Major General David Goodwin Barr

Major General (MG) David Goodwin Barr was born in Nanafalia, Alabama on 16 June 1895. He attended Alabama Presbyterian College. Upon graduation from OCS on 27 November 1917, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry Reserve and was called to Active Duty on that same date. He was commissioned a First Lieutenant of Infantry in the Regular Army on 01 July 1920. MG Barr graduated from the Tank School at Camp Meade, Maryland in 1924 and the French Tank School in Versailles in 1926. He became Adjutant of the Mechanized Force in October 1930 and participated in its move from Fort Eustis, Virginia to Camp Knox, Kentucky. MG Barr graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1936 and the Army War College in 1939. MG Barr served with distinction during World War II as Chief of Staff within several commands during combat operations in North Africa and Europe. On 08 May 1949, MG Barr was assigned to Eighth Army as Commanding General, 7^th Infantry Division, garrisoned at Sapporo, Japan. He commanded the 7^th Infantry Division first in Japan and then in Korea during the first 7 months of the Korean War, to include participating in the Inchon Landing and subsequent invasion of North Korea culminating with the march to the Yalu River in November 1950. He left the 7^th Infantry Division on 26 January 1951 and became the Commanding General of the Armored Center at Fort Knox on 22 February 1951. On 05 April 1951, illness forced his replacement at Fort Knox and following prolonged hospitalization, he was physically retired on 29 February 1952. MG Barr’s US awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal (2^nd OLC), Silver Star (OLC), Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal (3^rd OLC). MG David Goodwin Barr died on 26 September 1970 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.