FARRELL-WALTER

Walter Greatsinger Farrell was born on June 4, 1897, in San Francisco, California, the son of Brigadier General P. J. H. Farrell, USA.  Walter joined the U.S. Army in 1916, but soon transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps. "I didn't know anything about the Marines except they had a red stripe on their pants and they wore a funny kind of hat," he recalled in 1988.  As a young Marine, Lieutenant Farrell served in France during World War One, leading replacement companies through combat training.

Upon the completion of flight training in 1921, Farrell was designated as a Naval Aviator.  During the period between World War One and World War Two, he served in Haiti and Nicaragua.  At one time, he also briefly served as Assistant Naval Attaché at the American Embassy in London.  After reorganizing and training an Air Wing in San Diego at the outset of World War Two, Farrell went to Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands.  There he earned the Silver Star Medal for "exceptional heroism" in action against the Japanese.  Promoted to Brigadier General, he commanded the 3rd Marine Air Wing, and later served in China.  Early in 1945, Farrell reported for duty at El Toro Marine Air Station in Orange County, California, as Deputy Commander of the 11th Naval District Air Bases.

After 30 years of service, Farrell retired from active duty in November 1946 as a Major General.  At the time of his retirement, he was in command of all the Marine Corps Air Bases on the West Coast of the U.S.  A pioneer aviator, at the time of his death, Walter Greatsinger Farrell was the oldest living U.S. Naval Aviator.  Major General Farrell died on October 11, 1990, at San Diego Naval Hospital.  He was 93.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Belcher Farrell, on July 1, 1989.  He was survived by three children, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  Funeral services were held at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and he was buried next to Mary at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego where his grave marker carries the inscription:  WORLD WAR I & II – SILVER STAR.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)