Charles Pelot Summerall | |
---|---|
Born |
Blunts Ferry, Florida, United States |
March 4, 1867
Died | May 14, 1955 Washington, D.C., United States |
(aged 88)
Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery, United States |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1892–1931 |
Rank | General |
Unit |
Infantry Branch Field Artillery Branch |
Commands held | 1st Field Artillery Brigade 65th Field Artillery Brigade 1st Division V Corps IX Corps IV Corps Hawaiian Department Chief of Staff of the United States Army |
Battles/wars |
Philippine–American War China Relief Expedition World War I |
Other work | President of The Citadel (1931–1953) |
General Charles Pelot Summerall (March 4, 1867 – May 14, 1955) was a senior United States Army officer. He served in World War I, as one of the first commanders of the 1st Infantry Division ("The Big Red One"), and was Army Chief of Staff from 1926 and 1930. He was also the President of The Citadel between 1931 and 1953.
Summerall was born in Blunts Ferry, Florida, and attended the Porter Military Academy in South Carolina from 1882 to 1885. After graduation, he worked as a school teacher for three years. In 1888 he enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in June 1892.
Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry, transferring to the 5th Artillery in March 1893. He performed garrison duty in California from 1893–1895, then served at Fort Hamilton, New York from 1895-1898. He was assigned to the Department of the Gulf as aide to the commander and as an engineer officer in 1898-1899, receiving promotion to first lieutenant in March 1899.
Summerall participated with his unit in the Philippine Insurrection in 1899-1900, and was a member of the China Relief Expedition in 1900-1901, participating in the attack on Peking. He was promoted to captain and assigned to the 106th Coast Artillery Company in July 1901. He served at Forts Walla Walla and Lawton, in Washington state, commanding the latter post in 1901-1902. He was on duty at Camp Skagway and commanded and was in charge of preliminary work at Fort Seward in Alaska. He commanded Fort Flagler in 1902-1903, and then was transferred to the 3rd Field Artillery Battery with duty at Camp Thomas and Fort Myer in 1903-1905.