Henry E. Emerson
| Henry E. Emerson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Henry Everett Emerson |
| Nickname(s) | "Gunfighter", "Hank" |
| Born |
May 28, 1925 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | February 4, 2015 (aged 89) The Villages, Florida, U.S. |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery, 12 August 2015 |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1943–1977 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant General
|
| Commands held |
 XVIII Airborne Corps 2nd Infantry Division
|
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
 Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star Medal (5) Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart (2) |
Henry Everett "Hank" Emerson (May 28, 1925 – February 4, 2015) was a United States Army lieutenant general best known for being the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea during the mid-1970s, when Colin Powell served as a battalion commander. Emerson was a 1947 graduate of the United States Military Academy.
Emerson gained recognition during the Vietnam War for his tactical ability on the battlefield. His tactics, as a commander were novel. He conceived aerial reconnaissance and combat methods that were employed effectively against the Viet Cong. These included a checkerboard concept that involves small groups covering grid squares to seek out an enemy, jitterbug tactics which are complex maneuvers using helicopters to surround an enemy. To the unitiated this would seem jittery like the dance, and Eagle Flights which were helicopters loaded with local soldiers and flown in quickly to assist foreign troops in certain situations. He demonstrated that American soldiers could effectively "out-guerrilla" the Viet Cong. Emerson also developed the "seal-and-pile-on technique" (the rapid build-up of combat power to surround and destroy an enemy force). These highly complex tactics shattered many large enemy units.
Emerson was known for his somewhat eccentric personality, from his training methods to carrying a cowboy-style revolver in place of a regulation M1911 semi-automatic pistol. He was a believer in reverse-cycle training, during which troops trained at night and slept during the day. He also required that they watch the television film Brian's Song, to promote racial harmony. Colin Powell, who would later go on to become a four-star general and the U.S. Secretary of State, has stated that they were very close and that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare. When Powell wrote his autobiography "My American Journey", he dedicated an entire chapter to Emerson. Powell said that Emerson's leadership philosophy was "if we don't do our jobs right Soldiers will not win". In many instances when he was the XVIII Airborne Corps commander he would turn in the tag numbers of excessively speeding vehicles. The next morning, the violator(s) would be escorted by the company and battalion commanders from their unit and a verbal reprimand would be delivered by the brigade commander.
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