Lionel_C._McGarr
Lionel C. McGarr
US Army general (1904–1988)
Lionel Charles McGarr (March 5, 1904 – November 3, 1988) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. He was the last commander of Military Assistance Advisory Group – Vietnam.
Lionel Charles McGarr | |
|---|---|
McGarr in 1960, shortly before his promotion to lieutenant general | |
| Born | March 5, 1904 (1904-03-05) Yuma, Arizona |
| Died | November 3, 1988 (1988-11-04) (aged 84) San Francisco, California |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1928–1962 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | 30th Infantry Regiment 350th Infantry Regiment Allied Prisoner of War Command – Korea 7th Infantry Division US Army Caribbean Command Army Command and General Staff College Military Assistance Advisory Group – Vietnam |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star Purple Heart |
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McGarr was born in Yuma, Arizona on March 5, 1904, and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1928.[1] After receiving his commission as a second lieutenant of infantry he served in command and staff positions of increasing rank and responsibility, including assignments in Hawaii, California and Georgia.[2][3]
McGarr saw extensive combat in North Africa and Europe during World War II as commander of the 30th Infantry Regiment from October 1943 to December 1944, acting assistant division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division from December 1944 to January 1945, and again commander of the 30th Infantry Regiment from January to May 1945.[4][5][6]
McGarr was assistant division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division from 1945 to 1946,[7] and he graduated from the National War College in 1947, afterwards serving in the intelligence section of the Army General Staff.[8]
In 1948 he was named commander of the 350th Infantry Regiment in Austria, in 1949 he became tactical inspector for U.S. Tactical Command in Austria, and from 1950 to 1951 he was U.S. Tactical Command's chief of staff.[9]
McGarr served in the Korean War as assistant division commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in 1951[9] and later commander of Allied Prisoner of War Command – Korea.[10][11][12] From October 1953 to May 1954 he was commander of the 7th Infantry Division.[13]
From June 1954 to June 1956 McGarr commanded the US Army Caribbean Command.[14][15] He was then appointed commandant of the Army Command and General Staff College.[16]
In September 1960 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and named commander of Military Assistance Advisory Group – Vietnam.[17][18] He served at this post until July 1962 when, against McGarr's advice,[19] U.S. military escalation began and he was succeeded by General Paul Harkins, who commanded MAAG-V's successor unit, Military Assistance Command – Vietnam.[20][21]
His awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals, three Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, five Bronze Stars and seven Purple Hearts.[22][23][24][25]
Citation for Distinguished Service Cross
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lionel C. McGarr, Colonel (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 September 1944. Colonel McGarr's outstanding leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 107 (1944)[26]
After leaving Vietnam McGarr retired at the Presidio,[27] afterwards living in Lafayette, California until his death in San Francisco on November 3, 1988.[28][29] He was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery, Section B, Site 1606A.[30]
- Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, published by the Association of Graduates, 1930, p. 2115
- Official Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1939, p. 36
- Amslers of Austin's Colony, Amanda Howze Amsler, 1976, p. 77
- History of the 30th Infantry Regiment in World War II, Rupert Prohme, 1947, p. 371
- History of the Third Infantry Division in World War II, Donald Gilbert Taggart, 1947, p. 94
- Third Infantry Division, Philip St John, 1994, p. 31
- The 2nd United States Infantry Division in Korea, Clark C. Munroe, 1954, Volume 2, p. 24
- Amslers of Austin's Colony, p. 77
- The 2nd United States Infantry Division in Korea
- Web site, History of the 7th Infantry Division Archived 2009-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Gunn-ing for the Globe: Giles Gunn, by Ruben Brosbe and Stephanie Tavares, Daily Nexus, University of California – Santa Barbara, November 4, 2003
- "Military Times, Hall of Valor, Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal". Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
- "Center of Military History Online". Archived from the original on June 7, 1997. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
- "Military Times, Hall of Valor, Full Text Citations For Award of The Distinguished Service Cross, U.S. Army Recipients, World War II". Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
- Newspaper article, General McGarr is Honored
- California Death Index, 1940–1997
- Social Security Death Index
- "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator". Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2010.