MG Barr

MG David G. Barr

The Career of the

Library’s Namesake

Born in Nanafalia, Alabama on 16 June 1895. Attended Alabama Presbyterian College Graduated from Officer Candidate School 27 November

1917, and was called to Active Duty on that same date. Served with the 18th Infantry, 1st Division, in France beginning

September 1918, and served with them for several years. Commissioned as a First Lieutenant of Infantry in the Regular

Army on 01 July 1920. Graduated from the Tank School at Camp Meade, Maryland in

1924 and the French Tank School in Versailles in 1926. Promoted to Captain, 1 March 1930. Became Adjutant of the Mechanized Force in October 1930

and participated in its move from Fort Eustis, Virginia to Camp Knox, Kentucky.

Assigned to the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth,

Kansas, August 1933, graduating after completing theAdvanced Course in June 1936.

Graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1936.

Promoted to Major, 20 December 1938. Graduated from the Army War College in 1939. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, 19 April, 1941. Promoted to Colonel (temporary), 1 February, 1942.

Named Chief of Staff of the Armored Forces with Headquarters at Fort Knox, June 1942.

Promoted to Brigadier General (temporary), 25 June 1942.

Assigned to Headquarters European Theater of Operations, London England, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff and later as Chief of Staff.

Named Chief of Staff, Headquarters Mediterranean Theater of Operations, January, 1944.

Promoted to Major General (temporary), 23 February 1944.

Became Chief of Staff of the Sixth Army Group, stationed in France, September 1944.

Promoted to Major General (permanent), 15 October 1944.

Assigned Chief, Army Advisory Group in China, July 1945.

On 8 May 1949, assigned to Eighth Army as Commanding General, 7th Infantry Division, garrisoned at Sapporo, Japan.

LTG Jacob Devers, left, promotes BG Barr to

Major General in January 1944.

Commanded the 7th Infantry Division first in Japan and then in Korea during the first 7 months of the Korean War, to include participating in the Inchon Landing and subsequent invasion of North Korea culminating with the march to the Yalu River in November 1950.

Named Commanding General of the Armored Center at Fort Knox on 22 February 1951.

Stars & Stripes reporter, SGT Ted

Jorgenson, interviews MG Barr

prior to his departure from

Japan.

On 5 April 1951, illness forced his replacement at Fort Knox

Retired on 29 February 1952. Died on 26 September 1970 and was buried in

Arlington National Cemetery.

MG Barr’s Decorations

During his career, MG Barr was awarded numerous decorations, both by the United States Army and its Allies. The following illustrate just a few of those honors.

Distinguished Service Cross


Distinguished Service Medal


Legion of Merit Legionnaire


Silver Star Medal


Distinguished Flying Cross


Air Medal


French Commander of the Legion of

Honor


French Croix de Guerre with Palm


Italian Medal for Valor 3rd Class


Italian Commander of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus Polish

Cross


Brazilian Military Order of Merit Commander’s

Grade


Chinese Order of the Precious Tripod 1st Class


Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek shakes hands with MG Barr shortly after the General’s

January 1948 arrival in China.

Republic of Korea Order of Ulchi


MG Barr’s general’s flag, indicating his 2

star rank

The 7th INF DIV reaches the Yalu River border

between China & North Korea in late November

1950.

Helmet worn by MG Barr

during combat

operations in Korea

Conferring over a field map near Seoul, South

Korea.

News & Politics

MG Barr