Korean War Thomas John Hall "Trap" Trapnell (23 November 1902 – 13 February 2002) was a United States Army lieutenant general.

The Trapnells are a prosperous and distinguished family originally from the Chesapeake area whose roots stretch back to early Colonial America.

After graduating from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1923, Trapnell attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

His first brush with public notoriety came when his crew defeated the highly rated team from Hobart College captained by his younger brother, William.

[10] Using a medical truck to block one of the bridges used by retreating Fil-Am force and setting it afire, Trapnell then remained at this position under constant fire until it was rendered unpassable.

For this engagement he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and commended by Gen. MacArthur:[12] "With complete disregard for his safety, Major Trapnell delayed the hostile advance and set an inspiring example to his entire regiment.

On May 8, 1948, Trapnell led the 505th as part of a record-setting exercise that saw 2,200 paratroopers travel some 500 miles to make a jump at Camp Campbell, Kentucky.

In November of that year, the 187th made a "simulated combat drop", landing 3,000 troops and 100,000 lbs of equipment in South Korea during 'Operation Showoff,' a demonstration of wartime airlift capability.

[18] From 1952 to 1954, Major General Trapnell headed the U.S. advisory mission in French Indochina, leaving just before Ho Chi Minh's victory at Dien Bien Phu.

Trapnell was replaced by Maj. Gen. John W. O'Daniel and returned to the United States for a succession of commands: the recently reactivated 4th Armored Division at Ft.

Trapnell returned to South Korea in 1958 commanding I Corps for two years before becoming the Chief of Staff to Gen. Isaac White, Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Pacific.

[2] Presciently gauging the eventual swing of U.S. public opinion and weighing the organizational success and popularity of Ho Chi Minh, Trapnell concluded that the Vietnamese communists were waging a "clever war of attrition."

[23] Trapnell later served as an advisory board member of the Center for Internee Rights in Florida advocating for just treatment of US prisoners of war and fair compensation from holding nations.

As such, Trapnell became the first person whose nickname appeared in an official War Department record (Communiqué 69): From his field headquarters in the Philippines General MacArthur today announced the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Major Thomas J. H. ("Trap") Trapnell, cavalry, for extraordinary heroism in action.Trapnell died of heart failure at the Fairfax retirement facility at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia on 13 February 2002.