George LeRoy Irwin was a major general of the United States Army. He distinguished himself during the Second Battle of the Marne, Oise-Aisne Offensive and Meuse-Argonne Offensive and was honoured by United States and France.
Background
George Le Roy was born on April 26, 1868 at Fort Wayne, near Detroit, Michigan, United States, the son of Brigadier-General Bernard John Dowling Irwin, United States Army, and Antoinette Elizabeth (Stahl) Irwin. His father (1830 - 1917), a distinguished surgeon of Irish ancestry and a veteran of both Indian and Civil Wars, was the recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor for "distinguished gallantry in action against hostile Chiricahua Apache Indians near Apache Pass, Arizona, February 13 and 14, 1861. "
Education
After preparation in private schools and certain study in Europe, young Irwin was appointed to West Point from Illinois, and graduated creditably with the class of 1889.
Career
Initially a second lieutenant, in 1893 he passed through all intermediate grades to the rank of colonel, July 1, 1916, serving in the Philippines, 1899-1901; in Cuba with the Army of Cuban Pacification, 1906-09; graduating from the Artillery School in 1894 and from the Army War College in 1910; participating in the expedition to Vera Cruz, Mexico, 1914; and, except for a tour of duty in the quartermaster's department, 1910-14, becoming prominently identified with the use and development of modern field artillery.
When the United States entered the World War, Irwin was appointed brigadier-general, National Army, and assumed command of the 1616t Field Artillery Brigade, at Camp Grant, Ill. On December 12, 1917, he sailed for France with units of the 41th Division, and on May 10, 1918, was assigned to command the 57th Field Artillery Brigade. His record was brilliant: after preparatory service on the Alsace and Verdun fronts, he participated in all the operations of the Aisne-Marne, Champagne, Oise-Aisne, and Meuse-Argonne offensives.
His command was withdrawn from the front lines, November 2, 1918, after an exceptionally long period under fire, and he was placed in command of the Artillery School at Saumur from November 4, 1918, to January 25, 1919.
He returned to the United States in May, in command of the 57th Field Artillery Brigade, and served for four years as assistant to the inspector general of the army. On March 2, 1923, he was appointed brigadier-general, United States Army, and commanded the 16th Infantry Brigade at Fort Howard, Maryland. In the June following he was given the important duty of commanding the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, until March 6, 1928, when his promotion to the rank of major-general carried him to the command of the Panama Canal Division.
Late in the year 1930, his system weakened by years of amoebic dysentery contracted in the Philippines, Irwin sought renewed health through a trip to Europe. While returning to Panama from this leave of absence, he died, on the Italian steamer Virgilio, off Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Achievements
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
According to citation accompanying award of the Distinguished Service Medal, "The success of the division whose advance Irwin supported, was due in large part to his technical skill and ability as an artillerist".
Connections
On April 30, 1892 Irwin married Maria Elizabeth Barker of Baltimore and New York. They had two sons, and a daughter.