blue, not the regulation sky or light blue. The cap side buttons are unique in that I have never seen a two piece button of these era, made of a flat plate with applied Army eagle device. A great looking set.

He was a veteran of WWI having served in one campaign. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and captain, Army of the US by May19, 1919, while in occupation duty.

His regular army rank dates as follows; 1st Lt. Inf., 1920, Capt. Inf., 1920, Major Inf., 1935, Lt. Col. Inf., Aug. 1940, and Col. Inf, March 1948.

From the ribbon bars on the uniform, I can only conclude that he must have served in a staff position to have been awarded this array of Foreign decoration. His ribbon bar consists of the following (left to right, top to bottom): Legion of Merit (OLC), Bronze Star Medal, WWI Victory Medal (1 campaign star), Army of Occupation (WWI), American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (one campaign), WWII Victory Medal, WWII Army of Occupation, Dutch Order of Nassau,(officer), Belgium Order of Leopold (officer), [Montenegro Order of Danilo I ?], Luxembourg Order of the Oak Crown (officer), French Legion of Honor, French Croix de Guerre, Czech War Cross.

Potter was a graduate of the Infantry School, Company Officer Course, 1930.

 

[Jamecharles]

details from officer's register of 1947

[uniformcollector]

Incredible! Thank you for sharing.

[CNY Militaria]

I saw that one on ebay a while back, I loved the ribbon bar. At the time I found some research on him, let me see if I can relocate it.

[Major Z]

Yet another amazing piece you have acquired. Very nice uniform! Thanks for sharing.

[CNY Militaria]

Prior to 1945, he was Asst. Commandant at the Infantry School at Fort Benning. He went overseas toward the end of the War.

[CNY Militaria]

May 1945 Article.

[CNY Militaria]

June 1946 Article.

[Jamecharles]

Amazing infos! Thank you all
But I'll take eyes open for other infos, nevermind we can spot them out!

GS

[Jamecharles]

In order to complete the set I decided to buy the commendator Dutch Order of Nassau as per his ribbon set.

[Hermanus]

Hello mr Jamecharles,

 

Indeed Col Potter received a Commander grade of the Dutch Order of Oranje Nassau (and not the lower Officer grade).

How ever, the Commander version you bought is the civilian version with oak leaves between the arms of the cross.

He most probably received the Military class version of this Order. They have swords between the arms of the cross instead off oakleaves. I enclose a picture of a Commanders grade version, Military division.

 

Regards

Herman

[CNY Militaria]

On the right is another example of the Military version issued to a WWII US General.

[Jamecharles]

Oh lord I've to find another one

 

Gs

[Guest Malcolm]

I just came upon your posting from 2017 regarding Col. Potter’s uniform. Potter and his wife retired to the Aldie Mill House in Aldie VA which is where I live and have been researching it’s history. Potter was friends with President Eisenhower and in his retirement would visit the Potters and play bridge. The postmaster recalls these visits and would go fishing with their driver.  If you have gathered more information on Potter I’d love to see what you have. It’s another bit of interesting military history for this house that also witnessed the Civil war Battle of Aldie. I’ve dug up a number of military artifacts inside and around the house. 
 

Thanks

 

Malcolm

[LYONSJ9]

Wow! Fantastic uniform!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Simon Trew]

Potter getting the medal referred to above, and the item itself

[Simon Trew]

Potter's other decorations, a personally dedicated and signed photo from Ike, and two photos of Potter himself

[Jamecharles]

amazing photos!!
Thanks for sharing

GS

[Simon Trew]

Colonel Potter did a number of interesting jobs, as already indicated. But by far the most important - and it is difficult to exaggerate the significance of this role in terms of the writing of the history of World War 2 - was when he ran the 'Foreign Military Studies' program, from 1946-1951.  Here, he sits with another US officer involved in the project, plus some of the captured German generals who worked for him.

[Simon Trew]

Some more material relating to Harold Potter.  An early photo of him as a member of a sports team (centre, seated), one of him in uniform and also his ID as a member of the US 1920 Olympics group heading to Antwerp, Belgium (at which time he was a Captain).

[Simon Trew]

Two photos, probably from the mid 1940s (1946 or 1947, I'm guessing).  Potter at a garden party with several former German officers (at least one still in uniform).  The smiling older gentleman in the civilian suit is Franz Halder, former head of the German Army, with whom Potter worked closely from 1946 to the end of 1950).  The two men became very close friends, who wrote many letters to each other (I'm reading them now) until Potter's death in 1967.

[Simon Trew]

Presentation ceremony, 28 June 1946.  Among other officers, Potter receives the Belgian Order of Leopold at US Army HQ at the I G Farben building, Frankfurt, Germany. 

[Jamecharles]

Considering that he was wearing the ike jacket, introduced in early 1944, and the kakhi shirt and tie, later swapped for the brown tie (1946 with new AR) we could date them between 1944 to 1946.

Amazing additions, thanks for sharing

BTW looks like he was fascinated by his French legion d'honneur aiguilette, he is wearing it on all uniforms, I am curious to know if he evere used it on the blue dress uniform too. 

[Simon Trew]

These are some of the many letters of commendation received by Potter at or near the end of his career (all are original letters with autograph signatures). As you can see, Potter was retired in mid-1950, but immediately recalled to continue in his role as head of the US Army's Historical Division in Europe.  Unfortunately, he had a heart attack in December 1950 and returned to the USA in early 1951 - after which he was medically retired.  The Potter archive is vast and full of documents about his entire career.  He was clearly much admired and his strong and friendly relationship with many former German generals is confirmed by the dozens of personal letters, Christmas cards and notes (especially from Franz Halder) in the files.  I hope some people find this material interesting. 

[Simon Trew]

Christmas cards from German generals to Potter, also signed by their wives.  Potter worked hard (and successfully) to improve the living conditions of former senior German officers in the immediate aftermath of the war.