Francis William Farrell
Encyclopedia
Francis William Farrell was a Lieutenant General
in the United States Army
. He was notable for his service as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, United States V Corps
and Seventh United States Army.
in 1920.
branch, General Farrell graduated from the Infantry Officer Course in 1921. He then served in several Infantry assignments, including postings to Hawaii
and China
.
In 1928 General Farrell transferred to the Field Artillery
branch. He completed the Field Artillery Officer Course in 1928.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s General Farrell was an instructor at West Point
.
General Farrell graduated from the Command and General Staff College
in 1939.
General Farrell was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina as commander of the 13th Airborne Division Artillery.
In mid-1946 General Farrell was named chief of staff of the 82nd Airborne Division. he served in this assignment for only a few months before being appointed as chief of the Air Branch at Army Ground Forces
, where he remained from late 1946 until 1948.
General Farrell was named director of the Technical Training Group at Sandia Missile Base
, New Mexico
in 1948.
, responsible for training and logistical support to the fledgling South Korea
n Army.
General Farrell commanded the 82nd Airborne Division from 1953 to 1955.
In 1955 he was assigned as special assistant for national security affairs, advising the Joint Chiefs of Staff
.
General Farrell was named to command the U.S. V Corps
in 1957, serving until 1959.
In 1959 General Farrell was assigned as commander of the Seventh United States Army, remaining in this post until he reached retirement age in 1960.
, the Silver Star
, the Legion of Merit
, two awards of the Bronze Star, and two Air Medal
s.
State’s Civil Defense
Director, serving from 1961 to 1963.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He was notable for his service as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, United States V Corps
United States V Corps
The V Corps, also known as the Victory Corps, is a corps-level formation of the United States Army and the main land component of United States Army Europe. The corps headquarters is located at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield in Wiesbaden, Germany...
and Seventh United States Army.
Early life
General Farrell was born on May 28, 1900 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1920.
Start of military career
Initially assigned to the InfantryInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
branch, General Farrell graduated from the Infantry Officer Course in 1921. He then served in several Infantry assignments, including postings to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
In 1928 General Farrell transferred to the Field Artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
branch. He completed the Field Artillery Officer Course in 1928.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s General Farrell was an instructor at West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
.
General Farrell graduated from the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
in 1939.
World War II
From 1942 to 1944 General Farrell served in the Pacific Theater as chief of staff of the 11th Airborne Division. He commanded the 11th Airborne Division Artillery from 1944 to 1946.Post World War II
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
General Farrell was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina as commander of the 13th Airborne Division Artillery.
In mid-1946 General Farrell was named chief of staff of the 82nd Airborne Division. he served in this assignment for only a few months before being appointed as chief of the Air Branch at Army Ground Forces
Army Ground Forces
The Army Ground Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Service Forces. Throughout their existence, Army Ground Forces were the largest training organization ever established in the United...
, where he remained from late 1946 until 1948.
General Farrell was named director of the Technical Training Group at Sandia Missile Base
Sandia Base
Sandia Base was, from 1946 to 1971, the principal nuclear weapons installation of the United States Department of Defense. It was located on the southeastern edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in 1948.
Korean War
From 1950 to 1951 General Farrell was commander of the Korean Military Advisory GroupKorean Military Advisory Group
The Korean Military Advisory Group was a United States military unit of the Korean War...
, responsible for training and logistical support to the fledgling South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n Army.
Post Korean War
In 1952 General Farrell was assigned as deputy assistant chief of staff for operations on the Army Staff, serving until 1953.General Farrell commanded the 82nd Airborne Division from 1953 to 1955.
In 1955 he was assigned as special assistant for national security affairs, advising the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
.
General Farrell was named to command the U.S. V Corps
United States V Corps
The V Corps, also known as the Victory Corps, is a corps-level formation of the United States Army and the main land component of United States Army Europe. The corps headquarters is located at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield in Wiesbaden, Germany...
in 1957, serving until 1959.
In 1959 General Farrell was assigned as commander of the Seventh United States Army, remaining in this post until he reached retirement age in 1960.
Military retirement and awards
General Farrell retired in 1960. His awards and decorations included two Distinguished Service MedalsDistinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
, the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, two awards of the Bronze Star, and two Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
s.
Other work
After retiring from the Army General Farrell was appointed as New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State’s Civil Defense
Civil defense
Civil defense, civil defence or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery...
Director, serving from 1961 to 1963.