Manus MacCloskey
{{Short description|US Army general and CCC official (1874–1963)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Manus MacCloskey
| image = Manus McCloskey circa 1918.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = McCloskey circa 1918
| birth_date = {{birth date|1874|04|24}}
| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1963|05|11|1874|04|24}}
| death_place = Washington, DC, U.S.
| allegiance = {{flag|United States|1918}}
| branch = {{army|United States}}
| placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
| alma_mater = United States Military Academy (1898)
| unit = 2nd Division
77th Division
| commands = 11th Field Artillery Regiment
12th Field Artillery Regiment
83rd Field Artillery Regiment
152nd Field Artillery Brigade
8th Field Artillery Brigade
12th Infantry Brigade
13th Field Artillery Brigade
| servicenumber = 0-260
| serviceyears = 1898–1938
| battles =
{{tree list}}
- Philippine-American War
- China Relief Expedition
- World War I
- Battle of Château-Thierry (1918)
- Battle of Belleau Wood
- Battle of Soissons (1918)
- Battle of Saint-Mihiel
- Meuse-Argonne Offensive
{{tree list/end}}
| rank = 25px Brigadier General
| spouse = {{marriage|Sara Monro|August 14, 1901}}
| children = 2, including Monro MacCloskey
| website =
| awards = {{Ubl
| Army Distinguished Service Medal
| Silver Star with oak leaf cluster
}}
}}
Manus MacCloskey (April 24, 1874 – May 11, 1963) was a brigadier general in the United States Army. He served in the Philippines, participated in the China Relief Expedition, and commanded the 12th Field Artillery Regiment during World War I. After retiring from the military, he organized the Civilian Conservation Corps in North Carolina and later served as superintendent of Cook County Hospital in Chicago.
Early life
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 24, 1874. MacCloskey graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1898.{{cite book|last=Davis |first=Henry Blaine Jr. |title=Generals in Khaki |publisher=Pentland Press, Inc.|year= 1998 |isbn= 1571970886 |oclc=40298151 |page=251}}
Start of career
file:111-SC-29865 - NARA - 55219034-cropped.jpg in October 1918]]
After his commissioning, he joined the Fifth Field Artillery on April 26, 1898. In 1916, he commanded Fort Myer
He served in the Philippines and participated in the China Relief Expedition.
Continued career
During World War I, he organized and commanded the 12th Field Artillery Regiment. MacCloskey fought in the Battle of Verdun, the Battle of Château-Thierry (1918), the Battle of Belleau Wood, and the Battle of Soissons (1918).
Later career
From January 1921 to June 30, 1924, he served with the General staff at Headquarters, Sixth Corps Area. He later served at Fort Sheridan and Fort Bragg. He retired from military service on April 30, 1938.
Civilian career
In 1933, he organized the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in North Carolina. He served as superintendent of Cook County Hospital in Chicago from 1938 to 1947.
Retirement and death
He died on May 11, 1963, in Washington, DC.{{cite book|title=The National cyclopaedia of American biography : being the history of the United States as illustrated in the lives of the founders, builders, and defenders of the republic, and of the men and women who are doing the work and moulding the thought of the present time|year=1970|publisher=University Microfilms|page=569|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMhWAAAAYAAJ&q=manus+maccloskey+obituary}} He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.{{cite web|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/manus-maccloskey.htm|title=Manus MacCloskey, Brigadier General, United States Army|date=25 October 2023 |publisher=ArlingtonCemetery.net|id=an unofficial website}}{{better source needed|date=December 2020|reason=WP:SPS. While page has photos, the official ANC search does not list him or Sara (probably error on ANC's part).}}
Family
He married Sara Monro on August 14, 1901. They had two children: Monro MacCloskey, who attained the rank of brigadier general in the United States Air Force, and Sara, who was known as Sally.
Awards and honors
Awards he received during his career include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which reads:
{{Quote|The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Field Artillery) Manus MacCloskey, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. While in Command of the 12th Field Artillery during all its operations with the 2d Division, until 16 August 1918, Colonel MacCloskey displayed marked ability and efficiency. He especially distinguished himself during the operations of the 2d Division at the Bois-de-Belleau and Bouresches, when he commanded in addition to his own regiment, the 37th Field Artillery, French Army. By this service he contributed in no small measure to the success of the Infantry Brigade in these operations. Later, as Commanding General, 152d field Artillery Brigade, he rendered able support to the attacking Infantry of the 77th Division.{{cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=17906|title=Valor awards for Manus McCloskey}}}}
He also received the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, and the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. His Silver Star citation reads:
{{Quote|By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Brigadier General Manus MacClosky, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Brigadier General MacClosky distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Vierzy, France, 19 July 1918, in making a personal reconnaissance under intense artillery and machine gun fire, in order to regulate the fire of his artillery.}}
He also received the Order of the Crown of Italy, rank Officer for his World War I service.
Effective dates of promotion
MacCloskey's effective dates of promotion were:
: Second Lieutenant, April 26, 1898{{cite book |author=U.S. Army Adjutant General |date=1945 |title=Official Army Register |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L40ZAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1290 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=US Government Printing Office |page=1290 |via=Google Books}}
: First Lieutenant, August 15, 1900
: Captain, September 23, 1901
: Major, March 16, 1913
: Lieutenant Colonel, July 26, 1916
: Colonel, May 15, 1917
: Brigadier General (temporary), August 8, 1918
: Colonel, July 15, 1919 (reduced from temporary brigadier general)
: Brigadier General, September 1, 1930
: Brigadier General (retired), April 30, 1938
Legacy
In 1977, MacCloskey's personal papers were donated to the University of Pittsburgh archives by Monro MacCloskey.{{cite web|url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=ascead&cc=ascead&rgn=main&view=text&didno=US-PPiU-ais197744|title=Guides to Archives and Manuscript Collections at the University of Pittsburgh Library System}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Manus MacCloskey}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maccloskey, Manus}}
Category:Military personnel from Pittsburgh
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
Category:19th-century United States Army personnel
Category:United States Army generals of World War I
Category:United States Army generals
Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Category:United States Army Field Artillery Branch personnel