Did you know that Indianola is the birthplace of a United States Army major general?
George Windle Read was born in Indianola in 1860 to James C. Read and Elizabeth Sneal (Windle) Read. He was born less than five months before the outbreak of the American Civil War, perhaps a sign of his future career.
Read graduated from West Point in 1883 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry.
George Read served in the American West (a “wild” place back then) with the 16th Infantry Regiment and then the 5th Cavalry Regiment.
In 1889, Read returned to Iowa where he served as an assistant progressor of military science at the University of Iowa. He would retain that position until 1893.
Read is also known as the author of The Automatic Instructor: A Practical System for Home Study.
George Windle Read served in the Spanish-American War, a brief but impactful conflict in 1898. The war would see the end of Spain’s colonial empire in the Americas and solidify the United States as the regional power in the Western Hemisphere. Read served in Cuba, New Mexico, and the Philippines. He ended the war as a captain.
Later promoted to lieutenant colonel, Read served on the US-Mexico border. He was involved in the famous “Punitive Expedition” which attempted to capture Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa after he conducted raids on American soil. Apparently the southern border has always been a problem.
In World War I, Read was selected by General John Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces of the Western Front, to command the II Corps. Col. Read participated in the Hundred Days Offensive that successfully breached the Hindenburg Line.
For his service, Read received several awards and decorations, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and the British Order of the Bath.
In 1921, Read was promoted to major general.
In 1934, Read died at Walter Reed Army Hospital and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Warren County is the home and birthplace of many astounding patriots. Major General Read was among those who faithfully served his country throughout his life and career.
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