L. J. McNair
McNair Lesley James (1883–1944), a United States army officer. As chief of staff of U.S. Army general headquarters, 1940–42, McNair supervised the World War II army training program. He retained these duties as commanding general of army ground forces, 1942–44. McNair's program prepared nearly 8,000,000 men for combat, and General George C. Marshall called him “the brains of the army.” McNair was given command of an army group in Normandy but soon after was killed by American bombs that fell short of their target. Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., is named for him.
McNair was born in Verndale, Minnesota. He graduated from West Point in 1904. During World War I he served in France and in 1918 was given the temporary rank of brigadier general. McNair became a lieutenant general in 1941.