Lewis A. Pick

Lewis A. Pick
Name	Lewis A. Pick
Birth date	October 21, 1890
Birth place	Memphis, Tennessee
Death date	January 11, 1956
Death place	Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army Corps of Engineers
Serviceyears	1913–1953
Rank	Lieutenant General
Battles	World War II, Pacific War, Philippine campaign (1944–45)
Alma mater	United States Military Academy

Lewis A. Pick was a career United States Army officer and engineer who served as a senior leader in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and as Chief of Engineers. He directed major military construction and civil works programs during and after World War II, and played a central role in planning and executing engineering operations in the Pacific Theater and the Philippines campaign (1944–45). His career bridged service under leaders such as Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and interactions with institutions including the Tennessee River Authority and U.S. Senate committees.

Early life and education

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Pick attended Central High School (Memphis), then gained admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. At West Point he studied alongside contemporaries who later became notable figures such as Omar Bradley, George S. Patton, and Jonathan Wainwright. After graduating in 1913, his engineering training connected him to the United States Army Corps of Engineers pipeline that produced officers for projects with the Panama Canal Zone, Erie Canal modernization advocates, and early interstate infrastructure proponents.

Military career

Pick's early assignments included work on river and harbor projects that involved coordination with the Mississippi River Commission and the Tennessee Valley Authority. During World War I and the interwar years he served in engineering duties tied to coastal fortifications near Norfolk, Virginia, flood control projects linked to New Orleans, and training at institutions like the United States Army War College. In the 1930s his career intersected with figures such as Lesley J. McNair and John J. Pershing in doctrine and construction planning. By the outbreak of World War II, Pick had risen to senior staff roles within the Corps of Engineers and worked on mobilization efforts relating to Arsenal of Democracy industrial expansion, military base construction in Hawaii, and logistics preparations for the Pacific War.

Chief of Engineers and Civil Works

Elevated to senior command, Pick served as a principal leader within the United States Army Corps of Engineers, overseeing large-scale projects including wartime port development at Manila, airfield construction at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and rehabilitation programs in liberated areas such as Leyte. He worked with civilian agencies like the Federal Works Agency, the War Department, and congressional committees including the House Committee on Public Works to secure appropriations for engineering programs. His tenure involved collaboration with engineering contemporaries from the Office of Strategic Services and the War Production Board to prioritize construction, transportation, and supply lines essential to operations in the Southwest Pacific Area under commanders such as Douglas MacArthur.

Role in World War II and Pacific operations

In the Pacific Theater, Pick directed engineering strategies that supported amphibious campaigns, coordinating with naval leaders from the United States Navy, air planners from the United States Army Air Forces, and logistical units tied to the Logistics Command. He supervised rehabilitation of ports damaged in the Philippine campaign (1944–45), restoration of utilities in places like Manila and Tacloban, and construction of military airstrips that enabled strategic bombing operations from bases such as Clark Field and forward stations used during Operation Cartwheel. His responsibilities required liaison with allied commands including the Royal Australian Navy and the British Pacific Fleet, and with political authorities including Philippine Commonwealth officials and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender administration process.

Postwar activities and civilian career

After World War II, Pick participated in reconstruction planning, flood control, and civil works that impacted the Tennessee Valley, the Mississippi River, and coastal harbors from Galveston to San Francisco. He influenced engineering policy during transitions involving the Department of Defense reorganization and worked with peacetime agencies such as the Department of the Army and the Bureau of Reclamation. In retirement he engaged with private sector engineering firms, professional societies including the American Society of Civil Engineers, and educational institutions such as the United States Military Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where his experience informed curricula and lectures on military engineering and infrastructure development.

Personal life and legacy

Pick's personal connections included relationships with senior officers like Walter Krueger and civilian leaders including Harold L. Ickes during New Deal-era projects. He received military honors consistent with high-level service and is remembered in Corps of Engineers histories, memorials, and engineering literature among figures such as Edwin L. Sibert and William F. Eddy. His legacy endures in the Corps' doctrines on rapid construction, port rehabilitation, and joint logistical engineering that influenced later operations in Korea and Vietnam. Several Corps facilities and awards reference his contributions to civil works and wartime engineering achievements.

Category:1890 births Category:1956 deaths Category:United States Army generals Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers