George Windle Read, Jr.
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army

George Windle Read, Jr. was born on 29 July 1900 at Fort Grant, AZ, the son of Major General George Windle Read [Honoree Record ID 307157], one of the top commanders in the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. His maternal grandfather was Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General S.B.M. Young.

Raised on military posts throughout the U.S., Read enlisted in the Army in May 1917. He served with the 15th Cavalry Regiment and the 30th and 42nd Infantry Divisions during World War I, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1919, but soon transferred to the Cavalry and graduated from the Cavalry School Basic Course in 1921.

Read served throughout the U.S., and overseas, during the 1920s and 1930s. From 1922-25, Read served in the Philippines as Aide-de-Camp to his father. A championship-caliber polo player, Read took part in several tournaments during the 1920s and 1930s, playing on teams sponsored by the U.S. Army. Read graduated from the Cavalry School Regular Course in 1937, afterwards serving in the Middle East as an Observer in Palestine and as a member of the Armored Force Board that was based in Cairo, Egypt.

After graduating from the Command and General Staff College in 1941, Read was assigned as Training and Operations Officer, G-3, for the 6th Armored Division. He served with the 6th Armored Division in Europe throughout World War II, including assignments as Commander, 68th Tank Regiment; Commander of the Division’s Combat Command B; Assistant Division Commander, and Division Commander from April to May, 1945, and again from July until the Division was deactivated in September 1945.

In the late 1940s Read served as President of Army Ground Forces Board 3 at Fort Benning, GA. (The Army created several ground forces boards to test new weapons and equipment and make procurement recommendations.) From 1948-50 Read served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4, for the United States Constabulary.

During the early 1950s, Read commanded 1st Brigade, United States Constabulary in West Germany. From April 1952 to April 1953, MG Read served as Commander, 2nd Armored Division. In 1953 he was assigned as Commander, U.S. Army Armor Center and School, at Fort Knox, KY, where he remained until 1955. He then commanded Allied Land Forces South East Europe, remaining in that post until 1957.

In 1957, Lieutenant General Read assumed command of Second United States Army, remaining in this position until his retirement from the Army in 1960.

Medals and Awards

Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal

Death and Burial

Lieutenant General George Windle Read, Jr. died on 15 December 1974 at Fort Ord's Silas B. Hays Army Hospital from the effects of lymphocytic leukemia. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 3, Site 3946.