Muir, James Irvin.

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Muir, James Irvin, born 28-08-1888 in Wyoming, USA to Major General Charles Henry Muir (1860–1933) and his wife Ida May, born Bennet, Muir (1869–1950). James Irvin had one sister and two brothers, Edith May Muir (1913–1914), Colonel James Irvin Muir Jr (1916–2012) and Thomas Farley Muir (1918–1919). Colonel Muir Jr attended high school in Savannah, Georgia and at Punahou in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1939, the fourth straight generation to graduate from West Point. James Jr served in Panama, China-Burma-India with Lord Louis Mountbatten’s Headquarters in Ceylon and with Merrill’s Marauders in Burma, in Trieste, Italy, Vietnam, Hawaii and served a total of eight years in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations in the Pentagon.

Jame’s father was a career officer in the US Army and, like his son, rose to the rank of Major General. At the time of his son’s birth, he was still stationed in the Wyoming Territory during the Indian Wars. From 1906 to 1910, the younger Muir attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. After his graduation, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the officer corps of the US Army.   In the army he then progressed through all officer ranks from lieutenant to two-star General.

In his younger years, James completed the usual service for lower-ranking officers in various units and locations. This also included tasks as a staff officer in various headquarters. Between June 1932 and June 1935 he was stationed in Hawaii, where he was a member of the Intelligence and Security Staff Division (G2) of the then Hawaiian Department. He then worked as an instructor for the ROTC program at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, until 1939. Between July 1939 and May 1941, James Muir commanded the 26th Infantry Regiment. He then served on the staff of the 4th Infantry Division (4th Motorized Division) between May and July 1941. He then commanded the 89th Infantry Division between July and October 1941. On 09-10-1941, James took command of the 44th Infantry Division. He held this office until 14-08-1944, when the American entry into the World War II took place.

Muir’s division initially belonged to the Western Defense Command and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington state. It later took part in extensive maneuvers, including in Louisiana. In September 1944 it was transferred to the European theater of war. At this point, Muir was no longer their commander.

In August and September 1944 he was a member of the staff of the 4th Army, under command of Major General  John Porter “Old Luke” Lucas 

  which was stationed at Fort Sam Houston and was not involved in the war. In September 1944 Muir was given command of the XXIII. Corps, which he held until January 1945. The corps had only been reorganized in January 1944 and was now deployed as part of the 15th Army in the European theater of war. It mainly carried out administrative tasks in the areas liberated from the Germans and was then part of the occupying troops in Germany.

After the end of the war, Muir briefly commanded the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Howze in Texas. He retired on 30-11-1945.

Death and burial ground of Muir, James Irvin.

  

The officer, who was married to Caroline Lewis (1891–1977), died on 08-05-1964 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The son James Irvin Muir Jr. (1916–2012) rose to the rank of colonel in the US Army.

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