Born in Washington, DC on July 2, 1898, he was a student at West Virginia University, 1916-17 and graduated from West Point in November, 1918. He advanced through the grades from Second Lieutenant in 1918 to General in 1955.

He was Commander of Division Artillery of the 101st Airborne Division when he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and when he entered Holland by glider, 1944. In December, 1944, due to the absence of General Maxwell D. Taylor, he was acting Commander of the 101st Airborne Division and other attached troops during the siege of Bastogne, Belgium. When they became surrounded and the Germans demanded their surrender, he sent back a one-word reply "NUTS." This is probably the most famous quote of World War II. In 1945, he commanded the 103rd Infantry Division until the end of the war in Europe.

Following the war, he held many positions including the Head of the Army Chemical Corps and G-1, Head of Army Personnel. He returned to Europe as Commander of the 7th Army, 1953 and Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army in Europe, 1955. He retired from the Army in 1956 and worked for American Cyanamid Corporation, 1956-1963. He served as chairman of the New York State Civil Defense Commission, 1960-1963.

He resided in Chevy Chase, Maryland until his death on August 11, 1975. He is buried with his wife and son in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery.