Lionel C. McGarr
Encyclopedia
Lionel Charles McGarr was a Lieutenant General
in the United States Army
. He was the last commander of Military Assistance Advisory Group -- Vietnam.
on March 5, 1904 and graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1928. 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
.
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.
in 1947, afterwards serving in the Intelligence section of the Army General Staff.
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 Tactical Command's chief of staff.
as assistant division commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in 1951 and later commander of Allied Prisoner of War Command -- Korea. From October 1953 to May 1954 he was commander of the 7th Infantry Division.
. He was then appointed commandant of the Army Command and General Staff College.
and named commander of Military Assistance Advisory Group -- Vietnam. He served in this post until July 1962 when, against McGarr's advice, U.S. military escalation began and he was succeeded by General
Paul Harkins, who commanded MAAG-V's successor unit, Military Assistance Command - Vietnam.
, two Distinguished Service Medals
, three Silver Star
s, three Legions of Merit
, five Bronze Stars and seven Purple Heart
s.
Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 107 (1944)
, afterwards living in Lafayette, California
until his death in San Francisco on November 3, 1988. He was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery
, Section B, Site 1606A.
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 the last commander of Military Assistance Advisory Group -- Vietnam.
Early life and start of military career
McGarr was born in Yuma, ArizonaYuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
on March 5, 1904 and graduated from the United States Military Academy
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...
in 1928. After receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry
Infantry
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...
he served in command and staff positions of increasing rank and responsibility, including assignments in 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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
World War II
McGarr saw extensive combat in North AfricaNorth African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and Europe
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
during World War II
World 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...
as commander of the 30th Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 30th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-Lineage:*Constituted 2 February 1901 in the Regular Army as the 30th Infantry...
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
30th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 30th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-Lineage:*Constituted 2 February 1901 in the Regular Army as the 30th Infantry...
from January to May 1945.
Post World War II
McGarr was assistant division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division from 1945 to 1946, and he graduated from the National War CollegeNational War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in 1947, afterwards serving in the Intelligence section of the Army General Staff.
In 1948 he was named commander of the 350th Infantry Regiment in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, in 1949 he became tactical inspector for U.S. Tactical Command in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and from 1950 to 1951 he was Tactical Command's chief of staff.
Korean War
McGarr went to KoreaKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
as assistant division commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in 1951 and later commander of Allied Prisoner of War Command -- Korea. From October 1953 to May 1954 he was commander of the 7th Infantry Division.
Post Korean War
From June 1954 to June 1956 McGarr commanded the US Army Caribbean CommandUnited States Southern Command
The United States Southern Command , located in Miami, Florida, is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning and operations in Central and South America, the Caribbean The United States Southern Command...
. He was then appointed commandant of the Army Command and General Staff College.
Service in Vietnam
In September 1960 he was promoted to Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant 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...
and named commander of Military Assistance Advisory Group -- Vietnam. He served in this post until July 1962 when, against McGarr's advice, U.S. military escalation began and he was succeeded by General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
Paul Harkins, who commanded MAAG-V's successor unit, Military Assistance Command - Vietnam.
Awards and decorations
His awards included the Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
, two Distinguished Service Medals
Distinguished 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...
, three 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....
s, three Legions 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...
, five Bronze Stars and seven Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
s.
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)
Retirement and death
After leaving Vietnam McGarr retired at the PresidioPresidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
, afterwards living in Lafayette, California
Lafayette, California
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
until his death in San Francisco on November 3, 1988. He was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery is a U.S. National Cemetery, located in the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Because of the name and location, it is frequently confused with Golden Gate National Cemetery, a few miles south of the city....
, Section B, Site 1606A.