Andrew J. Boyle

Andrew J. Boyle (December 11, 1911 – March 15, 2001) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of World War II and the 1966 Korean DMZ Conflict, Boyle attained the rank of lieutenant general. His commands included Military Assistance Advisory Group–Laos, the 25th Infantry Division, the U.S. Army Armor Center, I Corps, and V Corps. Boyle's U.S. awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit. His foreign decorations included the Belgian Croix de Guerre and Order of Leopold, the War Cross of Norway, and South Korea's Order of Service Merit (Second Class).

A native of Braddock, Pennsylvania, Boyle was raised and educated in Baltimore, and served in the National Guard while still in high school. In 1935, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and began a career in the Cavalry. Initially assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment, during World War II he graduated from the British Staff College, Camberley, then served on the staff of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), where he was responsible for T-Force activities throughout Europe. After the war, Boyle was an instructor at the United States Army Armor School and completed the Armor Officer Advanced Course, and he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1949. He served with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Meade, Maryland, and on the faculty at the Command and General Staff College, followed by attendance at the United States Army Airborne School.

In 1954, Boyle graduated from the United States Army War College, then was assigned to West Germany as commander of the 2nd Armored Division's Combat Command B, followed by assignment as the division chief of staff. His later assignments included commander of Military Assistance Advisory Group–Laos, the 25th Infantry Division, and the U.S. Army Armor Center. As a lieutenant general, Boyle commanded U.S. I Corps during the Korean DMZ Conflict, followed by command of U.S. V Corps. His last posting before his 1970 retirement was U.S. permanent military deputy to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO).

In retirement, Boyle operated a beef cattle farm in Mitchells, Virginia and was involved in several Culpeper County charitable and civic causes. He died in Culpeper on March 1, 2001. Boyle was buried at Little Fork Burying Ground in Rixeyville, Virginia.

Early life

Andrew Jackson Boyle was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania on December 11, 1911, a son of Elmer Newton Boyle and Monica (Shaffer) Boyle. He was raised and educated in Baltimore, and graduated from Forest Park High School in 1931, where he was a member of the track and field and football teams.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Boyle served as a private in the Maryland National Guard's 113th Ambulance Company, a unit of the 104th Medical Regiment. In 1930, he competed for an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point available to members of the National Guard.

Boyle graduated from USMA in 1935 ranked 216th of 277 and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Cavalry. They were married until his death and were the parents of a son, Andrew J. Boyle Jr.

Start of career Boyle commanded a platoon, then a troop in the 7th Cavalry until June 1939, and he was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1938.

Following U.S. entry into World War II, in June 1942 he was assigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he assisted in organizing the first air base security training group, which instructed specialized battalions in tactics against parachute troops. He then served for three years on the faculty at the Command and General Staff College, followed by attendance at the United States Army Airborne School. He was subsequently posted to Frankfurt as operations officer (G-3), on the staff of U.S. V Corps. In April 1961, he was appointed to command Military Assistance Advisory Group–Laos. He served as the first chairman of the Culpeper Planning Commission.