Donald W . McGowan Donald Wilson McGowan ( August 30 , 1899 – September 24 , 1967 ) was a United States Army Major General who served as commander of the 50th Armored Division and Chief of the National Guard Bureau . Early life . McGowan was born on August 30 , 1899 , in Orange , New Jersey . He graduated from high school in Orange in 1916 , and enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard ’ s Company I , 5th Infantry Regiment . He served with his regiment in Texas during in the Pancho Villa Expedition . World War I . McGowan was promoted to Sergeant Major of the 114th Infantry Regiment , 29th Infantry Division in 1918 . He served in Europe , and took part in the Meuse - Argonne and Alsace campaigns . In late 1918 the Army asked commanders to recommend students from the ranks for attendance at the United States Military Academy , and McGowan ' s brigade commander , John McAuley Palmer , recommended him . McGowan attended West Point from 1919 to 1922 , but resigned without graduating and returned to the New Jersey National Guard . Post World War I . In 1922 McGowan received a commission as a Second Lieutenant . He held a variety of command and staff positions as he advanced through the ranks , primarily with the 44th Infantry Division . In 1935 he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College . He was a Lieutenant Colonel when he served as New Jersey ’ s Assistant Adjutant General from 1936 to 1941 . World War II . In 1941 he was appointed to command of the 102nd Cavalry Regiment . He served in Europe , and participated in the D - Day assault on Omaha Beach . Later in 1944 he was assigned as Provost Marshal for the Normandy Base Section , and his responsibilities expanded to include Britanny , the Lower Seine , Belgium and the Netherlands . After the war McGowan returned to his position as New Jersey ’ s Assistant Adjutant General . He was subsequently appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the New Jersey Department of Defense . Post World War II . In 1947 McGowan was promoted to Brigadier General . From 1948 to 1955 he was commander of the 50th Armored Division as a Major General . From 1955 to 1959 McGowan was Chief of the Army Division at the National Guard Bureau . In 1959 he was named Chief of the National Guard Bureau , and he served until 1963 . During his tenure the National Guard successfully mobilized more than 65 , 000 members during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 . In addition , the number of state Officer Candidate Schools increased from 5 to 51 . The National Guard also converted its anti - aircraft weapons to Nike - Ajax and Hercules missiles and organized its first Special Forces units . At his retirement McGowan was the last known Villa Expedition veteran to still be serving in the U . S . military . Awards and decorations . McGowan ’ s awards and decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal ( Army ) , and the Bronze Star Medal ( 2 ) . Retirement and death . After retiring from the military McGowan served as President of the United States Armor Association . He died at his home in Lawrence Township , Mercer County , New Jersey on September 24 , 1967 from the effects of self - inflicted gunshot wounds . He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery , Section 3 , Site 2067 - E . Family . McGowan was married to Helen Margaret S . Schoeffel . They had four sons and one daughter , and all the sons all served in the military . Their daughter Margaret graduated from the University of Vermont and was a teacher in Vergennes and a writing instructor at the University of New Hampshire . Donald McGowan ( died December 15 , 1966 ) was a career member of the New Jersey Army National Guard . Colonel Robert Silber " Bob " McGowan ( died November 4 , 2001 ) graduated from West Point in 1952 and served as an aide to General Maxwell D . Taylor . He served 3 tours in Vietnam , including one as commander of 3d Squadron , 4th Cavalry , 25th Infantry Division . His was the most decorated member of his West Point class , and his awards included : Distinguished Service Cross ; Silver Star ( 4 ) ; Legion of Merit ; Distinguished Flying Cross ( 2 ) ; Bronze Star Medal with V for Valor ( 5 ) , and Purple Heart ( 3 ) . John " Jay " McGowan flew helicopters as a casualty evacuation pilot during the Vietnam War . After his military service he flew for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey , serving as chief pilot of the authority ' s police helicopter operation until retiring shortly after the September 11 , 2001 terrorist attacks . After his military service Duncan McGowan became an architect in Concord , New Hampshire . He and his artist wife Mary raised two daughters , one who became an architect and one who became professor of South Asian studies at the University of Vermont . General McGowan ' s other grandchildren have continued the family legacy of public service . J . Stuart " Stu " McGowan , Jay ' s oldest son , is a successful real estate developer in Burlington , Vermont , and has been active in creating neighborhoods which promote affordable housing and socioeconomic diversity .