John T. French, Jr. – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRENCH BURIED

He Was Tactician, West Point Instructor and Quartermaster In Cuba

WASHINGTON, August 13, 1909 – The funeral of Lieutenant Colonel John T. French, Jr., USA, who died on Tuesday, was held here today.  He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery with military honors.

Colonel French was notable as a tactician.  He participated in Indian campaigns.  For services during the Powder River expedition under General Crook, he received a Medal of Honor from Congress.

Colonel French was born in Massachusetts on April 27, 1854 and was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point from that State in 1872.  He was graduated four years later and was assigned as a Second Lieutenant to the Fourth Cavalry.  He was stationed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.  In the latter part of 1876 he took part in the Powder River expedition.  He went in the following year to enter the artillery school at Fort Monroe, from which he was graduated in 1880.

His next assignment was to West Point as Assistant Professor of Spanish.  At West Point he was also Assistant Professor of Modern Languages.  He was made First Lieutenant in 1885 and became Assistant Quartermaster with the rank of Captain ten years later.  He became a Lieutenant Colonel in February 1908 and in the following month was placed on the retired list because of disability.  He went to Cuba as Quartermaster of the Department of Havana in 1899.

NOTE: There is no record of a Medal of Honor being awarded to Colonel French during the Indian Wars.

FRENCH, JNO T JR

  • LT COL USA
  • DATE OF DEATH: 08/10/1909
  • BURIED AT: SECTION OFFIC  SITE LOT 1114
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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