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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1891

Vol. IV
p529
3447

(Born Ia.)

Hanson E. Ely

(Ap'd Ia.)

63

Born Independence, IA.​a

Military History. — Cadet at the U. S. M. A., from June 16, 1887, to June 12, 1891, when he was graduated and promoted in the army to

(Second Lieut. of Infantry, 22d Infantry, June 12, 1891)

Served: Garrison duty at Fort Keogh, Mont., Sep. 29, 1891 to Aug. 1, 1893; at Fort Pembina, N. D., to Oct., 1895; at Fort Harrison, Mont., to July 2, 1896; at Fort Crook, Neb., to April 17, 1897; on leave to June, 1897;

(First Lieut. of Infantry, 22d Infantry, April 26, 1898)

Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Ia., June 1, 1897 to May, 1898; A. A. Q. M. and A. C. S. to mustering officers in Iowa and Mississippi, to Aug., 1898; with regiment at Camp Wikoff, N. Y., to Sept., 1898; at Fort Crook, Neb., to Jan., 1899; en route to and in the Philippines (R. Q. M., March 30 to May 31, 1899) (Regimental Commissary, Aug. 11, 1899 to –––––), to Jan., 1900; en route to U. S., and on leave, to March 23, 1900; en route to and with regiment in the Philippines to ––––

Vol. V
p479
[Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — Served: En route to and with regiment in the Philippines, to May 20, 1900; commanded General Funston's Mounted Scouts, San Isidro, Northeastern Luzon, May and June, 1900; Depot Commissary, Department of Northern Luzon, July, 1900 to June, 1901.

(Captain, 26th Infantry, Feb. 2, 1901)

— Joined regiment at Nueva Caceres, Southern Luzon, June, 1901; Regimental Adjutant and Adjutant-General, 3d District, Department Southern Luzon, June, 1901 to Oct., 1901; Regimental Recruiting Officer at Des Moines, Ia., Oct., 1901 to Nov., 1903; relieved as Regimental Adjutant, March 23, 1901; joined regiment at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., Dec. 6, 1903; commanded Company A and 1st Battalion, to April, 1904; commanded Rifle Camp, Leon Springs, Tex., April 1, 1904 to May 4, 1904; rejoined station, May 4, 1904; commanding  p480 Company A and 1st Battalion, to July, 1904; Division Competition, Rifle, as Competitor, July, 1904; Captain and member Southwestern Division Rifle Team, at Army Competition, Fort Sheridan, Ill., Aug., 1904; rejoined station, Aug. 10, 1904; Student Officer, Infantry and Cavalry School, Fort Leavenworth, Kas., Aug. 28, 1904 to July 6, 1905; leave of absence, July 6, 1905 to Aug. 12, 1906; Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kas., as Student Officer, Aug. 20, 1905 to July 3, 1906; Staff Ride horseback, from Chickamauga, Ga.,º to Atlanta, Ga., July 4 to 15, 1906; Umpire, Mount Gretna, Pa., Camp of Instruction, on Staff of General Indicates a West Point graduate, Class of 1871: a link to his biographical entry in Cullum's Register.Grant, July 20, 1906 to Aug. 20, 1906; leave of absence at German maneuvers and studying European Armies, Aug. 20 to Dec. 6, 1906; joined regiment at San Antonio, Tex., Dec. 6, 1906; commanding Company K, 26th Infantry, to April 8, 1907; leave of absence, April 8, 1907 to April 26,º 1907; rejoined regiment, April 20,º 1907, commanding Company K, to July 5, 1907; witness before Military Committee Senate, Brownsville affair, May 18‑26, 1907; joined regiment, San Francisco, Cal., June 2, 1907; en route with regiment to Philippine Islands; landed Manila, P. I., July 3, 1907; Regimental Adjutant, station, Manila, July 5, 1907 to March 21, 1908; Officer in charge of mapping Philippine Islands, Headquarters, Division of the Philippines, Feb. 20, 1908 to Aug. 12, 1908; commanding Company K, 26th Infantry, Aug. 12, 1908 to Nov. 10, 1908; D. S., Philippines Division Counsel for Major C. J. T. Clarke, Judge, Division Field Meet and commanding Scout Camp, Pasay, to March 23, 1909; Major, 11th Battalion, Philippine Scouts, Dec. 11, 1908; joined command, 11th Battalion, Philippine Scouts, at Camp Connell, Samar, P. I., April 3, 1909; commanded Battalion and post, April 3, 1909 to Sept. 2, 1909; left post, on leave of absence, Sept. 2, 1909; at Manila, P. I., Jan. 3, 1910 to –––––.

Vol. VI
p612
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(Hanson Edward Ely, Born Nov. 23, 1867.)

Military History. —

Captain, 26th Infantry, Feb. 2, 1901.

Major, Philippine Scouts, Dec. 11, 1908.

At Manila, P. I., including maneuvers in Zamboanga, Jan. 3 to March 1, 1910; visited all Scout Posts in Philippines, examining Scout Officers, March 2 to May 15; at Camp Connell, Samar, commanding post and Battalion of Scouts, May 16 to July 6; on Southern Islands trip, July 8 to Aug. 14; at Camp Connell, commanding post and Battalion of Scouts and on Rinderpest quarantine duty, Negros and Cebu, Aug. 15, 1910 to Sept. 10, 1912; en route to U. S., Sept. 11 to Oct. 9; on leave of absence, Oct. 10 to Dec. 12; relieved as Major, Philippine Scouts, Dec. 15; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., commanding company, 19th Infantry, Dec. 13, 1912, to Feb. 14, 1913; at Galveston, Texas, Feb. 14, 1913, to

(Major, 7th Infantry, March 2, 1913)

Feb. 24, 1915; (commanding Battalion from March 12, 1913); at Vera Cruz, Mexico, commanding Battalion or Regiment, Feb. 24 to July 27, 1915; at Washington, D. C., student officer at Army War College, Aug. 21, 1915, to May 28, 1916; at El Paso, Texas, Chief of Staff, El Paso District, or District Inspector, May 29, 1916, to Jan. 7, 1917; at Indianapolis, Ind., Inspector-instructor, National Guard of Indiana, and Inspector, National Guard of Ohio, Jan. 7 to April 15, 1917; at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., Senior Instructor, Officers' Training Camp, April 16 to

(Lieut.‑Colonel of Infantry, May 15, 1917)

May 28, 1917; member American Military Mission to study organization, equipment, etc., of British and French Armies in the field of operations, May 29 to July 18, 1917; (sailed for Liverpool from Halifax, June 1, 1917); at Paris, France, Provost Marshal American Expeditionary Forces, July 19 to

(Colonel, Temporary, of Infantry, Aug. 5, 1917)

Aug. 30, 1917; member of General Staff, Aug. 7, 1917, to May 3, 1918; at Gondrecourt, France, Chief of Staff, 1st Division, A. E. F., Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, 1917; at Staff College, Langres, Nov. 25 to Dec. 15; commanding 28th Infantry in Toul Sector, Montdidier Sector, Dec. 16, 1917, to July 11, 1918; (captured Cantigny, May 28, 1918); awarded

Croix de Guerre, with palm

and cited — "Brilliant soldier. He infused in his regiment the dash with which he is animated. On May 28, 1918, he executed with great success an operation in which he procured numerous prisoners and gained important ground. He maintained the conquered ground despite several enemy counter-attacks."

(Brigadier-General, National Army, June 26, 1918)

assigned to command of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division; joined near Château Thierry, July 15; en route to Section south of Soissons, July 16; attacked Germans about 15 miles south of Soissons, captured Vierzy, etc., with over 3000 prisoners, July 18‑20; cited in orders of Sept. 12, 1918, for bravery and gallantry displayed on this occasion; commanded 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, attached to 4th French Army near Châlons, and attacked enemy strong position, Mont Blanc Ridge, four attacks, causing retirement of German Army east of Rheims, Oct. 2‑8, (General Gouraud's report):

(Major-General, U. S. A., Oct. 1, 1918)

 p613  assumed command of 5th Division in line north of Montfaucon, Oct. 16; captured various towns and positions; forced crossing of Meuse at Dun-sur‑Meuse and established bridgehead, Nov. 2‑5; captured numerous towns and prisoners; on Nov. 11, held 13kilometer front on salient into enemy's lines; Division cited in 3rd Corps orders, Nov. 6; commanding 5th Division, reinforced, and L of C, 3rd Army, Treves to Verdun, Nov. 11 to Dec. 11; in command of 5th Division reinforced, in south half, Duchy of Luxembourg, guarding surrendered and captured property, line of communications, etc., Dec. 12, 1918, to April 1, 1919;

Awarded

Distinguished Service Medal

Jan. 17, 1919

"For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous services. He commanded, with skill and marked ability, a regiment in trench operations north of Toul, west of Montdidier, and during the attack at Cantigny. Later, as a brigade commander during the Aisne-Marne and St. Mihiel offensives and in the attack on the strong enemy position of Mont Blanc Ridge; and as a division commander during the latter phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, he demonstrated rare qualities of leader­ship."

Officer of Legion of Honor; thrice awarded Croix de Guerre with palm; Division citation, 1st Division; Division citation, 2d Division.

Vol. VII
p333
[Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Military History: —

Distinguished Service Medal

Major-General, U. S. A., Oct. 1, 1918.

At Duchy of Luxembourg and Trier, Germany, in command of 5th Division reinforced in south half, guarding surrendered and captured property, line of communications, etc., Dec. 12, 1918, to July 10, 1919; en route to U. S., July 10, 1919, to July 23, 1919;

Returned to Grade of Lieutenant-Colonel, July 31, 1919.

at Washington, D. C., student officer, Army War College, Aug. 15, 1919, to

Colonel of Infantry, Feb. 16, 1920.

July 1, 1920, when he was graduated;

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Recess Appointment July 3, 1920.

at Camp Travis, Tex., commanding 3rd Brigade Infantry, Sept. 1, 1920, to

Recess Appointment Expired, Mar. 4, 1921.

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Mar. 5, 1921.

Aug. 15, 1921; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., Commandant, General Service Schools, Sept. 1, 1921, to

Major-General, U. S. A., Feb. 2, 1923.

July, 1923; at Washington, D. C., President, Army War College, July 1, 1923, to Nov. 30, 1927; at Governors Island, N. Y., commanding General, 2nd Corps Area, Nov. 30, 1927, to ––––

Awarded

Distinguished Service Cross

"For extraordinary heroism in action near Vierzy, France, July 18, 1918. In order that he might personally direct the attack, General Ely attempted to enter Vierzy which was not yet cleared of the enemy; he was fired on at short range by enemy machine guns in the town. He then personally organized and directed an attack which resulted in the capture of the town and in the advance of the lines  p334 well beyond. General Ely's indomitable bravery, disregard for his own safety, his devotion to his men, and his frequent presence with them in the front line, inspired them to deeds of great courage and enabled the troops to take the town, despite strong enemy resistance made by vastly superior numbers."

Awarded Silver Star and cited "for gallantry in action against insurgent forces at Tullahan River, Luzon, P. I., March 25, 1899."

Thrice awarded Croix de Guerre with palm; Commander of the Legion of Honor; Officer of the Legion of Honor; Division citation, 1st Division; Division citation, 2nd Division.

Vol. VIII
p86
[Supplement, Vol. VIII: 1930‑1940]

Military History: —

(Maj.‑Gen., Feb. 2, 1923.)

At Governors Island, N. Y., comdg. General, 2d C. A., Nov. 30, 1927 to Nov. 30, 1931.

(Maj.‑Gen., Ret., Nov. 30, 1931. By Operation of Law.)

Decorations: — Croix de Guerre with 5 palms; Victory Medal with 5 battle clasps; S. S. (Oak leaf cluster), Commander of Crown of Italy.

Vol. IX
p58
[Supplement, Vol. IX: 1940‑1950]

Military History: —

Maj Gen Ret 30 Nov 31

Civil History: — 2540 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington 8 DC

Died, Apr. 28, 1958, at Atlantic Beach, Fla.: Aged 90.​b

Buried, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.


Thayer's Notes:

a Gen. Ely's birthplace is from The Official History of the Fifth Division U. S. A. During the Period of its Organization and of its Operations in the European World War, 1917‑1919 (1919), p19.

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b Gen. Ely died after the publication of Vol. IX (1950), the most recent volume of the Supplements to Cullum's Register available to me, which may also be the most recent volume in the public domain. The date and place of his death are from the memorial article and biographical sketch at West Point Association of Graduates.


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