Stafford LeRoy Irwin
Encyclopedia
Stafford LeRoy Irwin 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 Congressional Medal of Honor
.
, Virginia. First, he was attended the Military Academy
at West Point, after which, was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant
in the Cavalry Branch of the Army on the June 12, 1915. His class had many famous members, many of whom went on to high rank. Because of the achievements of many of its members, the USMA class of 1915 is known as "the class the stars fell on
".
He 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, he was transferred to the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill
, where he attended an artillery training and then was promoted to a gunnery instructor.
, 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.
drive across Europe.
General Stafford would finish the war as the commander of the XII Corps
and serve in that position until September 1945.
. He finished his military career as the commander of U.S. Army forces in Austria from 1950 to 1952. He retired in 1952 due to medical problems.
Lt. Gen. Irwin died in 1955 of a coronary occlusion in Asheville, North Carolina.
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 came from the family with long military tradition. He was the son of Army Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of the Artillery, George LeRoy Irwin and his grandfather was a Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of the United States Army Medical Corps, Bernard J. D. Irwin
Bernard J. D. Irwin
Bernard John Dowling Irwin was an assistant army surgeon during the Apache Wars and the first Medal of Honor recipient...
, who was recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Education and First Assignment
He was born at Fort MonroeFort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
, Virginia. First, he was attended the 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...
at West Point, after which, was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Cavalry Branch of the Army on the June 12, 1915. His class had many famous members, many of whom went on to high rank. Because of the achievements of many of its members, the USMA class of 1915 is known as "the class the stars fell on
The class the stars fell on
"The class the stars fell on" is an expression used to describe the United States Military Academy class of 1915. In the U.S. Army, the insignia reserved for generals is one or more stars. Of the 164 graduates that year, 59 attained the rank of general, the most of any class in the history of the...
".
He served with the cavalry under command of General John Pershing during Pancho Villa Expedition
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
as a member of the 11th Cavalry in 1916 and the following year, he was transferred to the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, where he attended an artillery training and then was promoted to a gunnery instructor.
Peacetime
Between World War I and 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...
, 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. Later in the war he was given command of the 5th Infantry Division during Patton'sGeorge S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
drive across Europe.
General Stafford would finish the war as the commander of the XII Corps
XII Corps (United States)
The XII Corps fought from northern France to Austria in World War II. Constituted in the Organized Reserves in 1933, it was activated on 29 August 1942 at Columbia, South Carolina. XII Corps became operational in France as part of Lieutenant General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army on 1 August...
and serve in that position until September 1945.
Postwar and retirement
After the war, Irwin returned to the United States and became both commander of V Corps and Post Commander of Fort BraggFort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
. He finished his military career as the commander of U.S. Army forces in Austria from 1950 to 1952. He retired in 1952 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 was 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.External links
- 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