Adelbert Cronkhite

Adelbert Cronkhite
Cronkhite as depicted in the October 1918 edition of Munsey's Magazine.
Born	(1861-01-06)January 6, 1861 Litchfield, New York
Died	June 15, 1937(1937-06-15) (aged 76) St. Petersburg, Florida
Buried at	West Point Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1882–1923
Rank	Major General
Unit	United States Army Coast Artillery Corps
Commands held	22nd Field Artillery Battery Fort Totten, New York Panama Coast Artillery District 80th Division IX Corps VI Corps Newport News Port of Debarkation Coast Artillery Training Center III Corps Area
Battles/wars	Sioux Wars Spanish–American War World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal French Croix de Guerre French Legion of Honor British Order of St Michael and St George Virginia Distinguished Service Medal
Relations	Alexander Cummings McWhorter Pennington Jr. (father in law)

Adelbert Cronkhite (January 6, 1861 – June 15, 1937) was a career officer in the United States Army. He was notable for his command of the 80th Division during World War I. He also served as interim commander of IX Corps and commander of VI Corps after the war. In addition, his later command assignments included the Newport News Port of Debarkation, the Coast Artillery Training Center, and III Corps Area.

Cronkhite was the subject of national attention in the early 1920s when he advocated publicly for the investigation into the death of his son to be reopened; Alexander P. Cronkhite was an Army major stationed at Camp Lewis, Washington in 1918 when he died as the result of a gunshot. An investigation determined that the wound was accidental and self-inflicted; Cronkhite’s public campaign led to the indictment of two soldiers who had been with Alexander Cronkhite at the time of his death. The 1924 trial of one ended in an acquittal, and charges against the second were dropped. Cronkhite’s public campaign to renew the investigation brought him into disfavor with senior Army leadership, and he was retired against his wishes in 1923.

After his retirement, Cronkhite lived in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and became active in veterans’ groups. He was also a frequent speaker at military reunions and other public events.

Cronkhite died in Florida in 1937 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Adelbert Cronkhite was born in Litchfield, New York on January 6, 1861. His father was a surgeon in the Army, and Cronkhite was raised at military posts throughout the United States. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy from Arizona in 1878; he graduated in 1882 ranked 10th in his class, and was assigned to the Field Artillery branch.