Henry Tureman Allen – Major General, United States Army

One of the more colorful calvarymen of the period. His career ranged from frontier duty to exploration of Alaska. He had been military attache in Russia and Germany before he fought in Cuba and the Philippines. He had been civil governorof the Island of Leyte in the Philippines, where he organized and commanded, as a Brigadier General, the Philippine Constabulary, before going on in 1904 as an observer with the Japanese Army in Korea.

He commanded a regiment in the Mexican Punitive Expedition under General John J. Pershing and when World War I began, he took the 90th Infantry Division to France. After the war, he commanded in turn VII Corps, IX Corps and VII Corps propr to taking over command of all Army forces in Germany.

He retired as a Major General in 1923, and then remained active as an author, as Director of Foreign Affairs Council, Vice President and Executive Officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee and Chairman of the American Committee for the Relief of German Children.

He was born at Sharpsburg, Kentucky, on April 13, 1859 and graduated from West Point in 1882, being commissioned in the cavalry. After six years of service in the West, including command of an exploring expedition to Alaska in 1885-86, he returned to West Point as an instructor from 1888 to 1890, receiving promotion to First Lieutenant in June 1899.

From 1890 to 1895 he was military attache in Russia nd during 1897-98 held a similar post in Germany. In the Spanish-American War, he served as a Major and Assistant Adjutant General, seeing action in the campaign against Santiago, Cuba, and distinguishing himself in Henry Lawton’s capture of El Caney. After a bout with Yellow Fever and another short stay in Germany, he went to the Philippines to aid in the suppression of the insurrection there.

He was briefly governor of Leyte in April-June 1901, advancing to Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers in May. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in June and reverted to his permanent rank of Captain, and in June began organizing the Philippine Constabulary, a paramilitary force intended to replace the American military in the Islands. He remained the head of that organization until 1907, holding from January 1903 the temporary rank of Brigadier General.

He was promoted to Major of regulars in April 1907 and returned to duty in the United States. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August 1912 and to Colonel of the 8th United States Cavalry in July 1916, taking part in that year in the Mexican Punitive Expedition. In May 1917, advanced to Brigadier General and in August temporary Major General in charge of the 90th Infantry Division.

After training at Camp Travis, Texas, he took the 90th to France in June 1918 and beginning in August saw action in the Toul Sector and in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. After the armistice was signed, he was named commander of all American troops on occupation duty in Germany.

In March 1920 he was promoted to permanent Major General and early in 1923 he returned to the United States, and in April retired from the military.

He died at Burne Vista Spring, Pennsylvania, on August 30, 1930 and was buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery.

ALLEN, HENRY T
MAJ GEN USA RET
DATE OF DEATH: 08/30/1930
BURIED AT: SECTION B  SITE LOT-3892
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

The General’s son, Henry Tureman Allen, Jr., Colonel, United States Army, is also buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard