Charles Bryant Drake (September 14, 1872 – August 14, 1956) was a
United States Army officer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Biography
Drake was born in
Old Forge, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, on September 14, 1872, to a family that had resided in the country since before the
American Revolutionary War. After graduating from
Wyoming Seminary, Drake won a competitive examination and entered the
United States Military Academy in 1892, graduating in 1896.
Drake was commissioned in the Fifth Cavalry at
Fort Sam Houston, and he later served at
Fort McIntosh, Texas,
Fort Brown, and in
Huntsville, Alabama. After sailing to
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón (, ) is a Bayamón barrio-pueblo, city, Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality of Puerto Rico and suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan located in the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, Aguas Buenas an ...
, with his unit in January 1899, Drake was promoted to
first lieutenant and stationed in
Fort Yates, North Dakota, and
Fort Yellowstone with the First Cavalry. Upon his promotion to the rank of
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
in June 1902, he was stationed at
Fort Grant, Arizona, with the 14th Cavalry.
In October 1903, Drake sailed to
Jolo, Sulu, in the
Philippines. Serving on the Second and Third Sulu Expeditions, he earned a
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
on both of them.
While in the Philippines, Drake was recommended for a
brevet
Brevet may refer to:
Military
* Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay
* Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college
* Aircre ...
promotion to
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
. He was later awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries.
*Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
*Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
*Distinguished Service Cross (U ...
for his heroism at the siege and taking of Cotta Pang Pang on February 14, 1904. The citation for the medal reads:
After returning to the U.S., he served at the
Boise Barracks
Fort Boise is either of two different locations in the Western United States, western United States, both in Southwestern Idaho, southwestern Idaho. The first was a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) trading post near the Snake River on what is now the Or ...
, and from August 1906 to January 1909, he did recruiting duty at
Fort Slocum. Arriving back in the Philippines, Drake served as a quartermaster at
Fort Stotsenburg until March 1912. After he and his regiment returned to the U.S., he served in several positions, including participating in the
Pancho Villa Expedition, in which he commanded a motor supply train.
Drake was appointed to organize the
Motor Transport Corps
The Motor Transport Corps (M.T.C.) was formed out of the United States Army Quartermaster Corps on 15 August 1918, by General Order No. 75. Men needed to staff this new corps were recruited from the skilled tradesmen working for automotive man ...
in August 1918, during
World War I, which he led until 1920 when it again became a part of the
Quartermaster Corps
Following is a list of Quartermaster Corps, military units, active and defunct, with logistics duties:
* Egyptian Army Quartermaster Corps - see Structure of the Egyptian Army
* Hellenic Army Quartermaster Corps (''Σώμα Φροντιστών ...
. Drake received the
Army Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...
for serving in this position, the citation for which stated the following:
Drake was also promoted to the rank of
brigadier general on October 1, 1918. After serving as an assistant to the
Quartermaster General of the United States Army from July to September 1919, Drake served as an assistant to the Chief of Finance until February 1921. He then served as the Director of Cavalry at the
Militia Bureau. Drake retired from the army on October 31, 1922, again at the rank of colonel. He was again promoted to brigadier general, post-retirement, on June 21, 1930.
Drake died of throat cancer on August 14, 1956, in
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware shortly before he was to turn 84. He is buried at
Arlington National Cemetery.
Burial Detail: Drake, Charles B
– ANC Explorer
References
Bibliography
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drake, Charles Bryant
1872 births
1956 deaths
People from Old Forge, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
United States Military Academy alumni
Military personnel from Pennsylvania
United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel
American military personnel of the Philippine–American War
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
United States Army generals of World War I
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
United States Army generals
Deaths from cancer in Delaware
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery