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James Henry McRae
111-SC-30773 - NARA - 55220809-cropped.jpg
James McRae in Chatel-Chéhéry 1918
Born (1862-12-24)December 24, 1862
Lumber City, Georgia
Died May 1, 1940(1940-05-01) (aged 77)
Berkeley, California
Place of burial
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Army seal United States Army
Years of service 1886-1927
Rank US-O8 insignia.svg Major General
Unit Third Infantry,
Commands held 158th Deport Brigade, Ninth Infantry Brigade of the Fifth Infantry Division, 78th Infantry Division (AEF), Philippine Division, Ninth Corps Area, 11th Corps Area
Battles/wars Spanish–American War, World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Medal
2 x Citation Star
Companion of the Bath (UK)
Commander of the Legion of Honor (France)
Croix de Guerre (France)

Major General James Henry McRae (December 24, 1862 – May 1, 1940) was a U.S. Army general.

Early life

James Henry McRae was born December 24, 1862, to Daniel F. McRae and Marion McRae in Lumber City, Georgia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy number forty-eight of seventy-seven in the class of 1886.

Military career

McRae was commissioned in the Third Infantry and performed frontier duty from 1886-1888. During the Spanish–American War, he was in the Battle of El Caney in Cuba, and he also served in the Sanitary Corps, for which he received his first Silver Star Commendation. He received his second Silver Star during the Philippine Insurrection and was recommended for a brevet promotion. From 1905 to 1908, he served on the General Staff, and in 1911, he graduated from the United States Army War College. McRae served in the Adjutant General's Department from 1913 to 1917, and on August 5, 1917, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the 158th Depot Brigade at Camp Sherman, Ohio. In addition, he commanded the Ninth Infantry Brigade of the Fifth Infantry Division. He was promoted to major general on April 12, 1918, and commanded the 78th Infantry Division (AEF) until June 1919, when it was inactivated. For this, he earned the Distinguished Service Medal. During 1921 and 1922, he was assistant chief, G-1 (personnel).

From 1922 to 1923 and in 1924, he commanded the Philippine Division, and from 1924 to 1926 he served in the Philippine Department. He briefly commanded the Ninth Corps area before commanding the 11th Corps Area.

Personal life

On December 14, 1887, McRae married Florence Stouch, daughter of Lt. Col. R. H. Stouch, a Civil War veteran. Together they had three children: Donald M. McRae, Dorothy McRae, and Mildred McRae. He remarried to Helen Burgar Stouch, a former sister-in-law, on February 24, 1926.

After his retirement, he made his home in Berkeley, California. He died on May 1, 1940. McRae is buried in Arlington National Cemetery

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