Lesley James McNair (died July 25, 1944) was a general of the United States Army, who was killed by friendly fire during World War II. As Commandant of the Command and General Staff College, McNair initiated changes that prepared the College's graduates to meet the upcoming challenges of World War II.

In 1939, eighteen years after serving as an instructor at the General Service School at Fort Leavenworth—during which time he graduated from the Army School of the Line—General McNair returned to Fort Leavenworth to reform and update the instruction.

In 1942, General McNair was designated Commanding General, Army Ground Forces. Once he was satisfied that the Army could operate in large bodies he concentrated on revising training to simulate the conditions that the Army was facing in North Africa.

McNair was killed July 25, 1944 at St. Lo, while visiting the Normandy battlefield, by a misplaced aerial bombardment. He was the highest-ranking American to be killed in action in World War II.

It was said of LTG McNair that he did more than train men—he realized that no army can be fully effective unless it is properly organized, correctly equipped, adequately led, and completely trained. His insistence on these fundamentals, especially realistic training, helped save untold thousands of American lives.

In 1954 Congress promoted him posthumously to the rank of General.

External links

• Lesley J. McNair biography from Command & General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas
• History of Fort Lesley J. McNair - from website of the Military District of Washington