page_title: Joseph A. McNamara
section_title: Military service
hierarchical_section_title: Joseph A. McNamara / Military service
caption_attribution_description: English: Joseph A. McNamara (Vermont attorney) in his World War I uniform
context_page_description: Joseph A. McNamara was a Vermont attorney and politician. A Democrat, he was most notable for his service as United States Attorney for Vermont from 1933 to 1953.
  McNamara was a native of Fair Haven, Vermont, and attended the schools of Fair Haven. He graduated from College of the Holy Cross in 1915, studied law with a Vermont attorney, and attended Harvard Law School. Leaving law school early to enter the military for World War I, McNamara served in the United States Army and attained the rank of sergeant as a member of the 87th Division. After leaving the Army, McNamara was admitted to the bar and began to practice law in Burlington, Vermont. He became active in politics as a Democrat, and served as Burlington's municipal court judge from 1921 to 1923. After unsuccessful runs for Vermont Attorney General and the U.S. House, in 1933 McNamara was named US Attorney for Vermont. He held the post through the administrations of Democrats Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, and resigned after Republican Dwight Eisenhower became president.
  After leaving the US Attorney's position, McNamara continued to practice law in Burlington.
context_section_description: McNamara joined the United States Army in May 1918.  After his initial training at the University of Vermont he was assigned to Company D, 312th Supply Train, a unit of the 87th Division.  His division completed its organization and training in the summer of 1918 and sailed for France, arriving on September 11.  The 87th Division had not completed its final pre-combat training before the war ended in November, so its members were used as replacements for soldiers in other units who had been killed or wounded, and to construct roads, bases and other facilities.  McNamara attained the rank of sergeant, and was discharged from the military in June 1919.
caption: McNamara in his World War I uniform.  From 1920's Holy Cross Service Record, War of 1917.
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