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MG Joseph Wilson Byron

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MG Joseph Wilson Byron Veteran

Birth
Fort Meade, Meade County, South Dakota, USA
Death
12 Apr 1951 (aged 58)
Burial
Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 5, Plot 5
Memorial ID
View Source
Gen. Joseph W. Byron DIES ON CARIBBEAN CRUISE - Civic And Military Leader Was Aged 59; Active In Industry - Funeral Arrangements Not Complete Late Thursday Night.

Major General Joseph Wilson Byron died suddenly while on a Caribbean cruise. He was 59 years old.
Word of his unexpected death was received here last night by cable.Active in industry, public health work, Boy Scout leadership, and a multitude of civic roles as a civilian, he had also taken an active part in both World Wars. Gen. and Mrs. Byron had left on March 30 for a Caribbean cruise aboard the Santa Monica. The ship was scheduled to leave Barranquilla, on the north coast of Colombia, South America, for the return trip to New York.

WIDOW RETURNING
Mrs. Byron left the ship immediately by plane to return to this country. Their daughter, Mrs. F. Kent Bradford, is flying to Miami to meet her. No funeral arrangements had been completed, late last night.
One of the most widely known residents of this county, General Byron had gained world-wide fame during World War Two as head of the Army's special services division, Army Service Forces. In this capacity, he directed the world-wide post exchange and recreation program for the 10,000,000 men in the United States Army. Born at Fort Meade, S.D., in 1892, Gen. Byron was the son of the late Major Joseph C. and Jane (Wilson) Byron, of this city. He was a descendant of an old county family. His great-grandfather, Thomas Wilson, had fought in the American Revolution before settling in this country.

WEST POINT GRADUATE
Entering West Point, Gen. Byron was graduated from there with the class of 1914. He saw active service at the Mexican border campaign against Pancho Villa in 1916. After this nation entered World War One, he wet to France, serving as a Major in command of the 304th Battalion Tank Corps.After the armistice of November 11, 1918, Gen Byron was stationed at the quartermaster depot at Gievres, France. In this capacity he was in charge of selling and shipping surplus garments to Belgians, Poles, and other European peoples. By the fall of 1919, Gen. Byron had been transferred to Washington, D.C., and placed in charge of the sale of surplus leather.

IN LEATHER INDUSTRY
He the resigned from the Army, and for the next 22 years was engaged in the leather industry. In this civilian work, he visited hide leather markets throughout Europe, and became nationally known in the business. During the late 1920's, Gen. Byron was chairman of various committees of the Tanners' Council of America. In 1929, he served as chairman of the hide and upper leather tariff committee at tariff hearings before Congress. Meanwhile, he was actively engaged in the management of W. D. Byron and Sons, Williamsport tanners, and became its president. He also took an increasingly prominent part in civic affairs of Hagerstown and vicinity. Gen. Byron was one of the most widely known men in Boy Scout leadership, holding regional director positions. His interest in public health, begun when he saw the value of typhoid inoculations during the Mexican campaign, was credited with virtually wiping out typhoid in Williamsport by his insistence on inoculations for the tannery employees, a practice which spread throughout the town.

HEALTH ORGANIZER
He also helped to organize the Washington County Public Health Association, back in the days when there was no health officer here, and was president of this group at the time of his death. In the 1930's, Gen. Byron took an increasingly prominent position in advisory and official capacities with the national government. He was one of the civilian advisers appointed at the organization of the NRA. Later, he became head of leather and shoe section of the WPB. He served as adviser to Gen. C.C. Williams, deputy administrator of the NRA, as adviser for the leather industry in 1933, and in 1939, became chairman of the hide and leather committee, Army-Navy Munitions Board. One year later, he was appointed in an advisory capacity to the administrator of export control, visiting hide leather markets in Brazil and Argentina as a part of his duties.

APPOINTED GENERAL
With the coming of war, Gen. Byron returned to the military service of his country. He was appointed brigadier general in August, 1942, and assigned to the Army Post Exchange Service. Soon becoming director of the special services division, Army Service Forces, Gen. Byron had charge of the enormous recreation program of the Army and its post exchanges. The Army itself described this work as the greatest program of recreation and entertainment in the world, the biggest athletic program on earth, the largest retail store chain in existence, the most extensive library system, the biggest movie circuit, the most expansive program for art and handicrafts ever offered in such a short period of time, and the largest program of music ever attempted.
Gen. Byron traveled 180,000 miles in the course of his duties, leading personally songfest in overseas recreation halls. For his achievements he won the distinguished service medal and a number of other high honors. Even after VJ-Day, Gen. Byron continued his service to his country, keeping the troops entertained while they were awaiting their return to civilian life.
After his retirement from active service in the Army, Gen. Byron remained in an official post for the United States, becoming director of the National Security Resources Board's division concerned with national security planning as related to shoes, leather and hides.
Gen. and Mrs. Byron had only recently moved into their new home in Fountain Head Heights.
The survivors are his wife,Susanne Rice Byron; daughters,Mrs. Vernon N. Simmons, Jr., Falls Church, Va.; Mrs. F. Kent Bradford, near Sharpsburg; sons, Lt. Joseph R. Byron, Offutt Air Base, Omaha, Neb.; Cpl. Sedgewick R. Byron, Lackland Air Field, Lackland, Tex.; sisters, Miss Elsie Byron; brother, David W. Byron, this city: and nine grandchildren.

Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland - Friday, April 13, 1951.

FUNERAL SERVICES :
Funeral rites for MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH W. BYRON, who died unexpectedly while on a Caribbean cruise last Thursday, will be held this Friday afternoon at St. John's Episcopal Church.The body will lie in state at the church from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. by the rector, the Rev. Kenneth M. Gearhart. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
The honorary pallbearers will be Congressman J. Glenn Beall, General Brehon B. Somervell, General Car Spaetz, Lieutenant General Harold Bull, Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis, Brigadier General John Thompson, Colonel John H. Iouett, A. S. Mason, Archie C. Swift, James D. Harrison, James Moore, Frank Gallo, Dr. I. M. Zimmerman, L. W. Manners, L. Vinton Hershey, Robert H. McCauley, Dr. Perry F. Prather, Earl Stoner, George Kennedy, John P. Caspar, D. W. Newcomer, G. Victor Cushwa, Dr. Crown O. Diehl and A. Ross Hostetter.
The active pallbearers will be Charles Lizer, David Poole, Richard Hawkin, Maurice Snyder, John M. Miller and Alfred Bendell.

Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland - Tuesday, April 17, 1951.

Obituary and funeral announcement provided by Melvin L. Halterman, #47017310..
Gen. Joseph W. Byron DIES ON CARIBBEAN CRUISE - Civic And Military Leader Was Aged 59; Active In Industry - Funeral Arrangements Not Complete Late Thursday Night.

Major General Joseph Wilson Byron died suddenly while on a Caribbean cruise. He was 59 years old.
Word of his unexpected death was received here last night by cable.Active in industry, public health work, Boy Scout leadership, and a multitude of civic roles as a civilian, he had also taken an active part in both World Wars. Gen. and Mrs. Byron had left on March 30 for a Caribbean cruise aboard the Santa Monica. The ship was scheduled to leave Barranquilla, on the north coast of Colombia, South America, for the return trip to New York.

WIDOW RETURNING
Mrs. Byron left the ship immediately by plane to return to this country. Their daughter, Mrs. F. Kent Bradford, is flying to Miami to meet her. No funeral arrangements had been completed, late last night.
One of the most widely known residents of this county, General Byron had gained world-wide fame during World War Two as head of the Army's special services division, Army Service Forces. In this capacity, he directed the world-wide post exchange and recreation program for the 10,000,000 men in the United States Army. Born at Fort Meade, S.D., in 1892, Gen. Byron was the son of the late Major Joseph C. and Jane (Wilson) Byron, of this city. He was a descendant of an old county family. His great-grandfather, Thomas Wilson, had fought in the American Revolution before settling in this country.

WEST POINT GRADUATE
Entering West Point, Gen. Byron was graduated from there with the class of 1914. He saw active service at the Mexican border campaign against Pancho Villa in 1916. After this nation entered World War One, he wet to France, serving as a Major in command of the 304th Battalion Tank Corps.After the armistice of November 11, 1918, Gen Byron was stationed at the quartermaster depot at Gievres, France. In this capacity he was in charge of selling and shipping surplus garments to Belgians, Poles, and other European peoples. By the fall of 1919, Gen. Byron had been transferred to Washington, D.C., and placed in charge of the sale of surplus leather.

IN LEATHER INDUSTRY
He the resigned from the Army, and for the next 22 years was engaged in the leather industry. In this civilian work, he visited hide leather markets throughout Europe, and became nationally known in the business. During the late 1920's, Gen. Byron was chairman of various committees of the Tanners' Council of America. In 1929, he served as chairman of the hide and upper leather tariff committee at tariff hearings before Congress. Meanwhile, he was actively engaged in the management of W. D. Byron and Sons, Williamsport tanners, and became its president. He also took an increasingly prominent part in civic affairs of Hagerstown and vicinity. Gen. Byron was one of the most widely known men in Boy Scout leadership, holding regional director positions. His interest in public health, begun when he saw the value of typhoid inoculations during the Mexican campaign, was credited with virtually wiping out typhoid in Williamsport by his insistence on inoculations for the tannery employees, a practice which spread throughout the town.

HEALTH ORGANIZER
He also helped to organize the Washington County Public Health Association, back in the days when there was no health officer here, and was president of this group at the time of his death. In the 1930's, Gen. Byron took an increasingly prominent position in advisory and official capacities with the national government. He was one of the civilian advisers appointed at the organization of the NRA. Later, he became head of leather and shoe section of the WPB. He served as adviser to Gen. C.C. Williams, deputy administrator of the NRA, as adviser for the leather industry in 1933, and in 1939, became chairman of the hide and leather committee, Army-Navy Munitions Board. One year later, he was appointed in an advisory capacity to the administrator of export control, visiting hide leather markets in Brazil and Argentina as a part of his duties.

APPOINTED GENERAL
With the coming of war, Gen. Byron returned to the military service of his country. He was appointed brigadier general in August, 1942, and assigned to the Army Post Exchange Service. Soon becoming director of the special services division, Army Service Forces, Gen. Byron had charge of the enormous recreation program of the Army and its post exchanges. The Army itself described this work as the greatest program of recreation and entertainment in the world, the biggest athletic program on earth, the largest retail store chain in existence, the most extensive library system, the biggest movie circuit, the most expansive program for art and handicrafts ever offered in such a short period of time, and the largest program of music ever attempted.
Gen. Byron traveled 180,000 miles in the course of his duties, leading personally songfest in overseas recreation halls. For his achievements he won the distinguished service medal and a number of other high honors. Even after VJ-Day, Gen. Byron continued his service to his country, keeping the troops entertained while they were awaiting their return to civilian life.
After his retirement from active service in the Army, Gen. Byron remained in an official post for the United States, becoming director of the National Security Resources Board's division concerned with national security planning as related to shoes, leather and hides.
Gen. and Mrs. Byron had only recently moved into their new home in Fountain Head Heights.
The survivors are his wife,Susanne Rice Byron; daughters,Mrs. Vernon N. Simmons, Jr., Falls Church, Va.; Mrs. F. Kent Bradford, near Sharpsburg; sons, Lt. Joseph R. Byron, Offutt Air Base, Omaha, Neb.; Cpl. Sedgewick R. Byron, Lackland Air Field, Lackland, Tex.; sisters, Miss Elsie Byron; brother, David W. Byron, this city: and nine grandchildren.

Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland - Friday, April 13, 1951.

FUNERAL SERVICES :
Funeral rites for MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH W. BYRON, who died unexpectedly while on a Caribbean cruise last Thursday, will be held this Friday afternoon at St. John's Episcopal Church.The body will lie in state at the church from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. by the rector, the Rev. Kenneth M. Gearhart. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
The honorary pallbearers will be Congressman J. Glenn Beall, General Brehon B. Somervell, General Car Spaetz, Lieutenant General Harold Bull, Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis, Brigadier General John Thompson, Colonel John H. Iouett, A. S. Mason, Archie C. Swift, James D. Harrison, James Moore, Frank Gallo, Dr. I. M. Zimmerman, L. W. Manners, L. Vinton Hershey, Robert H. McCauley, Dr. Perry F. Prather, Earl Stoner, George Kennedy, John P. Caspar, D. W. Newcomer, G. Victor Cushwa, Dr. Crown O. Diehl and A. Ross Hostetter.
The active pallbearers will be Charles Lizer, David Poole, Richard Hawkin, Maurice Snyder, John M. Miller and Alfred Bendell.

Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland - Tuesday, April 17, 1951.

Obituary and funeral announcement provided by Melvin L. Halterman, #47017310..


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