James Carre Magee (January 23, 1883 – October 15, 1975) was an American medical officer and later Surgeon General of the United States Army from 1939 – 1943. He went with the American Expeditionary Force during World War 1 and worked as an assistant to the chief surgeon.
Personal life
James Magee was born on January 23, 1883 in
County Donegal, Ireland to Edward Carre Magee and Elizabeth Armstrong Magee. He was the fourth son of a Pennsylvania businessman who was working in
Ireland. The Magees returned to
Pennsylvania where James Magee spent his youth. He attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and received his M.D. in 1905.
After graduating he joined the
Medical Department
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practice ...
as a contract surgeon in 1907 and was commissioned in the Medical Reserve Corps in 1908. He graduated from the Army Medical school in 1909 and joined the medical corps as a first lieutenant.
He was part of the
American Expeditionary force
The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
and went to France from 1917-1919.
World War 1
Magee, who was promoted to Major on May 15, 1917 and traveled to Base Hospital No. 12 in France. In August 1918, he was assigned as assistant to the chief surgeon Colonel Alexander Stark. While working with Stark, he participated in the
St. Mihiel and
Meuse-Argonne offensives from September - November 1918. He was awarded the Purple Heart for meritorious services in these operations.
During World war I, Magee achieved the rank of captain and chief surgeon.
Interwar period
He returned to the United States in 1919 and was transferred to
Fort Sam Houston in December. While at Fort Sam Huston he worked as an instructor for the National Guard Medical Department. In June 1922, he went to Washington, D. C., for the Advanced Course in Preventive Medicine at the Army Medical School. Upon completion, he returned to Fort Sam Houston where he served as the division surgeon for the 2nd Division and commanding officer of the 2nd Medical Regiment.
Death
He died at age 92 at
Walter Reed General Hospital and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Surgeon general
On June 1, 1939 he was appointed by President Roosevelt to replace Major General Charles R. Reynolds as
Surgeon General of the United States Army
The Surgeon General of the United States Army is the senior-most officer of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD). By policy, the Surgeon General (TSG) serves as Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) as well as head of the ...
.
The outbreak of World War II in Europe in September 1939 and the declaration of a limited national emergency by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that month confronted the new Surgeon General with enormous difficulties as the Army slowly began preparing for war. Magee had to confront the huge problems in preparing the
Army Medical Department for its wartime expansion.
General Magee's tenure was marked by both successes and criticism. Magee was not a favorite of
Army Chief of Staff, General
George Marshall and Lieutenant General
Brehon B. Somervell
Brehon Burke Somervell (9 May 1892 – 13 February 1955) was a general in the United States Army and Commanding General of the Army Service Forces in World War II. As such he was responsible for the U.S. Army's logistics. Following his death, ' ...
, commander of the Services of Supply. This eventually resulted in a major investigation by the War Department's Wadhams Committee from August through November 1942. The committee's final report was issued in November 1942 and outlined recommendations to improve the efficiency of the
Army Medical Services. Many of the recommendations were never implemented until early in 1943. Magee's adversaries may have encouraged the Wadhams Committee investigation of the Medical Department in an attempt to remove him from his position but failed.
George Marshall was able to convince president
Franklin D. Roosevelt to not reappoint him to the position after his four-year term as surgeon general was over. He retired from the position on May 31, 1943.
References
External links
Generals of World War II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magee, James C.
1883 births
1975 deaths
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Surgeons General of the United States Army
United States Army personnel of World War I
United States Army generals of World War II
United States Army generals