Courtesy of the United States Military Academy:
Clifton, New Jersey was the home of Charles Wesley Exton. He was born there on 25 December 1872 and he was working as a railroad clerk and studying to be a school teacher when he received his appointment to West Point.
Following early graduation, Exton joined the 20th Infantry Regiment and went to Cuba. He received a Silver Star Citation for gallantry at El Caney and also took part in the battles of San Juan Hill and Santiago de Cuba. He also served in the Philippines during the conflict with Spain and returned to the US to become a Tactical Officer at West Point.
Exton moved to Hawaii, Kansas, Utah and Arizona before joining General Pershing’s forces in Europe in 1917.
Graduating from the Army War College in 1919, Exton took command of the 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia. Then he transferred to the new Chemical Warfare Service and, in 1923, assumed command of Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, and then became Chemical Officer of the I Corps Area.
He retired on 31 December 1936 while serving as the Chemical Officer of the III Corps Area. Exton resided in Washington, D.C. until his death on 31 March 1964 at age 91. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
He was the father of Hugh McClellan Exton, Lieutenant General, United States Army.
Charles Wesley Exton of New Jersey
Appointed from New Jersey, Cadet, United States Military Academy, 15 June 1894
Second Lieutenant, 20th United States Infantry, 26 April 1898
First Lieutenant, 2 March 1899
Captain, 26th United States Infantry, 10 January 1903
Transferred to the 15th United States Infantry, 12 March 1903
EXTON, CHARLES WESLEY
COL USA
VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/26/1872
DATE OF DEATH: 03/23/1966
DATE OF INTERMENT: 03/26/1964
BURIED AT: SECTION 1 SITE 612-B
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
USMA Photo
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard