Thomas Walter Darrah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Darrah
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Brig. gen. Thomas Darrah in Varennes-en-Argonne in August 1918
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| 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 |
| Service number | 0-476 |
| Commands held | 55th Brigade 314th Infantry Regiment 34th Infantry Regiment Pacific Section, Panama Canal Department |
| 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 (born July 11, 1873, died January 21, 1955) was an important officer in the United States Army. He served in several big conflicts, like the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and World War I.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Darrah was born in Marquette, Kansas, on July 11, 1873. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1895. This is a famous school for training army officers. Later, he continued his education at other important army schools. He attended the Army School of the Line (1920), the Army Staff College (1921), and the Army War College (1923). These schools helped him become a better leader.
Military Career Highlights
In 1895, Darrah became a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He quickly saw action in the Spanish–American War, working with the health team in Cuba. After that, he served in the Philippine–American War from 1903 to 1905 during the Moro Rebellion. He also worked in the U.S. Army's supply department from 1901 to 1905.
After his time in the Philippines, Darrah returned to West Point. He taught chemistry there from 1907 to 1911. When the U.S. joined World War I in 1917, Darrah was a senior teacher at an officer training camp. He was promoted to Colonel and sent to Fort Meade in Maryland. There, he commanded the 314th Infantry until 1918.
On April 12, 1918, Darrah was promoted to Brigadier General and went to France. He led the 55th Brigade in major battles. These included the Second Battle of the Marne and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. These were very important battles during World War I.
After the war, Darrah continued his training and held many leadership roles. He was a Chief of Staff for different army areas. From 1926 to 1928, he commanded the 34th Infantry at Fort Meade. Later, from 1932 to 1934, he commanded the Pacific Section of the Panama Canal Department. Darrah retired from the army in 1937 and moved back to New York City.
He received two Silver Star awards for his bravery. These awards were for his actions in Santiago, Cuba, and Legaspi, Luzon in the Philippines.
Life After the Military
Even after retiring from the army, Thomas Darrah continued to serve his country. During World War II, he worked for New York State. He was the Deputy Director of Civilian Defense, helping to protect people during the war.
Family and Legacy
In 1899, Thomas Darrah married Rose Wood. They had two daughters named Marion Maxwell and Jean West. Thomas Darrah passed away on January 21, 1955. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a special place where many heroes are laid to rest.
