LTG(R) Edward L. Rowny was born in 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was raised by his maternal grandmother, a Polish immigrant who valued a classical education, including instruction about Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Casimir Pulaski, and the composer Paderewski. After high school, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University, and spent a semester abroad in 1936. During his time in Europe, he studied in Poland and traveled extensively. He saw Jesse Owens receive a medal in the Berlin Olympics, and was scared by the Nazis’ show of force. He ventured as far as Turkey, where he seized the opportunity to interview Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Returning to the United States, he sought admission to the United States Military Academy, and joined the Class of 1941. When he graduated, he was commissioned as an Engineer Officer, and was on maneuvers in the Carolinas when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When the Army began deploying to Africa, Rowny was serving as the Assistant S3 of the 41st Engineer Battalion. One of his initial assignments was to build an airfield in Liberia. During wartime, promotion was rapid, and soon Rowny was a Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 317th Combat Engineer Battalion, an African-American unit in Italy. When the war in Europe ended, he was assigned to the planning staff for the invasion of Japan. He worked for Eisenhower, Marshall, and MacArthur at various times throughout his career. During the Korean War he served as the X Corps Engineer, and then as commander of the 38th Infantry Regiment. Later, he helped pioneer the use of helicopters during the Vietnam War. In 1967, he commanded the 24th Infantry Division in Germany before returning to Korea to command the US – ROK I Corps. In the 1970s and 1980s, he served as a diplomat for the SALT II talks and the START negotiations, holding the rank of Ambassador. He served five different American presidents in a variety of advisory roles.
In this interview, LTG(R) Rowny describes his experiences in three different wars and his diplomatic service, including negotiating with the Soviets. He discusses his interactions with key figures of the 20th Century from Ataturk through Reagan, reflects on his proudest achievements in the military, and ends by talking about what West Point means to him.
