Read also oversaw the departure of US forces from Europe at the end of the war as commander of the American Embarkation Center at Le Havre, France.

[7] Promoted to major, he served in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines before attending the Army War College, from which he graduated in 1914.

[8] Advanced to lieutenant colonel after his war college graduation, Read served in Texas and Arizona during the US–Mexico border conflict, including the Pancho Villa Expedition.

After the organization was demobilized in February, 1919 Read was assigned to command of the American Embarkation Center at Le Havre, France, where he was responsible for arranging the transportation of men and materiel back to the United States.

He displayed qualities of leadership and professional attainments of a high order, and to his efforts are largely due the brilliant success achieved.

[26] He died at Walter Reed Army Hospital, shortly before his 74th birthday, on November 6, 1934, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section South, Site 1819.

[32] Their children included Burton Young Read (1889–1981), a career soldier who served from the early 1900s through World War II before retiring as a colonel,[33][34][35] and George Windle Read Jr., a career soldier who served in both world wars and attained the rank of lieutenant general as commander of the US Army Armor Center and the Second United States Army.