The Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and its Member Biographies updated 11 January

1957-1964
General Alfred Maximilian Gruenther
General Alfred Maximilian Gruenther served as a member of the Standing Commission from
November 1957 until October 1964, when he retired due to health issues. Prior to joining
the Movement, he had a long and distinguished career in the United States military. After
having graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point as the youngest
four star general in US history, he rose to become the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe
from 1953 until 1956. During World War Two, he had planned the US invasion of North
Africa in 1942 and Italy in 1943. He retired from the army in 1956 and took up the post of
President of the American Red Cross, which he filled until 1964 when he retired from the
Movement. He was also involved internationally in the Movement, as a member of the
Executive Committee of the League and its Vice-Chairman. General Gruenther was born in
Nebraska on March 3 rd , 1899 and died on May 30 th 1983. 58
58 Standing Commission
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