James Taggart Kerr

James Taggart Kerr
J.T. Kerr as brigadier general in Washington D.C., 1919
Born	(1859-04-22)April 22, 1859 Martins Ferry, Ohio, U.S.
Died	April 13, 1949(1949-04-13) (aged 89) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1881-1922
Rank	Brigadier General
Service number	0-61
Wars	American Indian Wars Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I
Awards	Silver Star Distinguished Service Medal

James Taggart Kerr (April 22, 1859 – April 13, 1949) was an American brigadier general, who served with the U.S. Army. Kerr received a Distinguished Service Medal for his service with the Adjutant General's Department and 2 Silver Stars.

James Kerr was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, in 1859.^[1]

Graduating from West Point in 1881, Kerr was assigned to frontier duty with the 17th Infantry until 1888.^[1] He participated in the Ghost Dance War in 1890-1891^[1] and was later an honor graduate of the Infantry and Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth in 1897.^[2]

Kerr saw action in Cuba during the Spanish–American War, and received a Silver Star Commendation for his actions before being transferred to the Sanitary Corps.^[1][3]

Shortly after his assignment to the Sanitary Corps in Cuba, Kerr was sent to the Philippines to take part in the suppression of the Philippine rebels, for which he received a second Silver Star.^[1][3]

Kerr had initially retired in August 1914 due to physical disabilities contracted earlier in his career,^[1] but was recalled to active duty in 1917 following the U.S. entry into the First World War.^[4] During the First World War, Kerr served in the Adjutant General's Department until the end of the war, and was Assistant Adjutant General from 1920 until his retirement in 1922.^[1] He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his service with the Adjutant General's Department.^[4][3]

James Taggart Kerr passed away on 13 April 1949, aged eighty-nine.^[1] He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[5]

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