Sereno E. Brett

Sereno Elmer Brett

Born	October 31, 1891 Portland, Oregon, United States
Died	September 9, 1952 (aged 60) Santa Barbara, California, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1916–1943
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	Infantry Branch
Commands held	326th Tank Battalion 5th Armored Division
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2)

Brigadier General Sereno Elmer Brett (October 31, 1891 – September 9, 1952) was a decorated United States Army officer who fought in both World War I and World War II and played a key, if little recognized, role in the development of armored warfare.

Brett was born on October 31, 1891 in Portland, Oregon as a son of James Brett, and Clara Marie de Lille Harvey. Brett enrolled at Oregon State University and earned his Bachelor of Science at the Agricultural faculty in 1916. After his graduation, Brett entered the United States Army and, after attending a training course for officers, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Infantry Branch of the Oregon National Guard, on November 28, 1916.

He first saw active service with the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) during the Pancho Villa Expedition. During World War I, Brett was ordered to join the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), under the command of General John Pershing, on the Western Front in Belgium and France, to serve with the Tank Corps. He was promoted to the rank of captain on July 25, 1917.