Thomas Walter Darrah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 July 1873 Marquette, Kansas |
| Died | 21 January 1955 (aged 81) New York, New York |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1895-1937 |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
| Battles/wars | Spanish-American War Philippine-American War World War I |
| Awards | Silver Star commendation |
| Other work | Deputy Director of Civilian Defense for New York State (World War II) |
Thomas Walter Darrah (11 July 1873 - 21 January 1955) was a United States military officer. He participated in a number of U.S. military conflicts including the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War and World War I. .
Early life and education edit
Darrah was born in Marquette, Kansas on 11 July 1873. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point on 1985, one of his classmates was Joe Wheeler Jr., the son of Joseph Wheeler, former Confederate cavalry general and later U.S. Army major general. Later in life, Darrah also graduated from the Army School of the Line (1920), the Army Staff College (1921) and the Army War College (1923)[1]
Military Career edit
In 1895, Darrah was commissioned Second Lieutenant. He took part in the Spanish-American War, serving as a member of the sanitary corps in Cuba, and then in the subsequent Philippine-American War, during the Moro Rebellion from 1903-1905. Darrah was also a member of the Subsistence Department from 1901-1905. After his service in the Philippines, Darrah returned to West Point where he taught chemistry from 1907-1911. When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Darrah was senior instructor at the Officers' Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. He then went to France where he took part in a number of battles, including the Second Battle of the Marne, the Third Battle of the Aisne and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. After the war, Darrah attended office training schools and then served in various chief-of-staff and command positions. He was Chief of Staff for the Fourth Corps Area from 1924-1926 and then he commanded the 34th Infantry at Fort Meade in Maryland from 1926-1928. Darrah returned to the position of Chief of Staff, this time of the Third Corps Area, until 1931 and then from 1932-1934 he commanded the Pacific Section of the Panama Canal Department. Darrah finally retired in 1937 and returned to his home in New York City.[1]
Darrah was awarded with two Silver Star commendations for his services in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and in the Philippines during the Moro Rebellion.[1]
Later Career edit
Although retired from the military, during World War II Darrah served as Deputy Director of Civilian Defense for New York state.[1]
Personal Life and Death edit
In 1899 Darrah married Rose Wood, they had two daughters: Marion and Jean West. He died on 21 January 1955 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1][2]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Davis, Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in khaki. Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press. pp. 95–96. ISBN 1-57197-088-6.
- ^ "BG Thomas Walter Darrah (1873-1955) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.