Stafford LeRoy Irwin

Lieutenant General Stafford LeRoy Irwin (March 23, 1893 – November 23, 1955) was a senior United States Army officer who served in World War II. He came from a family with a strong military tradition; he was the son of Major General George LeRoy Irwin, for whom Fort Irwin, California, is named, and his grandfather, Brigadier General Bernard J. D. Irwin, was a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Stafford LeRoy Irwin
Nickname(s)	"Red"
Born	March 23, 1893 Fort Monroe, Virginia, United States
Died	November 23, 1955 (aged 62) Asheville, North Carolina, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	US Army
Years of service	1915–1952
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Cavalry Branch Field Artillery Branch
Commands held	5th Infantry Division XII Corps V Corps
Battles/wars	Mexican Punitive Expedition World War I World War II
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Silver Star Bronze Star (2)
Relations	Bernard J. D. Irwin (Grandfather) George LeRoy Irwin (Father)

Biography

Early life and military career

Stafford LeRoy Irwin was born March 23, 1893, at Fort Monroe, Virginia, the son of Major General George LeRoy Irwin and his wife Marla Elizabeth. He attended the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York in 1911, at the age of 18. He graduated 40th in a class of 164 in June 1915 as a part of the West Point class of 1915, also known as "the class the stars fell on". Many of Irwin's classmates became general officers during World War II, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Henry Aurand, John W. Leonard, James Van Fleet, Joseph May Swing, Charles W. Ryder, Paul J. Mueller, Roscoe B. Woodruff, Vernon Prichard, Leland Hobbs, and numerous others.[1]

He was subsequently commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Cavalry Branch of the United States Army on the same date of his graduation. Irwin subsequently served with the cavalry during the Pancho Villa Expedition, which was commanded by Brigadier General John J. Pershing, as a member of the 11th Cavalry Regiment in 1916 and the following year.[2]

During World War I he served initially with the 80th Field Artillery Regiment, and then was a student at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was received promotion to the temporary rank of major but saw no service overseas as the war came to an end on November 11, 1918.[3]

Between the wars

During the interwar period Irwin, realizing the cavalry was becoming obsolete (which trench warfare and World War I had shown), transferred to the Field Artillery Branch. From 1919–1920 he was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Yale University and from 1920–1924 was an instructor for the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Between 1929–1933 he was an instructor for the U.S. Army Field Artillery School and, from 1933–1936 served with the Organized Reserves. He attended the U.S. Army Field Artillery School in 1926, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School from 1926–1927, and the U.S. Army War College in 1937.[4]

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 in Tunisia, particularly during the engagement with Field Marshall Erwin Rommel at Thala. Following the North Africa Campaign he was given command of the 5th Infantry Division during Patton's drive across Europe.

General Irwin would finish the war as the commander of the XII Corps after Manton S. Eddy, the previous Corps Commander was sent home due to ill-health, and served 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.

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:

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal
2nd Row	Silver Star			Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster			Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster			Army Commendation Medal
3rd Row	Mexican Service Medal			World War I Victory Medal			American Defense Service Medal			American Campaign Medal
4th Row	European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with eight service stars			World War II Victory Medal			Army of Occupation Medal			National Defense Service Medal
5th Row	Commander of the Order of the British Empire			Officer of the Legion of Honour			French Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with Palm			Officer of the Belgian Order of Leopold II
5th Row	Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940-1945 with Palm			Luxembourg War Cross			Military Order of the White Lion			Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945

References

1. "Biggest West point Class Joins Army" (PDF). The New York Times. June 13, 1915. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
2. http://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_I01.html
3. http://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_I01.html
4. http://www.unithistories.com/officers/US_Army_officers_I01.html

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

Military offices
Preceded by Cortland T. Parker	Commanding General 5th Infantry Division 1943–1945	Succeeded by Albert E. Brown
Preceded by Manton S. Eddy	Commanding General XII Corps April 1945 – September 1945	Succeeded by Organization deactivated
Preceded by Orlando Ward	Commanding General V Corps 1946–1948	Succeeded by John R. Hodge