David Goodwin Barr (June 16, 1895 September 26, 1970) was a

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

major general who took part in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the

Chinese Civil War The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led Nationalist government, government of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China and the forces of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Armed conflict continued intermitt ...

and the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. Barr thought poorly of the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

and often came into conflict with Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek. He was a general in the

and was awarded the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

. He led the 7th Infantry Division and was defeated by Chinese Communist troops in the

Battle of Chosin Reservoir The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign or the Battle of Lake Changjin (), was an important battle in the Korean War. The name "Chosin" is derived from the Japanese pronunciation "''Chōshin'', instead of th ...

. Later, he was removed from his post by

Matthew Ridgway Matthew Bunker Ridgway (3 March 1895 – 26 July 1993) was a senior officer in the United States Army, who served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1952–1953) and the 19th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1953–1955). Although he ...

. Following the war, he was appointed the commandant of

United States Army Armor School The United States Army Armoured warfare, Armor School (formerly Armored Force School) is a military training school located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Its primary focus is the training of United States Army soldiers, non-commissioned officers, ...

Biography

Barr was born in

Nanafalia, Alabama Nanafalia is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 75, down from 94 at the 2010 census. The community is located on a ridge above the T ...

on June 16, 1895. He attended

Alabama Presbyterian College Alabama Presbyterian College was a college in Anniston, Alabama affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It was founded in 1905, opened in 1906 and continued until 1918 when it became a preparatory school. It was renamed Anniston University Schoo ...

for three years before leaving to enlist in the

United States Army Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a Military reserve force, reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed ...

during World War I. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant of infantry in the organized reserve corps on November 27, 1917 and immediately called to active duty in the 1st Infantry Division. Barr earned the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...

while serving in France. On September 15, 1920, he accepted a commission in the regular army. Barr graduated from the

Army Infantry School An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by p ...

in 1921, the Army Tank School in 1924 and the French Tank School near Versailles in 1927, having been assigned to the office of the military attaché in Paris from 1926 to 1927. Returning to the United States, he graduated from the

Command and General Staff School The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

in June 1936 and the Army War College in June 1939. Barr was promoted to brigadier general in June 1942 and major general in February 1944. He received the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

and two awards of the

Army Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. ...

while serving as a headquarters staff officer during World War II. Barr was also made a commander of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

by France. In 1948, Barr became chief of the Army Advisory Group in China. In January 1949, he warned Secretary of Defense

James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) was the last Cabinet (government), cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense. Forrestal came from a very strict middle-cla ...

that U.S. arms shipments to Chiang's troops in China were being intercepted by the Communist forces. In April 1949, Barr gave secret testimony before the

House Foreign Affairs Committee The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also known as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives with jurisdiction over bills and investigations concerning the foreign affairs ...

which predicted the imminent victory of the Chinese Communist forces under

Mao Tse-tung Mao Zedong pronounced ; traditionally romanised as Mao Tse-tung. (26December 18939September 1976) was a Chinese politician, revolutionary, and political theorist who founded the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 and led the countr ...

. In May 1949, he assumed command of the 7th Infantry Division in Japan. In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, his combat service during the Korean War earned him a third award of the Distinguished Service Medal, a second award of the Silver Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross and four

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establi ...

s. Barr retired from active duty on February 29, 1952.

Family and later life

On November 5, 1924, Barr married Vivian Louise Bell. They had two daughters, Virginia Lane and Patricia Bell. Both daughters married army officers. Patricia Barr Crowe earned a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology at

George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Originally named Columbian College, it was chartered in 1821 by ...

while raising five children. In all, David and Louise Barr had eleven grandchildren. After retirement, Barr lived with his wife in

Arlington County, Virginia Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Virginia. The county is located in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., the nati ...

. He died at a nursing home in

Falls Church, Virginia Falls Church City is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 14,658. Falls Church is ...

on September 26, 1970. David and Louise Barr are buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

.Burial Detail: Barr, David G (Section 1, Grave 792-D)
– ANC Explorer

References

External links

David Goodwin Bar
at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barr, David Goodwin 1895 births 1970 deaths People from Marengo County, Alabama United States Army reservists Military personnel from Alabama United States Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Silver Star United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni United States Army War College alumni United States Army generals of World War II Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States) Commanders of the Legion of Honour United States Army personnel of the Korean War Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) United States Army generals Military personnel from Arlington County, Virginia Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

Biography

Family and later life

See also

References

External links