World War II Chronicle: October 10, 1941
Click here for TODAY’S NEWSPAPER
Yesterday’s paper reported that 44th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Clifford R. Powell had been relieved. Today we learn that his replacement is Brig. Gen. James I. Muir, a third-generation U.S. Military Academy Graduate. His son and grandson will also attend West Point. James commands the 44th until August 1944 when he is picked to lead XXIII Corps.
James’ father Charles H. Muir was commissioned into the infantry and earned a Distinguished Service Cross during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. He also fought in the Indian Wars, the Philippine Insurrection, and was part of the China Relief Expedition before leading the 28th Infantry Division during the First World War. After his promotion to major general, Charles was named Commanding General of IV Corps. Muir Army Airfield (Pa.) is named in his honor.
On this date in 1941, his son James Jr. was stationed with the 14th Infantry Regiment in Panama. John will volunteer for a transfer to the famed 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) — Merrill’s Marauders — when the United States enters World War II.
During the early 1960s Col. James Muir Jr. returned to command the first unit he served in after earning his commission over 20 years before — the 14th Infantry. Here he is pictured during an event to honor famous 14th Infantry soldier Calvin P. Titus. Standing next to him is Brig. Gen. Ernest F. Easterbrook who also served in Merrill’s Marauders during World War II. Easterbrook’s wife was the daughter of Gen. Joseph Stilwell, who commanded American forces in the China-Burma-India Theater. Easterbrook’s combat journal can be found here (1944) and here (1945). He commanded 7th Infantry during the Korean War then became both a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot. Easterbrook retired after his final assignment, commanding the 14th Infantry’s parent unit, the 25th Infantry Division.
Incidentally, then-Lt. Col. Stilwell served as IV Corps’ assistant chief of staff during World War II, which was led by Gen. Charles Muir whom we mentioned above. We covered just three of the five generations of Muirs; our searches haven’t turned up anything definitive, but there was a Lt. James Muir that served in the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry during the Vietnam War era…
Page three lists several other officers who have been relieved during the maneuvers… Sports section begins on page 46, which announces that “hard-hitting Harlem Negro” (Sugar) Ray Robinson will fight Red Cochrane at Madison Square Garden on Halloween.
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 10 October 1941. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1941-10-10/ed-1/