46 Fascinating Facts About Our 46 Presidents-- Part 6: Roosevelt to Coolidge

26.  THEODORE ROOSEVELT  (1901-1909)

The youngest president, taking office at age 42.

27.  WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT  (1909-1913)

Famous for his corpulence, Taft was the first to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League ball game

28.  WOODROW WILSON  (19143-1921)

In a 1914  proclamation, he officially established the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

29.  WARREN G. HARDING  (1921-1923)

Prior to taking office, Harding wrote a series of lurid letters to his mistress, the wife of one of his best friends.

30.  CALVIN COOLIDGE  (1923-1929)

A quiet man, he purportedly  replied, "You lose," to a visitor who bet she could get at least three words out of him.

--CootPres

Buckeye Presidents-- Part 5: Outsized, Overshadowed, Births and Assassinations

At the time, Ohio was one of only three swing states along with New York and Indiana which helps explain the state's outsized place in presidential politics of the era.  Benjamin Harrison was a "two-for-one guy" because he was born in Ohio and spent his adult life in Indiana.

Yet, Rutherford B. Hayes, in particular, read the Constitution as giving the president a more modest role than big personalities, beginning with Teddy Roosevelt, who would come later.  He was one of only two presidents who chose to seek only one term.

"He really felt that his role was not to overshadow Congress," McLochlin said.  "Some would say that's eroded over the years."

The elder Harrison was born in Virginia, but spent most of his adult life in Ohio.  The others, which include Ulysses S. Grant, president from 1869 to 1877; and William Howard Taft, president from 1909 to 1913, were all Ohio natives.

William Henry  Harrison wasn't the only Ohio president to meet a tragic end.  Garfield and McKinley were assassinated --  Garfield about six months after taking office in 1881 and McKinley about six months into his second term in 1901.  Harding was in the third year of his term in 1923 when he died of a heart attack.

--Cooter

Jacob "Howling Wilderness" Smith-- Part 4: The Belangiga Massacre

Because of his bravery in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, Smith was promoted to the rank of brigadier general by Philippine's  governor William Howard Taft. It was with the thought that Smith would then retire, but that didn't happen.  Smith remained in the Army.

In 1899, Smith boasted to reporters that  he was going to use Indian tactics against the Filipino insurgents and would be really harsh with them.  Then, there was a situation in Luzon where Smith's actions angered the locals.

But, by far the worse thing that happened was the Belangiga Massacre where 51 American soldiers of Company  C of the 9th U.S. Infantry were killed.  This provoked shock and anger in the United States and newspapers called for reprisal.  Military governor of the Philippines, Major General Adna R. Chafee, received orders from President Teddy Roosevelt to pacify the island of Samar where it happened.

He appointed Jacob Smith to do this.  This proved to be a mistake.

And Then It All Happened.  --DaCoot

Francis Warren AFB-- Part 3: Fort Russel and "Black Jack" Pershing

In 1906, Secretary of War  William Howard Taft recommended an expansion for Fort Russell to brigade-size and by 1910, there were a lot more buildings.  Artillery units were assigned to the fort as well.

From 1913-1916, during the Mexican Revolution, artillery units were stationed along the border to keep the struggle from  coming to U.S. territory. During World War I, the fort served as a mobilization point and training facility for field artillery and cavalry units.

When the war began, Fort Russell became one of the largest stateside Army posts.

Quarters No. 2 at the post were for the second in command and  at one time the family of John J. "Black Jack" Pershing lived there.  He later led U.S. Forces in World War I.    He had married the daughter of Francis E. Warren.  Within two years of his marriage to Helen Frances Warren in 1905, Pershing was raised four ranks from captain to brigadier general.  Something unheard of in those days.

It is suspected that being married to the daughter of a very powerful U.S. senator and a personal favorite of Theodore Roosevelt had something to do with it.

For the post's role in World War II, go to my Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II blog.

--Cooter

Wisconsin's Camp McCoy

I have been writing about Camp McCoy/Fort McCoy in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog.

From www.mccoy.army.mil.  Fort McCoy History.

Named after General Robert Bruce McCoy who was instrumental in getting the post established.  After the Spanish-American War he envisioned the site as a place to train artillerymen.

In 1906, Secretary of War William Howard Taft proposed the construction of four large camps across the U.S. for the training of regular Army and National Guard units.

In 1909, Camp Robinson and Camp Emory Upton were established.  The site soon proved to be an excellent field artillery training site and was much-used for that purpose.

Improvements and additions were made between 1910 and 1919.  This included rifle ranges, office buildings and storehouses.  Until 1919, the camp was a favorite for artillery and at one time was described as the  largest, most modern and beautiful installations in the nation.

It continued to grow through World War I with the construction of barracks, mess halls, stables and  warehouses.

Field artillery units trained there throughout the war and into 1918.

--Cooter

Other November Events in Marine Corps History

Of course, November 10 was when the act was passed forming the United States Marine Corps.

NOVEMBER 12, 1908--  President Theodore Roosevelt removed Marines from warships.  Six months later, they were reinstates for that sea service by President Taft.

NOVEMBER 10, 1918--  The day before the end of World War I, the 5th Marines made a night crossing of the Marne River against German resistance.

--DaCoot