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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1894

Vol. IV
p579
3610

(Born Utah)

Briant Harris Wells

(Ap'd Utah)

48

Born Salt Lake City, UT.​a

Military History. — Cadet at the U. S. M. A., from June 17, 1890 to June 12, 1894, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

(Second Lieut. of Infantry, 2d Infantry, June 12, 1894)

Served: In Department of the Platte, from Oct. 1, 1894 to June 28, 1896. — In the Department of Dakota, from June 28, 1896 to Aug. 7, 1897. — On duty with National Guard of Utah, from Aug. 7, 1897

(First Lieut. of Infantry, 18th Infantry, April 26, 1898)

 p580  to June 8, 1898. — Quartermaster, Commissary, and Mustering Officer, Utah Volunteers, from April 30 to June 8, 1898. — Joined regiment on board transport bound for Cuba, with 5th Army Corps, June 13, 1898. — Wounded at San Juan Hill, battle of Santiago, July 2, 1898. — On light duty with National Guard of Utah, Aug. 3 to Oct. 13, 1898. — Joined 18th Infantry at Cavite, P. I., Nov. 22, 1898. — Present at capture of Iloilo, Island of Panay, Feb. 11, 1899, and at capture of Jaro, March 1 and 16, 1899. — In the field, Nov. 22, 1899 to –––––; (Regimental Commissary, May 24, 1899.)

Vol. V
p528
[Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — Served: In the field, Nov. 22, 1899 to Dec. 3, 1899; Quartermaster and Commissary of troops operating in Capiz Province, Panay, P. I., against insurgents, Dec. 3, 1899 to June 8, 1901.

(Captain, 29th Infantry, Feb. 2, 1901)

— Joined regiment at Fort Sheridan, Ill., Oct. 13, 1901; in Department of the Lakes, to Feb. 20, 1902; en route to Philippine Islands, Feb. 20, 1902 to May 1, 1902; in Department South Philippines and Department of the Visayas, from May 11, 1902 to May 14, 1904; en route to the U. S., May 14, 1904 to June 13, 1904; in Department of the Colorado, to Aug. 2, 1907; en route to the Philippine Islands, Aug. 2, 1907 to Sept. 2, 1907; in Department Luzon, Sept. 2, 1907 to –––––.

Vol. VI
p710
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(Born Dec. 5, 1871.)

Military History. —

Captain, 29th Infantry, Feb. 2, 1901.

In Philippines, in Department of Luzon, Sept. 2, 1907, to August, 1909; in Eastern Department to Jan. 1, 1910;

(Captain and Quartermaster, By Detail, Jan. 2, 1910)

served in Eastern Department to Dec. 2, 1912, when he was relieved from detail as Quartermaster;

(Assigned to 29th Infantry, Dec. 16, 1912)

with regiment in Eastern Department to March 17, 1915, when he sailed with regiment for Panama Canal Zone; in Canal Zone to May 5, 1916, when he sailed for U. S.; at Plattsburg, N. Y., at Civilian Training Camps, May 15 to

(Major of Infantry, July 1, 1916)

August, 1916; detailed to General Staff, July 10, 1916; on Mexican border, Chief of Staff, 16th Provisional Division and Nogales District, August, 1916, to April, 1917; at Douglas, Arizona, Chief of Staff, 3rd Provisional Division, April, 1917; at Washington, D. C., member War College Division General Staff, May and June, 1917; in office of Chief of Staff to

(Colonel of Infantry, National Army, Aug. 5, 1917)

Aug. 20, 1917; assigned to 318th Infantry, 80th Division; organized and commanded 318th Infantry to Dec. 28, 1917; member of Staff of General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Tasker H. Bliss, American Permanent Military Representative, Supreme War Council, Versailles, France, Dec. 28, 1917, to July 26, 1918; (arrived in France Jan. 22, 1918); Representative of General Bliss at Hdqrs. General-in‑Chief, Allied Armies, March 31 to July 23;

(Lieut.‑Colonel of Infantry, July 23, 1918)

Chief of Staff, 6th Army Corps, July 26 to

(Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Aug. 8, 1918)

Oct. 16, 1918; Chief of Staff, 4th Army Corps, Oct. 17, 1918, to ––––

Awarded

Distinguished Service Medal

"For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. As chief of staff of the 4th Army Corps while it was in the front line in the Woevre he displayed military attainments of a high order in the planning of operations. Both then and subsequently, during the march to the Rhine and the occupation of German territory, his service was marked by tireless zeal, excellent judgment and whole-hearted devotion to the performance of important tasks."

Vol. VII
p387
[Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Military History: —

Distinguished Service Medal

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Aug. 8, 1918.

Chief of Staff, 4th Army Corps, Oct. 17, 1918, in the operations in the front line in the Woevre Sector, during the march to the Rhine, and the occupation of German territory, until Headquarters, Fourth Corps, was demobilized May 26, 1919, en route to United States, July 1, 1919; at Washington, D. C., Member of War Plans and Defense Projects Section, War Plans Division, General Staff, July 1919, to

Returned to Grade of Lieutenant-Colonel, July 15, 1919.

July, 1920; Chief of War Plans and Defense Projects Section, War Plans Division, General Staff, July, 1920, to

Colonel of Infantry, July 1, 1920.

Aug. 31, 1921; Assistant Chief of Staff, War Plans Division, War Department General Staff, Sept., 1921, to

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Dec. 4, 1922.

Nov. 1, 1923; at Fort Benning, Ga., Commandant, The Infantry School, Nov., 1923, to Mar. 6, 1926; at Washington, D. C., Assistant Chief of Staff, G‑4, War Department General Staff, Mar., 1926, to May 1, 1927; at Washington, D. C., Deputy Chief of Staff, War Department General Staff, May, 1927, to

Major-General, U. S. A., Apr. 19, 1928.

Mar. 8, 1930; at Fort Hamilton, N. Y., commanding First Division, Mar. 9, 1930, to Sept. 18, 1930; at Schofield Barracks, T. H., commanding Hawaiian Division Oct. 24, 1930, to ––––

Awarded Silver Star and cited "for gallantry in action against Spanish forces at Santiago, Cuba, July 1, 1898."

Officer, Legion of Honor, France.

Vol. VIII
p97
[Supplement, Vol. VIII: 1930‑1940]

Military History: —

Maj.‑Gen., Apr. 19, 1928.

At Schofield Bks., T. H., comdg. Hawaiian Div., Oct. 24, 1930, to Sept. 1, 1931; at Fort Shafter, T. H., comdg. Hawaiian Dept., to Jan. 31, 1935.

(Maj.‑Gen., Ret., Jan. 31, 1935.
At his own request after over 40 years' service.)

Civil History: — At Honolulu, T. H., Sec'y.‑Treasurer, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, Oct. 1, 1934 to Dec. 5, 1938; Executive Vice-Pres., and Sec'y., Dec. 5, 1938, to ––––

Vol. IX
p63
[Supplement, Vol. IX: 1940‑1950]

Military History: —

Maj Gen Ret 31 Jan 35

Civil History: — Honolulu TH, Exec Vice President and Secy, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, 5 Dec 38–30 Jun 44; Member Honolulu Chapter Red Cross; Member Exec Council Honolulu Council Boy Scouts of America and Hawaiian representative National Council; Honorary member Chamber of Commerce and of Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association.

Died, Long Beach Calif, 10 Jun 49: Aged 77.

Portrait and obituary at West Point Association of Graduates.º

Buried, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.


Thayer's Note:

a Gen. Wells seems to have been born in Salt Lake City, UT, but I haven't been able to confirm it precisely, although it is suggested on the memorial article and biographical sketch at West Point Association of Graduates, and widely stated online.


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