Andrew T. McNamara

Andrew Thomas McNamara Jr. (14 May 1905 – 6 April 2002) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army who served in World War II. He was Quartermaster General from 1957 to 1961, and the first director of the Defense Supply Agency from 1961 to 1964.

A 1928 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, McNamara was commissioned in the infantry but transferred to the Quartermaster Corps in 1937. During World War II he was the deputy quartermaster and then quartermaster of the II Corps, and participated in the campaigns in French North Africa, Tunisia and Sicily. In September 1943, he became the quartermaster of the First Army, serving in that role for the rest of the war in the campaigns in Northwest Europe.

Early life and career Andrew Thomas McNamara Jr. was born in East Providence, Rhode Island, on 14 May 1905, one of four children and the only son of a barber. At high school he distinguished himself as an athlete, He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on 1 July 1924, and graduated on 9 June 1928, ranked 253rd in his class of 261.

McNamara was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry on graduation, and after the usual post-graduation furlough he was assigned to the 28th Infantry Regiment at Madison Barracks, New York, on 9 September. There he met Margaret Catherine Tripp, nicknamed "Pidge" by her brothers. They were married on 12 February 1931. They had two children: Andrew T. McNamara III, who was born in 1935, and William T. McNamara, who was born in 1937. That month Patton was succeeded by Major General Omar N. Bradley. For his services in Northwest Africa McNamara was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Later life

In retirement, McNamara served for as president and secretary of the Defense Supply Association (later renamed the American Logistics Association) for a decade. His hobby was writing children's books. He died at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on 6 April 2002 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his wife, who died in 1997. On 15 October 1998, the Quartermaster Museum named its new supply gallery in his honor.