George King Hunter(April 6, 1855 – February 2, 1940) was a career officer in theUnited States Army.A veteran of theAmerican Indian Wars,Spanish–American War,Philippine–American War,andWorld War I,he was a recipient of theSilver Starand attained the rank ofBrigadier General.
George King Hunter | |
|---|---|
 Hunter circa 1918. West Point Digital Library. | |
| Born | April 6, 1855 Lancaster, Ohio,U.S. |
| Died | February 2, 1940 New York City |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1877–1919 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Service number | 0-13334 |
| Unit | U.S. Army Cavalry Branch |
| Commands | Troop K,3rd Cavalry 1st Squadron,15th Cavalry 5th Cavalry Regiment Fort Wingate 7th Cavalry Regiment Fort Riley Fort William McKinley 1st Cavalry Regiment Presidio of Monterey, California 164th Depot Brigade 6th Infantry Brigade Jefferson Barracks |
| Battles / wars | American Indian Wars Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I |
| Awards | Silver Star |
| Spouse(s) | Mary E. Hinmann |
| Children | 6 |
A native ofLancaster, Ohio,Hunter graduated from theUnited States Military Academyin 1877 and was assigned to theCavalrybranch. He performed duty throughout the western United States during theAmerican Indian Wars,including expeditions and scouting missions inArizona,New Mexico,andTexas.Hunter served in theSpanish–American War,and was wounded at the July 1898Battle of San Juan Hill.His heroism during the battle was recognized with award of theSilver Star.Hunter commanded a Cavalry troop and squadron in thePhilippinesduring thePhilippine–American War,after which he performed duty in both the United States and the Philippines.
Hunter was promoted tobrigadier generalat the start ofWorld War I,and commanded the 164th Depot Brigade, 6th Infantry Brigade, andJefferson Barracks.He retired in July 1919. In retirement, Hunter resided inCleveland,Ohio. He died at theFifth Avenue Hotelin New York City on February 2, 1940. Hunter was buried atArlington National Cemetery.
Early life
editGeorge King Hunter inLancaster, Ohio,was born on April 6, 1855, the son ofLieutenant ColonelHenry B. Hunter, aUnion Armyveteran of theAmerican Civil War,and Josephine (King) Hunter.[1][2][a]He was raised and educated in Lancaster, and worked in his father's pharmacy.[3]In 1873, Hunter was appointed to theUnited States Military Academy.[4]He graduated in 1877 ranked sixty-seven of seventy-six.[4]Hunter received his commission as asecond lieutenantofCavalryand was assigned to the4th Cavalry Regiment.[4]
Start of career
editHunter served with his regiment atFort Elliottin Texas from 1877 to 1878, and atFort Laramiein Wyoming beginning in 1878.[4]In 1879, he was posted toFort Fettermanand he took part in that year'sexpedition against the Utes.[4]He was briefly assigned toFort Sanders,Wyoming, in 1881, and then toFort D. A. Russell.[4]In May 1881, Hunter was promotedfirst lieutenantin the3rd Cavalry.[4]
From June 1881 to May 1882, Hunter was posted toFort McKinney.[4]In the summer of 1881, he was assigned to temporary duty as commander of the escort that traveled with a hunting party led byRandolph B. Marcy,who was then serving asInspector General of the U.S. Army.[4]From May to April 1885, Hunter served with his regiment atFort Bowie,Arizona, where he took part in several scouting missions to track Native Americans duringGeronimo's War.[4]From April to December 1885, he was posted to Cantonment Peña Colorada, inBrewster County, Texas,where he continued to take part in scouting missions.[4]
In November 1885, Hunter was assigned as adjutant of the 3rd Cavalry, and he served in this position atFort Davis, Texas,until August 1886.[4]He performed temporary recruiting duty from September 1886 to October 1888, after which he rejoined his regiment, first atFort McIntosh, Texas,then atFort Sam Houston,Texas.[4]Hunter was promoted tocaptainin February 1891.[4]He continued to perform duty during the last of theAmerican Indian Wars,including service on theRio Grandefrontier throughout 1892.[4]Hunter served with the 3rd Cavalry atFort Renoin Oklahoma, from to June 1893 to October 1894.[4]From October 1894 to April 1898, he performed duty with the 3rd Cavalry atJefferson Barracksin Missouri.[4]
Spanish–American War
editAt the start of theSpanish–American Warin April 1898, Hunter was with his regiment when it was assigned toCamp Thomas, Georgia,for organization and training.[4]The 3rd Cavalry subsequently traveled toTampa, Florida,where it awaited transport toCuba.Hunter took part in theSantiago campaignand was wounded in the July 1, 1898Battle of San Juan Hill.[4]
Hunter received theCitation Starin recognition of his heroism during the fight.[4]When theSilver Starwas created during modernization of the Army's awards program, Hunter's Citation Star was converted to the new medal.[4]After leaving Cuba, Hunter served with the 3rd Cavalry atFort Ethan Allen,Vermont,then at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.[4]
Philippine–American War
editIn August 1899, Hunter and the 3rd Cavalry sailed fromSeattle,Washington, for duty during thePhilippine–American War.[4]The regiment arrived in the Philippines in October, and Hunter was assigned to command Troop K.[4]During his Philippines service, Hunter took part in several expeditions commanded by generals inHenry Ware LawtonandSamuel Baldwin Marks Young.[4]After the U.S. occupation stabilized, Hunter was appointedprovost judgeof theIlocos Norteprovince.[4]He was promoted tomajorin February 1901, and in May he assumed command of 1st Squadron,15th Cavalry Regiment,which was assigned toManila.[4]
Hunter commanded his squadron on duty inMindanao,where he simultaneously commanded a sub‑district of the Army's 1st District, which included the area fromMisamistoDapitan.[4]Hunter subsequently served atIligan,where he remained until April 1903.[4]From April to October 1903, Hunter served as inspector general for the Army's Department of theVisayasand was based inIloilo.[4]Hunter returned to the United States in October 1903.[4]
Later career
editUpon returning from the Philippines, Hunter was assigned to the6th Cavalry RegimentatFort Meade,South Dakota.[4]He remained at Fort Meade until June 1906, when he was promoted tolieutenant colonelin the5th Cavalry Regimentand posted toFort Wingate,New Mexico.[4]He commanded the regiment and post until October 1908.[4]He served with the 5th Cavalry atSchofield Barracks,Hawaii, until March 1910, and was promoted tocolonelin February 1910.[4]
After becoming a colonel, Hunter commanded the 7th Regiment and the post at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he remained until January 1911.[4]He served in the Philippines from March 1911 to July 1914, and commanded both the 7th Cavalry and the post atFort William McKinley.[4]From July to December 1914, Hunter commanded the1st Cavalry Regimentand the post at thePresidio of Monterey, California.[4]In December 1914, Hunter was detailed to the Army's inspector general's department, and he served as inspector general of the Central Department until August 1917.[4]
World War I
edit
Hunter was promoted to temporarybrigadier generalon August 5, 1917, and was assigned to command the 164th Depot Brigade atCamp Funston,Kansas,where he remained until October.[4]From November to December 1917, Hunter was assigned as president of the court-martial for the trial of Black soldiers who were accused of participating in theHouston riot of 1917.[4]In three courts-martial, 19 soldiers received the death penalty and 41 were sentenced to life imprisonment.
From December 1917 to February 1918, Hunter was assigned toCamp Greene,North Carolina,where he commanded the 6th Infantry Brigade.[4]Hunter was retired as a colonel on February 4, 1918, but requested recall to active duty for continued wartime service.[4]He was then assigned to command the post atJefferson Barracks,Missouri.[4]Hunter remained at Jefferson Barracks until the end of the war, and retired again in July 1919.[4]
Retirement and death
editIn retirement, Hunter was a resident ofCleveland,Ohio.[4]He was active in several legacy societies and veterans organizations, including theMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States,Military Order of Foreign Wars,Military Order of the Carabao,andSons of the American Revolution.[5]
In 1930, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation allowing the general officers of World War I to retire at their highest rank, and Hunter was promoted to brigadier general on the retired list.[6]His wife and he later moved to New York City'sFifth Avenue Hotel,where Hunter died on February 2, 1940.[4]He was buried atArlington National Cemetery.[4]
Family
editIn 1878, Hunter married Mary E. Hinman ofLancaster, Ohio.[5]They were the parents of six children:
- George Bowditch, a U.S. Army brigadier general[2]
- Russell Hinman, an executive with the construction company that built theEmpire State Building[2]
- Anna (wife of Colonel Robert Sterrett)[2]
- Katharine (wife of Colonel Franklin Dudley Griffith Jr.)[2]
- Helen (wife of Brigadier General William Vaulx Dawley Carter)[7]
- Joseph Livermore, who was described as "insane" and spent his life in mental institutions[8][9]
Notes
edit- ^Generals in Khakiincorrectly gives Hunter's middle name as "Ring".
References
edit- ^Thwing, Walter Eliot (1902).The Livermore Family of America.Boston, MA: W. B. Clarke Company. p. 139 – viaGoogle Books.
- ^abcdeDavis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998).Generals in Khaki.Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press. pp. 192–193.ISBN978-1-5719-7088-6– viaGoogle Books.
- ^"1870 United States Federal Census, Entry for Henry B. Hunter Family".Ancestry.Lehi, UT: Ancestry, LLC. 1870.RetrievedNovember 30,2021.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavCullum, George W. (1890–1940)."Class of 1877: George K. Hunter".Consolidated Entries from "Cullum's Register",Volumes II-VIII.Chicago, IL: Bill Thayer.RetrievedOctober 12,2019.
- ^abMarquis, Albert Nelson,ed. (1921).Who's Who in America.Vol. XI. Chicago: A. N. Marquis. p. 1442 – viaGoogle Books.
- ^"Retired Officers Given War Rank".The Evening Star.Washington, DC. August 19, 1930. p. 2 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"Death Notice, Helen Cornyn Hunter Carter".The Washington Herald.Washington, DC. August 15, 1917. p. 11 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918, Entry for Joseph L. Hunter".Ancestry.Lehi, UT. May 31, 1917.RetrievedDecember 3,2021.
- ^"Death Notice, Joseph L. Hunter".Poughkeepsie New Yorker.Poughkeepsie, NY. February 6, 1956. p. 14 – viaNewspapers.
External links
edit- George K. Hunterat Arlington National Cemetery