Malin Craig Malin Craig ( August 5 , 1875 – July 25 , 1945 ) was a United States Army general . Biography . Malin Craig was born in St . Joseph , Missouri , on August 5 , 1875 ; Graduated from the United States Military Academy , 1898 ; was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 4th Infantry , April 1898 ; Spanish American War . Served with the 6th Cavalry in the Santiago campaign in Cuba , 1898 ; Garrison service . Was transferred to the 4th Cavalry and served in Wyoming and Oklahoma , 1898 – 1900 ; Boxer Rebellion . Participated in the China Relief Expedition , 1900 – 1902 ; was promoted to first lieutenant and assigned to the 6th Cavalry , February 1901 ; Garrison service . Married Genevieve Woodruff , the daughter of Brigadier General Charles Woodruff April 1901 ; attended the Infantry and Cavalry School ( 1903 – 1904 ) and Staff College ( 1904 – 1905 ) at Fort Leavenworth ; was promoted to captain and assigned to the 10th Cavalry , May 1904 , and the 1st Cavalry , 1905 ; was regimental quartermaster at Fort Clark , 1906 – 1909 , Deployment . adjutant in the Philippines , 1909 ; Garrison service . Was at the Army War College as student , 1909 – 1910 , and instructor , 1910 – 1911 ; was a member of the General Staff and chief of staff of the Maneuver Division , 1911 ; was assistant to the chief of staff of the Western Department , 1911 – 1912 ; served with the 1st Cavalry in the West , 1912 – 1916 ; was instructor at the Army Service Schools at Fort Leavenworth , 1916 – 1917 ; served in the Adjutant General ’ s Department and was detailed to the General Staff Corps , 1917 ; World War I . Was promoted to major of cavalry , May 1917 ; was promoted to lieutenant colonel of field artillery and appointed chief of staff of the 41st Division , August 1917 ; served with the American Expeditionary Force s in France in that position and as chief of staff of I Corps , participating in the Toul , Marne , St . Mihiel , and Meuse - Argonne operations ; was promoted to colonel ( February ) and brigadier general ( June ) in the National Army , 1918 ; was chief of staff of the Army of Occupation in Germany , 1918 – 1919 ; Garrison service . Reverted to basic rank of major and was director of the Army War College , 1919 – 1920 ; was promoted to colonel of cavalry and assigned as commander , District of Arizona , 1920 – 1921 ; was promoted to brigadier general in the Regular Army , April 1921 ; served as commandant of the United States Army Cavalry School , 1921 – 1923 ; commanded the Coast Artillery District of Manila , 1923 – 1924 ; was promoted to major general and assigned as Chief of Cavalry , 1924 – 1926 ; was assistant chief of staff , G – 3 , of the Army , 1926 – 1927 , then commanded the Fourth Corps Area , 1927 , the Panama Canal Division , 1927 – 1928 , the Panama Canal Department , 1928 – 1930 , and the Ninth Corps Area , 1930 – 1935 ; was commandant of the Army War College , 1935 ; was promoted to general , October 1935 ; was chief of staff of the United States Army , October 2 , 1935 – August 31 , 1939 ; World War II . Pointed out to Congress the Army ’ s lack of preparedness in manpower and material , stressed the essentiality of lead time in military preparedness , focused attention on Army planning , and , within governmental constraints , prepared the Army for World War II ; retired from active service , August 1939 ; was recalled to head the secretary of war ’ s Personnel Board , September 1941 ; died in Washington , D . C . , on July 25 , 1945 .