Robert H. C. Kelton – Colonel, United States Army

COLONEL ROBERT KELTON, WORLD WAR HERO, DIES
Was Chief of Staff of Third Division in France and Cited by Pershing
June 28, 1924

Colonel Robert H. C. Kelton, U.S.A., retired, Chief of Staff of the Third Division in France during the World War died Thursday at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, in his 51st year, according to an announcement here last night.  He was the eldest son of the late Adjutant General John G. Kelton, and is the fifth generation of his family to hold a commission in the American Army.  In addition to his widow and son, he leaves his mother, a brother and four sisters, including Mrs. Harvey W. Wiley of Washington and the wife of Colonel T. L. Ames of Governors Island, New York.

Colonel Kelton was a native of San Francisco, a graduate of the Artillery School, Staff, Army War and Naval War Colleges.  Since his retirement in 1922 for physical disability incurred in the line of duty he has been Secretary-Treasurer of the Soldiers’ Home in Washington.

Colonel Kelton first served overseas in the war on the General Staff at Chaumont.  After becoming Chief of Staff of the Third Division he took part in the battles of Chateau-Thierry, Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and was cited by General Pershing for exceptionally meritorious conduct.

He was a member of the Chevy Chase and Army and Navy Clubs in Washington, and the St. Botolph Club of Boston.  His marriage to Miss Edith Russell Wills of Newburyport, Massachusetts, took place in 1910.

An account by Colonel Kelton of the operations of the Third Division was published in the New York Times in April 1919.

KELTON, ROBERT H C
COL US ARMY RETIRED

• DATE OF DEATH: 06/27/1924
• BURIED AT: SECTION SE  SITE 1368
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

KELTON, EDITH R WILLS WID/O ROBERT H C

• DATE OF BIRTH: 06/12/1872
• DATE OF DEATH: 04/03/1963
• BURIED AT: SECTION 3  SITE 1368-A W
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

KELTON, JNO C R S/O ROBERT H C

• DATE OF DEATH: 05/25/1927
• BURIED AT: SECTION 3 C L  SITE 1368A
  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