Herron - Charles D.
Source: Indianapolis
News 27 June 1916 p 4 –
Governor Samuel M. Ralston has named Captain Charles D. Herron of the Tenth infantry, U. S. A., now in service in the Panama canal zone, as brigadier-general of the new Indiana infantry brigade, and he was expecting word from the war department today that would announce that Captain Herron would be permitted to take command of the Indiana troops. The recommendation was favorably received almost everywhere among guard and army officers in this city. Governor Ralston met Captain Herron when the Governor's party was returning last summer from the Panama-Pacific exposition at San Francisco, via the Panama canal. The impression made on the Governor at that time by the Indiana army officer, who had previously been an instructor-inspector of the Indiana national guard, was extremely favorable. Born in Crawfordsville, Captain Herron will take command of the three infantry regiments from Indiana, now encamped at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, if his designation by the Governor receives favorable action by the war department. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Herron of Crawfordsville and the joy that his appointment as brigadier-general of the troops brought to the parents at Crawfordsville was reflected to the Governor when they thanked him for the honor he had bestowed on their son. It is remarked that the new brigade commander of the Indiana troops was born and reared in the same city that was the home of General Lew Wallace, whose grandson also has received the offer of a place in the officer list of the reorganized Indiana guard. Will Sail July 5. Three years ago Captain Herron was married to Miss Louise Milligan, daughter of Mr and Mrs H. J. Milligan, 1441 North Delaware street. Captain Herron will sail from the canal zone July 5 with Mrs. Herron for the United States, and will enter on his new duties at once when he returns. William P. Herron of Crawfordsville, father of Captain Herron and Reginald H. Sullivan, of Indianapolis, recommended Captain Herron to Governor Ralston for an officership in the reorganized guard, but Mr. Sullivan said today he had little idea the Governor would select Captain Herron for the chief position with the guard. William P. Herron now the president of the First National Bank in Crawfordsville was a captain in the Seventy-second Indiana infantry regiment in the civil war, and served practically throughout that war. Capt. Alexander M. Scott of Indianapolis, representative in the last house of representatives in the Indiana General Assembly paid a high tribute to Captain Herron. “He is a Democrat,” Captain Scott said, “but he is one of the loyal, patriotic kind of Democrats. I have known him ever since he was a schoolboy. He graduated from the high school at Crawfordsville when he was about 15 years old – very young. He was still in short pants when he entered Wabash College and I happened to be in his father’s bank the day young Charley started to college. His father told me afterwards that the boys in the college made fun of Charley and said they didn’t want the college to degenerate into a kindergarten.”
Governor Samuel M. Ralston has named Captain Charles D. Herron of the Tenth infantry, U. S. A., now in service in the Panama canal zone, as brigadier-general of the new Indiana infantry brigade, and he was expecting word from the war department today that would announce that Captain Herron would be permitted to take command of the Indiana troops. The recommendation was favorably received almost everywhere among guard and army officers in this city. Governor Ralston met Captain Herron when the Governor's party was returning last summer from the Panama-Pacific exposition at San Francisco, via the Panama canal. The impression made on the Governor at that time by the Indiana army officer, who had previously been an instructor-inspector of the Indiana national guard, was extremely favorable. Born in Crawfordsville, Captain Herron will take command of the three infantry regiments from Indiana, now encamped at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, if his designation by the Governor receives favorable action by the war department. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Herron of Crawfordsville and the joy that his appointment as brigadier-general of the troops brought to the parents at Crawfordsville was reflected to the Governor when they thanked him for the honor he had bestowed on their son. It is remarked that the new brigade commander of the Indiana troops was born and reared in the same city that was the home of General Lew Wallace, whose grandson also has received the offer of a place in the officer list of the reorganized Indiana guard. Will Sail July 5. Three years ago Captain Herron was married to Miss Louise Milligan, daughter of Mr and Mrs H. J. Milligan, 1441 North Delaware street. Captain Herron will sail from the canal zone July 5 with Mrs. Herron for the United States, and will enter on his new duties at once when he returns. William P. Herron of Crawfordsville, father of Captain Herron and Reginald H. Sullivan, of Indianapolis, recommended Captain Herron to Governor Ralston for an officership in the reorganized guard, but Mr. Sullivan said today he had little idea the Governor would select Captain Herron for the chief position with the guard. William P. Herron now the president of the First National Bank in Crawfordsville was a captain in the Seventy-second Indiana infantry regiment in the civil war, and served practically throughout that war. Capt. Alexander M. Scott of Indianapolis, representative in the last house of representatives in the Indiana General Assembly paid a high tribute to Captain Herron. “He is a Democrat,” Captain Scott said, “but he is one of the loyal, patriotic kind of Democrats. I have known him ever since he was a schoolboy. He graduated from the high school at Crawfordsville when he was about 15 years old – very young. He was still in short pants when he entered Wabash College and I happened to be in his father’s bank the day young Charley started to college. His father told me afterwards that the boys in the college made fun of Charley and said they didn’t want the college to degenerate into a kindergarten.”
Reginald H. Sullivan was a classmate and fraternity “brother” of Captain Herron. He said young Herron obtained his appointment to West Point through former Congressman Brookshire, a Democrat. At that time Herron had been in Wabash two years. He was in West Point four years and later took a two year course in military training at Ft. Leavenworth, Kas. He is a member of the Betha Theta Pi College fraternity. During a part of his career after he had graduated from West Point he was an instructor at that school. The only vote young Herron ever has cast, according to Sullivan was when he voted for Woodrow Wilson four years ago. Capt. Herron has had two years of active service on the Mexican border when he was connected with the 23rd regiment. More than three years ago he was sent to Texas City, from where he was transferred to the Panama Canal zone with the 10th infantry. Capt. Herron is 39 years old. He has seen service in the Philippines, having been ordered to Manila when he was assigned to the Eighteenth infantry. On arrival at Manila he was sent into the campaign on the Island of Parcey, under General Hughes. In the first battle, there the captain of Herron’s company was killed and Herron remained in command of the company during the remainder of that campaign. He later was appointed captain of the post and collector of customs. After he was returned to the US he was again sent back to the Philippines and still later sent to the school at Ft. Leavenworth, Kas. He then became instructor-inspector of the Pennsylvania national guard, stationed at Gettysburg. Later he became instructor-inspector of the Indiana national guard during the administration of Thomas R. Marshall as Governor. Governor Ralston said he had not heard whether Captain Herron’s selection would be acceptable to the war department, but expected word at once confirming the appointment. It had been hinted from Washington that the war department might not look with favor on the selection of such a man as Colonel Omar Bundy now attached to the staff of General Funston for the command of the Indiana troops, since he would be needed in his present post. But it is not believed the department will object to the selection of the Hoosier Captain. Governor Ralston paid a tribute to his new appointee. He said, “He’s an exceptionally high grade man. A very proficient man in whatever he undertakes. If you will examine the records from West Point you will find written beneath his name the words, “Distinguished graduate.” It will be very hard to find that after other names in that list. Whatever he undertakes he carries to a conclusion. I understand.”