Read's initial assignments were in the American West, and his first posting was with the 16th Infantry Regiment.[3] A few months later he transferred to the 5th Cavalry Regiment, with which he served until 1889.[4]
From 1889 to 1893, Read was Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Iowa, after which he returned to the 5th Cavalry Regiment in Texas.[5]
In 1898, Read authored The Automatic Instructor: A Practical System for Home Study.[6]
Spanish–American War
At the start of the Spanish–American War Read was assigned to an Ordnance unit, with which he served in Cuba until 1899.[2] Receiving promotion to captain, he served in New Mexico from 1901 to 1902, after which he was assigned to the Philippines.[1]
Post-Spanish–American War
After leaving Cuba, Read served in California and Hawaii. From 1905 to 1909 he served on the Army's General Staff.[7] Promoted to major, he served in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines before attending the Army War College, from which he graduated in 1914.[8]
Read continued to command the II Corps after the Armistice. After the organization was demobilized in February, 1919 Read was assigned to command of the American Embarkation Center at Le Havre, France, where he was responsible for arranging the transportation of men and materiel back to the United States.[15] He was also the final commander of the 42nd Infantry Division as it completed post-war occupation duty in Germany and prepared to depart Europe.[16][17][18]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General George Windle Read, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. General Read Commanded with distinction the 30th Division, and organized and Commanded the 2d Army Corps in its operations with the British forces in France. He displayed qualities of leadership and professional attainments of a high order, and to his efforts are largely due the brilliant success achieved. [21]
In May, 1919, Read was assigned to command the US V Corps at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, with the permanent rank of brigadier general.[23] In March, 1921 he received permanent promotion to major general.[24]
In October, 1922, Read was appointed commander of the Philippine Department. He assumed command in early 1923, and remained in this assignment until his 1925 retirement.[25]
In 1886, Read married Burton Young (1868–1944) in a ceremony that took place in El Paso. She was the daughter of General S.B.M Young, who served as the first Army Chief of Staff.[32] Their children included Burton Young Read (1889–1981), a career soldier who served from the early 1900s through World War II before retiring as a colonel,[33][34][35] and George Windle Read Jr., a career soldier who served in both world wars and attained the rank of lieutenant general as commander of the US Army Armor Center and the Second United States Army.[36]
^Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y, by George Washington Cullum, 1930, Volume 7, page 204
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