GEN. CLARENCE R. HUEBNER'S WALKING CANE WITH TRIGGER

GEN. CLARENCE R. HUEBNER'S WALKING CANE WITH TRIGGER
FROM THE ESTATE OF GEN. CLARENCE R. HUEBNER, COMMANDER OF THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE FIRST WAVE AT OMAHA BEACH Great wooden walking cane belonging to Major General Clarence R. Huebner. The cane measures 39.5 in. length, constructed from an unidentified variety of wood, yet appears to be briar wood or blackthorn, tipped with a brass end cap. The cane also bears a retractable metal trigger, which functions, yet its purpose is unknown to us. The bulbous handle bears a sizable chip, yet this does not detract much from the quality of the piece. Still very good to fine condition. CLARENCE R. HUEBNER (1888-1972) was the American general who took command of the 1st Infantry Division, popularly known as the 'Big Red One', in early August of 1943. He commanded the division during the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, where it was the first force to face the Germans on Omaha Beach, and he joined his men on the beach the same day. The division was instrumental in the breakthrough following the battle for St. Lo and in foiling the German counteroffensive at Mortain. After the Allied breakout in Normandy, the division advanced rapidly, arriving at the German border in early October of 1944, where it was committed to battle at Aachen, which it captured after two weeks of heavy fighting. After experiencing heavy fighting once again in the Huertgen Forest, the division briefly rested but soon returned to counter the German offensive at the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944. In January, 1945, Huebner was named commander of the V Corps, which he commanded in its advance to the Elbe river, where elements of the corps made the first contact with the Soviet Red Army. By war's end, the division had advanced into Czechoslovakia. Following the German surrender, Huebner served as the Chief of Staff for all American forces in Europe, and in 1949 was named the final military governor of the American occupation zone in Germany. This lot originates from a direct linear descendant, and will be accompanied by our letter of provenance.