George Robinson Mather
General, U.S. Army

George Robinson Mather was born on 2 June 1911 in Watertown, SD., the son of James E. and Maude Robinson Mather. He was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1932. He was then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Cavalry. He studied Spanish at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1937 and then returned to West Point to teach Spanish for four years.

During World War II, he served as Executive Officer of the 110th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. From 1946 to 1948, he served on the staff of the Caribbean Command in the Panama Canal Zone, beginning a long association with Latin America. Following an assignment as Chief of Staff, Fourth U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston, TX, in 1961, he was assigned as Chairman, U.S. Delegation, Joint Brazil-United States Military Assistance Advisory Group in Rio de Janeiro until September 1964.

In 1965, he assumed command of the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX. Following that assignment, he served as the U.S. Military Representative to the Permanent Military Deputies Group, Central Treaty Organization located in Ankara, Turkey. He next took command of V Corps in 1966, returning to the U.S. in 1967 to command III Corps. He became the first Director of Civil Disturbance Planning and Operations in July 1968. His final assignment was as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command.

He retired from the Army in 1971.

Medals and Awards

Army Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with Combat Valor Device
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Combat Infantryman Badge

In Retirement

Mather retired to North Carolina, and served two terms as a village councilman.

Death

General George Robinson Mather died on 1 January 1993 in Southern Pines, NC. He is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, Orange County, NY.

He was survived by a son and daughter.