Enoch Herbert Crowder – Brigadier General, United States Army

Enoch Herbert Crowder was born at Edinburg, Grundy County, Missouri, April 11, 1859. He graduated form the United States Military Academy in 1881 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, 8th U.S. Cavalry. While posted at Fort Brown, Texas, he studied law and received a license to practice, 1884.

From 1885 to 1889, he taught military science-tactics at University of Missouri, taking a law degree there in 1886, and receiving promotion to First Lieutenant in July of same year. During 1889-1891 he saw frontier duty in the Dakotas and in the latter year was promoted to Captain and made acting Judge Advocate General of the Department of the Platte at Omaha, Nebraska. He was promoted to Major in January 1895 and appointed Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers in June 1898, then served as judge advocate on staff of Wesley Merritt in the Philippines in 1898 and military secretary to the island’s governors, Ewell S. Otis and Arthur MacArthur, until 1901.

He also served also on civil supreme court and on various boards. From August 1899 to May 1901 held a commission as a Lieutenant Colonel of the 39th Volunteer Infantry, and in the latter month was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the regular Judge Advocate Corps.

He was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers in June 1901.

After his return to the U.S., he took up duties in the Judge Advocate General’s  Department. He was promoted to Colonel in April 1903 and later in the year became chief of 1st Division of the Army’s first General Staff. He was an observer in the Russo- Japanese War, 1904-05, and in Cuba from 1906 to 1909, where he served on the staff of provisional governor, supervised the election of 1908, and contributed significantly to drafting of a body of organic law.

He was a delegate to Fourth Pan-American Conference in Buenos Aires in 1910. In February 1911, he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Judge Advocate General of the Army, a post he held for 12 years. Under his direction Articles of War and Manual for Courts-Martial were thoroughly revised. He was chiefly responsible for drafting of the Selective Service Act which was passed in May 1917, and as Provost Marshal General had responsibility for administering the program during World War I.

He was promoted to Major General in October 1917. In 1921 he went to Cuba as President Woodrow Wilson’s personal rep to settle a dispute over elections. Upon his retirement from the Army in February 1923, he was appointed US Ambassador to Cuba. He returned to the US in 1927 and entered private law practice in Chicago.

General Crowder died in Washington, D.C.  on May 7, 1932, and was buried with full military honors in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.


GENERAL CROWDER BURIED IN ARLINGTON
“Taps” Sounded for Noted Soldier and Diplomat – Notables at Service

WASHINGTON, May 9, 1932 – Final “Taps” for Major General Enoch H. Crowder, noted soldier and diplomat, were sounded in Arlington National Cemetery today, were he was buried after services at Walter Reed Memorial Hospital.

The first American Ambassador to Cuba, who contributed largely to the organization of that new republic after its successful war for independence, died Saturday after a long illness.

Colonel Campbell B. Hodges, military aide to President Hoover, represented the Chief Executive at the burial.  The honorary pallbearers were led by Secretary Hurley of the War Department, and prominent Army men attended the services.  The American Chamber of Commerce in Cuba was represented by Judge Charles S. Lobinger, former counsel for the organization at Havana.

The services in the hospital chapel were conducted by Chaplain E. Earl Boyd of the hospital.

The honorary pallbearers also included General Douglas MacArthur, Chief of Staff of the Army; Major General Blanton Winship, Judge Advocate General, and Newton D. Baker, wartime Secretary of War.

CROWDER, ENOCH H
MAJOR GEN US ARMY RETIRED

  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
  • DATE OF DEATH: 05/07/1932
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 05/09/1932
  • BURIED AT: SECTION SPECI  SITE #18
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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