The US Army Artillery and Missile School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma was dedicated as Critz Hall in June of 1983. CRITZ
Harry Herndon Critz was born in Teague, Texas, February 26, 1912. He was studying civil engineering at Texas A&M University when he received his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery upon graduation fro
m West Point in 1935, he served with the 1st Cavalry Division at the Army's Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, during the pre-World War II years. During World War Il, General Critz served overseas in North Africa, the Mediterranean Theater, and in Europe as an Artilleryman with the 1st Infantry Division,
"The Big Red One." With the exception of a tour at Artillery School where he taught the lessons learned in combat, General Critz was with the "Fighting First" from 1941 until the end of World War Il. After the war, the general served for a short time with the Theater General Board, European Command, before returning to "The Big Red One" to command the division's artillery. He was appointed secretary to the general staff of the Third Army in 1946 and remained in Europe until 1948, completing his tour as secretary of the general staff of the U.S. In 1948, General Critz was again instructing at Fort Sill. He was reassigned to the Army War College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1950 where he served first as an instructor and lastly as secretary of the college. His next assignment was as assistant chief of staff for personnel with Headquarters, Sixth U. Army, at San Francisco, California. General Critz served in Korea during 1953 and 1954. He was first assigned as the assistant chief of staff for personnel with the Eighth U. Army, Korea He returned to the United States in June, 1954, and while stationed in Washington D.C., served with the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. General Critz was appointed chief of staff of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in September 1957. He completed his tour with the 101st in January, 1960, as the commander of the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 506th Infantry. Assigned to Europe again, General Critz served as special assistant to the Commander and then as secretary of the staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). In May 1962, he moved to Germany to assume command of the VII Corps Artillery. General Critz returned to Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division as its commanding general in February, 1963. In March, 1964, he was designated commander of the U. Army Artillery and Missile Center at Fort Sill. In June, 1967, General Critz returned to Korea to command the | Corps (Group). In July, 1968, his Korean tour completed, he was assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to assume command of the Forth U. General Critz served as commander of the Fourth U. Army until 28 February, 1971
when he retired. After retirement, General Critz moved to Lawton, Oklahoma where he assumed duties as Executive Vice President of the Fort Sill National Bank. He remained in this capacity until February, 1975, when he was named as President of the bank. After retirement, General Critz served for three years as Chairman of the Department of the Army Officer Retiree Council, Washington, D.C. He was also appointed for two years on the University of Oklahoma Board of Visitors. General Critz has been listed in Who's Who In America from 1968 to the present.
