to the Military District of Washington. World War II As the Army began to organize and train in anticipation of entry into World War II, Magruder was assigned to command the 7th Provisional Tank Brigade, which experimented with tactics and equipment. Convinced by the results of the May 1940 Third United States Army maneuvers that the United States would need to field an armored force for the war, tank and Cavalry unit commanders including Magruder, George S. Patton, and Adna R. Chaffee Jr. agreed to recommend its creation to George Marshall, the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Marshall concurred, and the Army organized and fielded the I Armored Corps. Chaffee was assigned as corps commander, with Magruder assigned in July 1940 as commander of the 1st Armored Division and Charles L. Scott assigned to command the 2nd Armored Division. As the first commander of the 1st Armored Division, Magruder organized and equipped it at Fort Knox, Kentucky using personnel, vehicles, and weapons from the 7th Cavalry Brigade and 6th Infantry Regiment. In addition, Magruder received credit for devising the division's nickname, "Old Ironsides". He was promoted to Major General on October 1, 1940. When the Army formed additional Armored divisions in 1941, Magruder's 1st provided experienced and trained soldiers as the cadre around which the new 4th Armored Division was created. In March 1942, Magruder was succeeded as division commander by Orlando Ward. He was then assigned as commander of the Infantry Replacement Training Center (IRTC) at Camp Wolters, Texas. Responsible for providing trained and ready soldiers to units fighting in Europe and the Pacific, Magruder remained in charge of the IRTC until after the end of the war in 1945, and was succeeded by Brigadier General Maurice L. Miller. Magruder received the Legion of Merit to commend his service with the 1st Armored Division and IRTC. After leaving the IRTC, Magruder was unassigned pending retirement. His duties included inspection visits to the ROTC program at North Carolina A&T and participation in events organized by the Reserve Officers Association. He retired on May 31, 1946. Retirement and death In retirement, Magruder was a resident of first Biloxi, Mississippi, then Winter Park, Florida. He died at the Orlando Air Force Base Hospital in Orlando on July 23, 1953. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Family In 1912, Magruder married Clara Ferol Lott (1891-1955). They divorced before 1930,