to service in early 1942, upon American entry into World War II, Middleton became CG of the 45th Infantry Division during the Sicily and Salerno battles in Italy, and then in March 1944 moved up to command the VIII Corps. His leadership in Operation Cobra during the Battle of Normandy led to the capture of the important port city of Brest, France, and for his success he was awarded a second Distinguished Service Medal by General George Patton. His greatest World War II achievement, however, was in his decision to hold the important city of Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. Following this battle, and his corps' relentless push across Germany until reaching Czechoslovakia, he was recognized by both General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, and Patton as being a corps commander of extraordinary abilities. Middleton logged 480 days in combat during World War II, more than any other American general officer. Retiring from the army again in 1945, Middleton returned to LSU and in 1951 was appointed to the university presidency, a position he held for 11 years, while continuing to serve the army in numerous consultative capacities. He resided in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, until his death in 1976 and was buried in Baton Rouge National Cemetery. Both the Air Force/Army ROTC building at Mississippi State University, Middleton's alma mater, and the library at Louisiana State University are named for him. On 19 June 2020, also known as Juneteenth, the LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to remove his name from the main library at LSU as a result of his segregationist policies while LSU president. His name, plaques, and bust were removed that same afternoon. Family and early life Ancestry Troy H. Middleton was born near Georgetown, Copiah County, Mississippi, on 12 October 1889, the son of John Houston Middleton (12 May 1856 – 27 August 1935) and Laura Catherine "Kate" Thompson (25 December 1860 – 20 September 1925). His paternal grandfather, Benjamin Parks Middleton (1825–1891) served as a private in Company G, 6th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, and his maternal grandfather, Riden M. Thompson, was also a Confederate soldier who died 27 May 1862 at the hospital in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. His great-great-grandfather, Captain Holland Middleton (c. 1715 – 1795/96) served from Georgia in the American Revolutionary War. Holland Middleton was the son of William