Evening star., 1944-07-27
Was Observing Front-Line Units;
Russians Storming Across Vistu|a;
Yanks Cut Deeper Into Nazi Line
Highest Thanking
American Officer
To Die Under Fire

1t. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, un-
til recently commanding gen.
eral of the Army Ground Forces,
has been killed by enemy action
in Normandy.
Once called 1.-The brains of the
Army by Gen. George c. Marshall,
Gen. McNair is the highest
American officer killed in action in
the present war and the fifth gen.
eral officer to die in action.
The War Department announce
ment today merely said:
The War Department has been
notified of the death of 1t. Gen.
Lesley J. McNair. Gen. McNair was
killed by enemy fire while observing
the action of our front line units
In the recent offensive
In April, l943, when he went to
North Africa as an observer, Gen.
McNair was wounded in the scalp
and shoulder by bursting shell frag-
ments. The Purple Heart, which he
wore as result of the wounds, was
one of his proudest possessions.
Recently Given New Assignment.
AS commanding general of the
Army Ground Forces, Gen. McNair,
who was 81, had trained all the
ground forces taking part in the
Normandy invasion. 1t was an
nounced on July IA that he had
relinquished that important COM
mand for an important and undis-
closed overseas assignment. 1t
Gen. Ben S. Lear was designated as
his successor.
Mrs. McNair, who had celebrated
her seth wedding anniversary with
her husband Just last month at a
party for close friends. heard the
news about an hour before it was
made public.
Friends at the Army War College
where the McNairs lived. said she
was bearing up very well-taking
1t like a soldiers wife" Brig. Gen
j. G. christensen, who was Gen
McNairs chief of staff. and Mrs.
christensen remained with Mrs.
McNair.
Gen. McNair was designer of the
training program which produced
combat units whose members
fought like veterans in their first
battles. He was credited with
streamlining the old square" divi-
sion of nearly 10000 men into the
triangular infantry division of
$4,000 and was among the original
group of officers who foresaW the
need for developing the tank de-
stroyer after the Germans had eX-
plotted the tanks use in Poland and
the Low Countries.
In the reorganization of the Army
In March, 1912, grouping military
functions into three basic units
ground forces. air forces and serv-
ice Of supply-Gen McNair was Sc
lected by Gen. Marshall, Chief of
Staff, to head the ground forces.
Marshall Pays Tribute.
Notified of the death of his friend
of long standing, Gen. Marshall said
today that Gen. McNair had met
the death he probably would have
elected to oie-on the battle front.
Gen Marshall's statement said:
The American Army has sus-
tanned a great loss in the death of
Gen. McNair. Had he had the
choice he would probably have
elected to die as he did, in the fore
front of the attack.
His presence on the firing line
with the leading element in the great
assault which has just been launched
on the American front in Normandy
was indicative of his aggressive and
fearless spirit and should be an in
spring example to the forces of our
great ground Army which he organ
lied and trained"
An aide telephoned the news to
Gen. John J. Pershing at Walter
Reed Hospital. Gen. McNair served
under the World War chieftain.
both in France and in the punitive
expedition into Mexico in 1916.
Gen. Pershing was deeply affected
by the news. He said. Gen. Nc
Nalr was great soldier and his
untimelv death is loss to the Army
and to the Nation"
Gen. McNair had the reputation
Of being one of the most efficient
experienced and hard working Of
ficers in the Army, and always re-
garded himself as a fighting man
despite his widely recognized abil-
tty in planning and organization.
After Gen. McNair was wounded
by shell fragments in Tunisia last
year, 1t. Gen. George S. Patton, ir..
then commander of the I'd Corps,
pinned the Purple Heart on his uni
form. That Gen. McNair had a
keen sense of humor was evidenced
(See McNAIR, Page A-2D