James McRae (United States Army officer)

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For the Australian rower, see James McRae. For the engineer, see James W. McRae.
James Henry McRae
111-SC-30773 - NARA - 55220809-cropped.jpg
James McRae in Chatel-Chéhéry, France, October 25, 1918.
Born(1862-12-24)December 24, 1862
Lumber City, Georgia, United States
DiedMay 1, 1940(1940-05-01) (aged 77)
Berkeley, California, United States
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1886−1927
RankUS-O8 insignia.svg Major General
UnitUSA - Army Infantry Insignia.png Infantry Branch
Commands held

78th Division
Philippine Department
Ninth Corps Area
11th Corps Area
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
Philippine–American War
World War I
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal[1]
Silver Star (2)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom)
Commander of the Legion of Honor (France)
Croix de Guerre (France)

Major General James Henry McRae (December 24, 1862 – May 1, 1940) was a United States Army officer who served in numerous conflicts during his military career.

Early life[]

James Henry McRae was born December 24, 1862, to Daniel F. McRae and Marion McRae in Lumber City, Georgia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy number forty-eight of seventy-seven in the class of 1886.[2] His fellow graduates that year included many men who, like McRae himself, would rise to general officer rank, such as John J. Pershing, Walter Henry Gordon, Charles T. Menoher, George B. Duncan, John E. McMahon, Ernest Hinds and Mason Patrick.

Military career[]

McRae was commissioned in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and performed frontier duty from 1886-1888. During the Spanish–American War, he was in the Battle of El Caney in Cuba, and he also served in the Sanitary Corps, for which he received his first Silver Star Commendation.[2][3] He received his second Silver Star during the Philippine Insurrection and was recommended for a brevet promotion. From 1905 to 1908, he served on the General Staff, and in 1911, he graduated from the United States Army War College. McRae served in the Adjutant General's Department from 1913 to 1917, and on August 5, 1917, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the 158th Depot Brigade at Camp Sherman, Ohio.[4] In addition, he commanded the Ninth Infantry Brigade of the Fifth Infantry Division. He was promoted to major general on April 12, 1918, and commanded the 78th Infantry Division (AEF) until June 1919, when it was inactivated.[2] For this, he earned the Distinguished Service Medal.[3] During 1921 and 1922, he was assistant chief, G-1 (personnel).

From 1922 to 1923 and in 1924, he commanded the Philippine Division, and from 1924 to 1926 he served in the Philippine Department.[2] He briefly commanded the Ninth Corps area before commanding the 11th Corps Area.

Personal life[]

On December 14, 1887, McRae married Florence Stouch, daughter of Lt. Col. R. H. Stouch, a Civil War veteran. Together they had three children: Donald M. McRae, Dorothy McRae, and Mildred McRae.[4] He remarried to Helen Burgar Stouch, a former sister-in-law, on February 24, 1926.

After his retirement, he made his home in Berkeley, California. He died on May 1, 1940.[2] McRae is buried in Arlington National Cemetery

References[]

  1. ^ "James McRae" valor.militarytimes.com
  2. ^ a b c d e Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. p. 267. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  3. ^ a b "Valor awards for James Henry McRae". valor.militarytimes.com.
  4. ^ a b Who Was Who in American History – the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1975. p. 380. ISBN 0837932017.

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General 78th Division
1918–1919 		Succeeded by
Post deactivated
Preceded by Commanding General Philippine Department
1924–1925 		Succeeded by
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