William H. Abendroth
| William Henry Abendroth, Jr. | |
|---|---|
Abendroth as Chief, Army Division, National Guard Bureau, circa 1952
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Harry |
| Born | December 24, 1895 Fort Meade, South Dakota |
| Died | September 3, 1970 (aged 74) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1913–1919 1929–1967 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Unit |
Idaho Army National Guard District of Columbia National Guard National Guard Bureau |
| Commands held |
116th Cavalry Regiment Commandant of the IX Corps Officer Candidate School Commandant of the IX Corps Headquarters Adjutant General of Idaho Chief, Army Division, National Guard Bureau District of Columbia National Guard |
| Battles/wars |
Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army) Legion of Merit |
| Other work | Purchasing Agent, Budget Director, Disbursing Officer, State of Idaho |
William H. Abendroth (December 24, 1895 – September 3, 1970) was a United States Army Major General who served as Director of the Army National Guard and Commander of the District of Columbia National Guard.
William Henry Abendroth, Jr., nicknamed Harry, was the son of a career soldier who served in the American Indian Wars and the Spanish–American War before retiring as a First Sergeant and becoming an instructor in military studies at the University of Idaho. The younger Abendroth was born in Fort Meade, South Dakota, on December 24, 1895. He enlisted in the Idaho National Guard in 1913, and served as a member of Company H, 2nd Idaho Infantry Regiment on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.
Abendroth served with the Army in France during World War I, first in an Infantry company, and later with an Engineer unit. He achieved the rank of First Sergeant by the end of the war, and was discharged in 1919.
In 1927, Abendroth rejoined the Idaho National Guard and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry. He quickly advanced through command and staff positions of increasing rank and responsibility, including serving as military aide to the Governor of Idaho with the rank of Captain. He commanded the 116th Cavalry Regiment as a Colonel in the years immediately preceding the Second World War.
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