Charles Keller
BornFebruary 13, 1868
Rochester, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 16, 1949 (aged 81)
Coronado, California, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1890–1923
1940–1943
RankBrigadier General
Service numberO-331
UnitCorps of Engineers
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
Philippine–American War
World War I
World War II
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
French Legion of Honour
Alma materUnited States Military Academy (B.S.)
Spouse(s)Frances Rosenfield (1897–1949)
Other workbusinessman

Charles Keller (February 13, 1868 – September 16, 1949) was a United States Army Brigadier General and former businessman.

Early life

He was born in Rochester, New York on February 13, 1868, the son of Isaac and Fanny Keller.[1] He was appointed to the United States Military Academy from New York.[2]

Military service

He graduated from the academy in 1890 and was commissioned a Second lieutenant (ASN: O-331)[3] in the United States Army Corps of Engineers.[1] He was assigned to the United States Army Engineer School in Willets Point from 1890 to 1893 and was later in charge of the supervision of river and harbor improvements in Alabama and northwestern Florida from 1893 to 1894.[4][5] From 1894 to 1898 he was assigned to Rock Island, Illinois.[5] In 1898 he was in charge of torpedo defence in the harbors of Charleston and Port Royal, South Carolina and later temporarily assigned to Rock Island again.[5] Froom 1898 to 1899 he was assigned to Portland, Maine and later served as secretary of the Missouri River Commission from 1899 to 1901.[5][6] From 1901 to 1903 he was in charge of improvements of rivers and harbors on the east shore of Lake Michigan near Grand Rapids.[6] From 1903 to 1905 he served as the commanding officer of Company K, 3rd Battalion of Engineers.[6] During this same time he also served on duty in the Philippine Islands as an engineer officer for the Department of Mindanao and later engineer for the Moro Province in Zamboanga City.[6] In 1905 he served as the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion of Engineers.[6]

When he returned to the states he took charge of the U.S. Lake Survey in 1905, served as engineer for the 11th Lighthouse District (Detroit), and was a member of several engineer boards.[4][1][6] As a member of the Niagara Falls Committee he was instrumental in bringing about more efficient production of hydroelectric power.[4][1] He then served as district engineer at Rock Island and inspector of the 13th Lighthouse District (Detroit, Michigan).[4][1]

From 1913 to 1916 he served as the Officer in Charge of Sea Coast Defenses for river & harbor improvements in the Mobile District, Alabama.[7] From 1916 to 1918 he served as Assistant to the Chief of Engineers and Chief of the Miscellaneous Civil Section in the Office of the Chief of Engineers.[7] In 1918 he served as secretary of the Committee on Inland Waterways of the Railroad Administration and joint national power administrator for the Department of War and War Industries Board.[7]

From 1918 to 1919 he served as deputy chief engineer for the American Expeditionary Forces.[7][4][1] From 1919 to 1921 he served as a Resident Member of Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors.[7][4][1] From 1921 to 1923 he served as engineer commissioner for the District of Columbia. In 1923 he retired from the army with the rank of Colonel and in 1930 was promoted to Brigadier General.[7][4][1][8]

In 1940 he was recalled to active duty to serve as district engineer for Chicago, Illinois.[7][4] In 1943 he retired for a second time.[7][4]

When he retired in 1943 he was 75 years old, the oldest Army officer to serve on active duty during World War II.[4][9]

Post military service

He became a principal assistant vice president in charge of engineering for the Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation.[10][1] He later became the director and president of one of its operating subsidiaries.[10][1]

Personal life

In 1897 he married Frances Rosenfield and they had two sons, Ira C. and Charles Jr.[4] Both of his sons would go on to serve in the military.[10]

Death

He died on September 16, 1949, in Coronado, California and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.[10][4]

Awards and decorations

For his service in the First World War he was decorated with the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honour.[10][4][11] After his second retirement he was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Second World War.[10][4][11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 White, James Terry (1927). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography ... Current Volume. Clifton, New Jersey: J.T. White.
  2. ↑ Official register of the officers and cadets (1887), page 16
  3. ↑ Army List and Directory (January 1, 1932, page 277)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Historical Vignette 079 – The Oldest U.S. Army Officer to Serve in World War II Was an Engineer
  5. 1 2 3 4 Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., from its establishment, in 1802 : (Supplement, volume IV 1890-1900), page 490
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., from its establishment, in 1802 : (Supplement, volume V 1900-1910), page 443
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Biography of Brigadier General Charles Keller
  8. ↑ Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., from its establishment, in 1802 : (Supplement, volume IX 1940–1950), page 54
  9. ↑ Charles Keller – Brigadier General, United States Army
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Charles Keller – Class of 1890
  11. 1 2 Charles Keller – Recipient
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