8 JOMSA

Indian Wars (1861-1898)

Parker, James.1st Lieutenant, 4th U.S. Cavalry. General Orders No. 2, March 1, 1928. “For gallantry in action against Apache Indians at Devils Creek, New Mexico, May 22, 1885.”

In the spring of 1885, Geronimo attacked civilian towns in Arizona, killing men, women and children. Two units of the 4th U.S. Cavalry started in pursuit of the marauders from Fort Apache; Lieutenant Parker was in command of Troop B. On May 22, 1885, the cavalrymen entered a deep canyon and set up camp, unaware that a large band of Apaches were camped on the opposite plateau. The officer commanding the column and some of the soldiers had undressed and were bathing in Devil’s Creek, which flowed through the canyon. At the same time, the horses belonging to the troopers were taken to graze on a ledge halfway up the canyon.

Suddenly the Apaches opened fire on the cavalrymen from the north, south, east and west, from a height of 600 feet. A sergeant yelled “Get to the herd!” While the average officer probably would have sent men to get the horses, and then set up defensive positions in the creek bottom, Lieutenant Parker took another course of action. Without hesitation, he shouted: “Never mind the herd. Get your guns!” He took command of about 20 troopers and led his men up the steep east wall of the canyon. When he got to the top, Parker and his soldiers routed the Apaches and captured their camp.6 For this act of combat heroism, he was cited for gallantry in orders and placed a SCS on his Indian Campaign Medal when it was authorized in 1918.

Born in 1854, James Parker (Figure 4) graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1876. He was a very tall man for his time, as he stood 6 foot 4 inches. For the next 42 years, until his mandatory retirement in 1918 at the age of 64, Parker had a remarkable career as a cavalry officer.

As a 1st Lieutenant he fought against Apache Indians. As a Major he saw combat in more than 20 actions during the Philippine Insurrection and was twice cited for combat gallantry in 1899. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in the Philippines on December 4, 1899.

Fifteen years later, now Brigadier General Parker (he received his star in February 1913) was in command of the 1st Cavalry Brigade. In November 1916, he planned and then umpired a 10-day maneuver along the Rio Grande River. This involved 23,000 troopers spread over an area of 1,500 square miles.

After America’s entry in World War I Parker was promoted to Major General. He finished his career as a soldier in France, where he saw action at Armentieres and Malmaison in 1917. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his exemplary service in a position of great responsibility.

After retiring from active duty as a Major General in 1918, Parker wrote The Old Army: Memories, the story of his life as a soldier. He died in Rhode Island in 1934.

Figure 4: James Parker in 1889.Figure 5: The reverse of the Silver Star to 1st Lieutenant

James Parker.

Vol. 66, No.4 (July-August 2015) 9

Figure 5 depicts Parker’s officially engraved Silver Star (# 5303), with two oak leaf clusters (reflecting citations for gallantry in 1885 and 1899).

War with Spain (1898)

Bowen, Warren D.Private, Company H, 13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. General Orders No. 1, February 1, 1937. “For gallantry in action against Spanish forces at Manila, P.I., August 13, 1898.”

Burgess, John W.Private, 1st Company, Signal Corps, U.S. Volunteers. General Orders No. 6, July 1, 1933. “For gallantry in action during the assault and capture of Manila, P.I., August 13, 1898.”

Comstock, Clayton E.Private, Company H, 7th U.S. Infantry. General Orders No. 1, March 1, 1934. “For gallantry in action against Spanish Forces at El Caney, Cuba, July 1, 1898.”

Frantz, Frank.1st Lieutenant, Troop A, 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. General Orders No. 8, October 14, 1935. “For gallantry in action against Spanish forces at Santiago, Cuba, July 1, 1898.”

Greenwald, Samuel.Private, Troop A, 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. General Orders No. 1, March 1, 1934. “For gallantry in action against Spanish forces at San Juan, Cuba, July 1, 1898.

Hines, John L.1st Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. General Orders No. 13, May 1, 1924. “For gallantry in action against Spanish forces at Santiago, Cuba, July 1, 1898.”

Born in West Virginia in 1868, John Leonard Hines (Figure 6) graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1891. An Infantry officer, he served in the Santiago de Cuba campaign (1898), Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902), and Punitive Expedition into Mexico (1916). In World War I, Hines served first as a regimental commander, and then as the commanding general of a brigade, division, and corps in General John J. Pershing’s American Expeditionary Force. This put him into the history books, as Hines was the only Army officer in World War I to command a regiment, brigade, division and corps in combat.

The recipient of a Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, and Silver Star, Hines

was promoted to Major General in 1920, and served as Deputy Chief of Staff from 1922 to 1924. Hines was then promoted to four-star rank and assumed duties as Army Chief of Staff in 1924. After completing this assignment in 1926 he reverted to two-star rank and became the senior Army officer in the Philippines. Hines retired as a Major General in 1932, but was advanced to four star rank in 1940. Hines died five months after celebrating his 100th birthday and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In 2000, the U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp honoring him.7

Figure 7 is the AGO award card for John L. Hines, showing that his “Silver Star Medal” (sic) was authorized “7-16-34.” Consequently, although only his SCS for heroism at Santiago was announced in General Orders, the award card proves that a Silver Star was issued to Hines in July 1934.

Hutcheson, Grote. (see also Boxer Rebellion entry, below)Captain and Assistant Adjutant General, U.S. Volunteers. General Orders No. 7, 1925. “For gallantry action against Spanish forces near Hormiguero, Porto Rico, August 10, 1898.”

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1862, Grote Hutcheson graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1884, ranking 25th in a class of 37 men. His first assignment was with the 9th Cavalry at Fort Sill, Indian Territory (today’s Oklahoma) and he later served in other locations

Figure 6: Major General John L. Hines.

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in the Department of Missouri.

During the Spanish-American War, then Captain Hutcheson was detailed as Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers, and was cited for combat heroism in Puerto Rico in 1898.

In 1900, Hutcheson was selected by Major General Adna R. Chaffee to be the Adjutant General, Inspector General, and Judge Advocate for the China Relief Expedition. He participated in the march to Peking and the relief of the Legations during the Boxer Rebellion, and was twice cited for gallantry in action.

When General Chaffee became Army Chief of Staff, Hutcheson followed him to the War Department, where he provided invaluable service on the General Staff. When

the United States entered World War I, then Brigadier General Hutcheson organized recruit-training camps in Texas and Kentucky before taking command of the port of embarkation at Newport News, Virginia. As a result of his superlative efforts in this assignment, Hutcheson was awarded both the Army and the Navy Distinguished Service Medals. He was a Major General when he retired from active duty in 1924. He died in 1948 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Hutcheson was issued Silver Star (# 20) with two large oak leaf clusters in 1932. He had previously been awarded an Army Distinguished Service Medal (#120) and a Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The citation for the latter lauded his “distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding General, Port of Embarkation, Newport News. Va. By his close co-operation with the

Figure 7: Adjutant General’s Office Silver Star award card to 1st Lieutenant John L. Hines.