Farrell, Francis William, LTG

Francis William Farrell

Lieutenant General

United States Army

Farrell was born on May 28, 1900 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1920.

Initially assigned to the Infantry branch, Farrell graduated from the Infantry Officer Course in 1921.  He then served in several Infantry assignments, including postings to Hawaii and China. In 1928 Farrell transferred to the Field Artillery branch. He completed the Field Artillery Officer Course in 1928.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s Farrell was an instructor at West Point.

Farrell graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1939.

From 1942 to 1944 Farrell served in the US and the Pacific as chief of staff of the 11th Airborne Division. He commanded the 11th Airborne Division Artillery from 1944 to 1946.

After World War II, Farrell served in Europe as commander of the 13th Airborne Division Artillery.

In mid-1946 Farrell was named chief of staff of the 82nd Airborne Division. He served in this assignment for only a few months before being appointed as chief of the Air Branch at Army Ground Forces, where he remained from late 1946 until 1948. Farrell was named director of the Technical Training Group at Sandia Missile Base, New Mexico in 1948.

From 1950 to 1951 Farrell was commander of the Korean Military Advisory Group, responsible for training and logistical support to the fledgling South Korean Army.

In 1952 Farrell was assigned as deputy assistant chief of staff for operations on the Army Staff, serving until 1953.

Farrell commanded the 82nd Airborne Division from 1953 to 1955.

 In 1955 he was assigned as special assistant for national security affairs, advising the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Farrell was named to command the U.S. V Corps in 1957, serving until 1959. In 1959 Farrell was assigned as commander of the Seventh United States Army, remaining in this post until he reached retirement age in 1960.

General Farrell retired in 1960. His awards and decorations included two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star, and two Air Medals.

After retiring from the Army, Farrell was appointed as New York State’s Civil Defense Director, serving from 1961 to 1963.

In retirement Farrell resided in Arlington, Virginia, where he died in January, 1981.