Merritte W. Ireland

Merritte Weber Ireland
Maj. Gen. Ireland in 1918
Born	May 31, 1867 Columbia City, Indiana
Died	July 5, 1952 (aged 85) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1891–1931
Rank	Major General
Commands held	Surgeon General of the US Army
Battles/wars	Spanish American War Philippine–American War Pancho Villa Expedition World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal

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.

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.^[4]

Death and legacy

Ireland died on July 5, 1952.^[5]

Legacy

• Ireland's papers are held at the National Library of Medicine.^[6]
• Ireland Army Community Hospital, located at Fort Knox, Kentucky, was built in 1957 and named in his honor.^[7]

Decorations

Major General Ireland´s ribbon bar:

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal
2nd Row	Spanish Campaign Medal			Philippine Campaign Medal			Army of Cuban Occupation Medal			Mexican Service Medal
3rd Row	World War I Victory Medal with four Battle Clasps			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)

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. "Merritte Weber Ireland Papers 1911-1952". National Library of Medicine.
7. "History of Ireland Army Community Hospital". Ireland Army Community Hospital. United States Army. Retrieved 14 June 2014.

• Army bio

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "".