Merritte W. Ireland

Merritte Weber Ireland (May 31, 1867 – July 5, 1952) was the 23rd U.S. Army Surgeon General, serving in that capacity from October 4, 1918 to May 31, 1931.

Merritte Weber Ireland
Maj. Gen. Ireland in 1918
Born(1867-05-31)May 31, 1867
Columbia City, Indiana
DiedJuly 5, 1952(1952-07-05) (aged 85)
Washington, D.C.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1891–1931
Rank Major General
Commands heldSurgeon General of the US Army
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
Philippine–American War
Pancho Villa Expedition
World War I
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal

Early life and education

Ireland was born on May 31, 1867 in Columbia City, Indiana,[1] a town in the upper end of the Wabash Valley in Whitley County, Indiana. His father, Dr. Martin Ireland, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Fellers, came from Waynesboro, Virginia.

He graduated from the Detroit College of Medicine, receiving an M.D. degree in 1890.[2] The following year was spent in Jefferson Medical College where again he earned an M.D. degree in 1891.

Military career

He served as a surgeon with the 45th U.S. Volunteer Infantry in 1899 and honorably discharged in 1901.[3]

In 1903, he was commissioned as a surgeon into the Medical Corps.[4]

He served as Surgeon General from October 4, 1918 to May 31, 1931.[5]

Death and legacy

Ireland died on July 5, 1952.[6]

Legacy

Military awards

Major General Ireland's ribbon bar:

1st Row Army Distinguished Service Medal Spanish Campaign Medal Philippine Campaign Medal
2nd Row Army of Cuban Occupation Medal Mexican Service Medal World War I Victory Medal
with four Battle Clasps
3rd Row Companion of the Order of the Bath
(United Kingdom)		 Commander of the Legion of Honor
(France)		 Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
(Poland)

Dates of rank
InsigniaRankComponentDate
Assistant SurgeonRegular Army4 May 1891
Assistant SurgeonRegular Army4 May 1896
SurgeonVolunteers17 August 1899
(Honorably discharged from Volunteers on 30 June 1901.)
MajorRegular Army3 August 1903
Lieutenant ColonelRegular Army 1 May 1911
ColonelRegular Army15 May 1917
Brigadier GeneralNational Army1 May 1918
Major GeneralRegular Army8 August 1918
Major GeneralRetired List31 May 1931

Source: Army Register, 1932[9]

References
  1. Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  2. Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  3. Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  4. Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  5. Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  6. Davis Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  7. "Merritte Weber Ireland Papers 1911–1952". National Library of Medicine.
  8. "History of Ireland Army Community Hospital". Ireland Army Community Hospital. United States Army. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  9. The Adjutant General's Office, War Department (1932). Official Army Register for 1932 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 852. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

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