Halstead Dorey (February 7, 1874 – June 19, 1946) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of major general. A graduate of West Point, Dorey distinguished himself as Colonel and Commanding officer, 4th Infantry Regiment during World War I and was decorated with Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest

military award Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...

for extreme gallantry in combat, and also received the Distinguished Service Medal. Following the War, he rose to the general's rank and commanded famed 2nd Infantry Division or

Hawaiian Department Hawaiian may refer to: * Native Hawaiians, the current term for the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants * Hawaii state residents, regardless of ancestry (only used outside of Hawaii) * Hawaiian language Historic uses ...

and retired from active duty in 1935.

Biography

Halstead Dorey was born on February 7, 1874 in St. Louis, Missouri as the son of William A. Dorey and Georgiana B. Banks. Following the graduation from the Shattuck Military Academy in Faribault, Minnesota, Dorey received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in May 1893, where he excelled and reached the rank of Cadet Captain and capacity of battalion commander. Among his classmates were several other future generals:

Thomas Q. Ashburn Thomas Quin Ashburn (February 9, 1820 – January 17, 1890) was an American judge on the Supreme Court Commission of Ohio from 1876 to 1879, and a member of the Ohio State Senate for twelve days at the end of his life in 1890. Thomas Ashbur ...

, Harry G. Bishop, Albert J. Bowley, Charles H. Bridges, Sherwood A. Cheney, Edgar T. Collins, Edgar T. Conley, William D. Connor, Harley B. Ferguson, Harold B. Fiske, Frank Ross McCoy,

Andrew Moses Andrew Moses (June 6, 1874 – December 22, 1946) was a career officer in the United States Army. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he served from 1897 to 1938, and was a veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I. He ...

or Charles DuVal Roberts. Leonard Wood and Halstead Dorey at the New York Yankee Game in 1917

He graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in June 1897 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Infantry branch. Dorey was subsequently assigned to the

23rd Infantry Regiment The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. A unit with the same name was formed on 26 June 1812 and saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812. In 1815 it was consolidated with the 6th, 16th, 22nd, and ...

at Fort Brown, Texas and remained there until he was transferred to the 4th Infantry Regiment. Dorey sailed with the regiment to Cuba in April 1898 during the Spanish–American War and took part in the

Battle of El Caney The Battle of El Caney was fought on July 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. 600 Spanish soldiers held for twelve hours, until they ran out of ammunition, against Henry W. Lawton's 5th US Division, made up of 6,899 men. This action tempor ...

and Siege of Santiago in July that year. He later took part in the

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...

and served as 4th Infantry Regiment's Aide-de-Camp in the combat operations against Moros at Zamboanga and Manila. Dorey commanded as Captain the battalion of

Philippine Scouts The Philippine Scouts (Filipino: ''Maghahanap ng Pilipinas'' or ''Hukbong Maghahanap ng Pilipinas'') was a military organization of the United States Army from 1901 until after the end of World War II. These troops were generally Filipinos an ...

at Mindanao and was appointed Aide-de-Camp to Major general Leonard Wood, who served as the governor of Moro Province, a stronghold of Muslim rebellion. Dorey was decorated with his first

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 ...

for his bravery on Philippines. Following the United States' entry into World War I in April 1917, Dorey was appointed Aide-de-Camp to his former superior and now Commanding general of

Camp Funston Camp Funston is a U.S. Army training camp located on Fort Riley, southwest of Manhattan, Kansas. The camp was named for Brigadier General Frederick Funston (1865–1917). It is one of sixteen such camps established at the outbreak of World War ...

, Kansas, Major general Leonard Wood. General Wood was responsible for the training of nearly 40,000 men and appointed Dorey as a commanding officer of the

Citizens' Military Training Camp Citizens' Military Training Camps (CMTC) were military training programs of the United States. Held annually each summer during the years 1921 to 1940, the CMTC camps differed from National Guard and Organized Reserve training in that the program a ...

, the first businessmen's training camp at

Plattsburgh, New York Plattsburgh ( moh, Tsi ietsénhtha) is a city in, and the seat of, Clinton County, New York, United States, situated on the north-western shore of Lake Champlain. The population was 19,841 at the 2020 census. The population of the surrounding ...

. He later received temporary promotion to Colonel and embarked for France in early 1918. Dorey assumed duty as Commanding officer, 4th Infantry Regiment and led it for the duration of the War. Dorey led his regiment during the defensive actions of

Aisne Aisne ( , ; ; pcd, Ainne) is a French department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It is named after the river Aisne. In 2019, it had a population of 531,345.Château-Thierry, Second Battle of the Marne, and in the Third Battle of the Aisne, Saint-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne offensives. He distinguished himself in the combats north of Montfaucon on October 15, 1918, when during a 12 days' continuous fighting against stubborn resistance, his regiment suffered heavy casualties. Colonel Dorey, himself suffering from a painful wound, went forward from his post of command through a heavy enemy barrage to the front line, where he reorganized his forces and directed the attacking units for two days, until he was again severely wounded. His conspicuous bravery inspired his troops to the successful assault of a strongly fortified ravine and woods which were of vital importance and resulted in the capture of numerous prisoners and much material. He remained in command of the regiment until October 20, 1918, when he was ordered to the rear for treatment. For his service with 4th Infantry Regiment, Dorey received Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest

for extreme gallantry in combat, and

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 ...

. He was also decorated with Legion of Honour, rank Officer and Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm by the Government of France. Following the war, Dorey reached the rank of Brigadier general and commanded 14th Infantry Brigade from January 30, 1923 to February 12, 1925; 18th Infantry Brigade from December 1927 to October 16, 1928 and graduated from the Army War College. He was promoted to Major general in November 1933 and assumed command of 2nd Infantry Division following month. Dorey was ordered to Hawaii in June 1934 and commanded Hawaiian Division with additional duty as temporary commanding general of

until March 1935. General Dorey retired from active duty in December 1935 and settled at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Upon his retirement, Dorey was active in Army and Navy Club and Episcopal Church. Major general Halstead Dorey died on June 19, 1946 in San Antonio, Texas and was buried at

United States Military Academy Cemetery West Point Cemetery is a historic cemetery in the eastern United States, on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. It overlooks the Hudson River, and served as a burial ground for Revolutionary War soldiers and earl ...

. He was survived by his wife, Theodora Cheney Dorey of Manchester, Connecticut and his daughters: Edna Dorey and Georgiana.

Decorations and medals

Here is the ribbon bar of general Dorey:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorsey, Halstead 1874 births 1946 deaths United States Army Infantry Branch personnel Military personnel from Missouri People from St. Louis United States Army generals United States Military Academy alumni United States Army War College alumni American military personnel of the Spanish–American War American military personnel of the Philippine–American War United States Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)

Biography

Decorations and medals

See also

References