John Magruder (United States Army officer, born 1887)

For the American Civil War General, see John B. Magruder.

John Magruder
Director of the Strategic Services Unit
In office October 1, 1945 – April 3, 1946
President	Harry Truman
Preceded by	William Donovan (Office of Strategic Services)
Succeeded by	William W. Quinn
Personal details
Born	(1887-06-03)June 3, 1887 Woodstock, Virginia, U.S.
Died	April 30, 1958(1958-04-30) (aged 70) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Education	Virginia Military Institute (BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1910–1946
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal

John L. Magruder (June 3, 1887 – April 30, 1958) was an American military and intelligence officer who was deputy director of the Office of Strategic Services and director of the Strategic Services Unit. He held the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army.

Biography

John Magruder was born on June 3, 1887, in Woodstock, Virginia. He attended Virginia Military Institute and graduated in 1909. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in infantry in 1910. He was transferred to the field artillery branch of the army in the next year.

During World War I, Magruder served with the 112th Field Artillery within the American Expeditionary Forces in France.

After the war Magruder was transferred to China, where he was appointed an assistant military attaché in Beijing. He served in this capacity until 1924, when he was assigned for study at Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After his graduation, Magruder was transferred back to Beijing, now in the new capacity of military attaché.

During World War II Magruder served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), as deputy director under the leadership of General William J. Donovan. After the war, the OSS was disbanded. Core elements of it, however, were maintained in the new Strategic Services Unit (SSU), located in the then Department of War. This newly formed SSU was led by Magruder.[1][2][3][4] Magruder played a formative role in the creation of the civilian Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1947,[5] which absorbed the SSU.

Decorations

	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	World War I Victory Medal with four service stars
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal

Notes

1. L. L. Montague, Walter Bedell Smith as Director of Central Intelligence (2014), p. 21 (Magruder at OSS).
2. Peer de Silva, Sub Rosa. The CIA and the uses of intelligence (1978), p. 4 (Magruder at OSS, SSU).
3. John Ranelagh, The Agency (1986), pp. 100-101 (Magruder at OSS, SSU).
4. Thomas Powers, The Man who kept the Secrets. Richard Helms and the CIA (1979), p. 28 (Magruder at SSU).
5. Prados, John (2006). Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA. Ivan R. Dee. p. xxiv. ISBN 9781615780112.

Government offices
Preceded by William Donovan as Director of the Office of Strategic Services	Director of the Strategic Services Unit 1945–1946	Succeeded by William W. Quinn