George Kennedy McGunnegle (June 23, 1854 – January 17, 1938) was a career officer in the United States Army. He received a direct commission from civilian life in 1873, and served until retiring 1919. McGunnegle attained the rank of colonel and was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, United States Military Government in Cuba, Philippine–American War, and World War I. He was most notable for his service in command assignments including the 1st Infantry Regiment and the Fort McDowell Recruit Depot in California.
The son of a United States Navy officer, McGunnegle was born in Annapolis, Maryland and attended St. John's College Preparatory School and the United States Naval Academy. He left the academy before graduating, and in 1873 received a second lieutenant's commission in the army. He served primarily in the 15th Infantry Regiment and was assigned to several posts in the western United States during the American Indian Wars. During the Spanish–American War he was assigned as mustering officer for volunteer soldiers being discharged at the end of their enlistments, and was posted to Washington, D.C., Georgia, and South Carolina. During the post-war United States Military Government in Cuba, McGunnegle was an assistant inspector general on the staff of governor Leonard Wood.
As a member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment and 17th Infantry Regiment, McGunnegle served in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War. After receiving promotion to colonel in 1906, he commanded the 1st Infantry Regiment during service in Washington, the Philippines, and Hawaii. In 1914, he was assigned to command the recruit depot at Fort McDowell, California. He served until recaching the mandatory retirement age of 64 in June 1918. Because World War I was ongoing, McGunnegle agreed to defer retirement and remained on duty at Fort McDowell. The war ended in November 1918, and he remained in command of Fort McDowell to muster out troops as the army demobilized. He retired in July 1919.
In retirement, McGunnegle was a resident of Santa Barbara, California. He died there on January 17, 1938, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Early life
George K. McGunnegle was born in Annapolis, Maryland on June 23, 1854, the son of United States Navy officer Wilson McGunnegle and Isabella Steele Ray. He was educated in Annapolis, and attended St. John's College Preparatory School. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant nominated McGunnegle for an at-large appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He attended as a member of the class of 1875, but left before graduating.
Start of career
In August 1873, Grant nominated McGunnegle for a direct commission in the United States Army, and he received appointment as a second lieutenant. Initially slated for assignment as a Cavalry officer with the 9th Cavalry Regiment, when he accepted his commission in October, he was assigned to the Infantry and named to fill a vacancy in the 15th Infantry Regiment at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. In 1876 he performed temporary recruiting duty at Columbus Barracks, Ohio. In 1877, he was promoted to first lieutenant. In the late 1879 he performed temporary duty at Fort Bliss, Texas, after which he was posted to the Mescalero Agency near Fort Stanton, New Mexico.
During the 1880s, McGunnegle continued to serve with the 15th Infantry in the Western United States. In 1884, he was appointed quartermaster officer of the 15th Infantry with duty at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. In 1885 and 1886, he performed temporary recruiting duty at Camp Poplar River, Montana Territory. In March 1888, McGunnegle was serving as adjutant of the 15th Infantry at Fort Buford, Dakota Territory when the quarters in which he resided with the regimental quartermaster caught fire; the building was destroyed, but both officers escaped unharmed. In June 1891, McGunnegle received promotion to captain and was assigned to command the 15th Regiment's Company I at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In 1896, the 15th Infantry was assigned to duty in Arizona and New Mexico, and McGunnegle was assigned to command of Company G at Fort Bayard.