Robert D. Walsh

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Robert D. Walsh: A short, easy-to-understand biography

Early life
Robert Douglas Walsh was born on October 14, 1860, in Alleghany, California, and grew up in Redwood City. He earned the nickname “Rosy” because of his red hair. In 1878 he was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1883. His early years in the Army were spent in the Cavalry, and he began his career on the American frontier.

Career highlights
- Walsh served in the American Indian Wars and took part in clashes with the Apache in the Patagonia Mountains, earning a brevet promotion to first lieutenant in 1890 for heroism.
- He held various postings across the United States, including Fort Huachuca in the Southwest and Fort Myer in Virginia.
- During the Spanish–American War (1898), he acted as a mustering officer for United States Volunteers from Idaho and nearby states. In 1899 he was promoted to captain in the 9th Cavalry.
- He served in the Philippine–American War with the 35th Infantry and later held commands in the Philippines.
- Walsh commanded the 8th Cavalry on the Texas–Mexico border during the Pancho Villa Expedition (1916).
- In World War I, he rose to major leadership roles. He was promoted to colonel in 1916 and to temporary brigadier general in August 1917. He led the 78th Infantry Brigade of the 39th Division and served as base commander at Saint-Nazaire, France, then as deputy director of transportation for the American Expeditionary Forces. He later commanded the army base at Bordeaux and, from March to May 1919, the 163rd Infantry Brigade (82nd Division) as the war ended and units were demobilized.
- For his wartime service, Walsh received the Army Distinguished Service Medal and was made a Commander of the French Legion of Honor. He retired from the Army in 1919 with the rank of colonel, though his brigadier general rank was later restored posthumously by a 1930 law.

Later life and death
After leaving the Army, Walsh lived in New York City and worked as an investment broker. He died in Washington, D.C., on August 15, 1928, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1930, Congress passed a law allowing World War I general officers to retire at their highest rank, and Walsh’s brigadier general rank was restored posthumously.

Family
In 1894, Walsh married Susan LeGrow. Susan’s sister Grace was married to Brigadier General John S. Winn. Walsh and Susan had one son, Robert LeGrow Walsh, who also became a major general in the Army.