Stafford LeRoy Irwin
| Stafford LeRoy Irwin | |
|---|---|
 Major General Stafford LeRoy Irwin in 1946 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Red" |
| Born |
March 23, 1893 Ft. Monroe, Virginia |
| Died |
November 23, 1955 (aged 62) Asheville, North Carolina |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1915–1952 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
| Relations |
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Stafford LeRoy Irwin (March 23, 1893 – November 23, 1955) was a lieutenant general of the United States Army. He came from the family with long military tradition. He was the son of Army Major General of the Artillery, George LeRoy Irwin and his grandfather was a Brigadier General of the United States Army Medical Corps, Bernard J. D. Irwin, who was recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Education and start of career
Irwin was born March 23, 1893, at Fort Monroe, Virginia as a son of army Major General George LeRoy Irwin and his wife Marla Elizabeth. First, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in June 1915 as a part of "the class the stars fell on". Many of his classmates became a general officers during the World War II, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, Henry Aurand, James Van Fleet among others.[1]
He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Cavalry Branch of the Army June 12, 1915. Irwin subsequently served with the cavalry under command of General John Pershing during Pancho Villa Expedition as a member of the 11th Cavalry in 1916 and the following year. During World War I he served initially with the 80th Field Artillery Regiment, and then at the Fort Sill Field Artillery School, where he was an instructor and received promotion to the temporary rank of major.
Peacetime
Between World War I and World War II, Stafford Irwin held a variety of positions. He was a professor of Military Science and Tactics, Yale University, from 1919 to 1920. He served as an instructor to the Oklahoma National Guard from 1920 to 1924. He spent the period of 1929 to 1933 as an instructor at the Field Artillery School. Irwin was assigned to the Organized Reserves from 1933 to 1936.
World War II
Stafford Irwin was the commander of artillery for the 9th Infantry Division in North Africa. He was noted for performing well during the Battle of Kasserine Pass. Following the North Africa Campaign he was given command of the 5th Infantry Division during Patton's drive across Europe.
General Stafford would finish the war as the commander of the XII Corps and serve in that position until September 1945.
Postwar and retirement
After the war, Irwin returned to the United States and became commander of V Corps in 1946 and director of the Military Intelligence Division in 1948. He finished his military career as the commander of U.S. Army forces in Austria from 1950 to 1952 when he retired due to medical problems.
Lt. Gen. Irwin died in 1955 of a coronary occlusion in Asheville, North Carolina.
Military education
In addition to attending West Point, Irwin attended the Field Artillery School in 1926, Command and General Staff School 1926-1927, and the Army War College in 1937.
Personal life
Irwin married in 1921 to Helen (Hall) Irwin and together they had one son, Francis LeRoy. After Helen died in 1937, Irwin remarried in 1941 to Clare (Moran) Irwin. His second marriage also produced a son.
Decorations
Lieutenant General Irwin´s ribbon bar:
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References
- ↑ "Biggest West point Class Joins Army". The New York Times. June 13, 1915. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stafford LeRoy Irwin. |
- Arlington Cemetery Web Site retrieved 5/12/09
- Time Magazine December 1955 retrieved 5/12/09
- Field Artillery Magazine Jan/Feb 1949 retrieved 5/12/09
- Unithistories.com U.S. Army Officers of WWII retrieved 5/12/09
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