Carey Blake, an Infantry Soldier of long service in the US Army 1908-1952

[Salvage Sailor]

This is going to be a long story. 

 

It may be laid out before us due to the complete original records which this proud soldier kept and preserved.  This story also shall illustrate my motivation for seeking out complete ephemera caches that are often overlooked by pickers and merchants of militaria.  The documents tell the tale which would otherwise be obscured in the passage of time.

 

But lets get started at the beginning, when a young Ohio lad of over 19 years enlisted as a Private in Company F of the Tenth Regiment of Infantry at their post at Columbus Barracks, Ohio on 19 May, 1908 for three years. The Tenth Infantry had recently been posted to service in the Philippines, Alaska and Fort Benjamin Harrison and now, the Texas Border.

 

Tenth Infantry Colors and Crest

 

First Enlistment 1908 - Tenth Infantry Regiment

As noted in the US Army Register of Enlistments, the Army Clerk scribed that Carey Blake was born in Sharon, Ohio, in February of 1889, Waiter, Blue #12 eyes, Dark Brown hair, fair complexion, 5’7 ½” , passed it across for a signature, and then he became an Infantryman in the United States Tenth Infantry Regiment.

 

 

Carey August Blake had come to the Army apparently by choice as he looked for opportunity in 1908.  His parents had settled in Ohio before the Civil War, his American father marrying an emigrant Prussian woman.  He had lost his mother at the early age of four, and shortly thereafter his father passed when he was five.  His siblings all being much older than he, Carey was raised by a brother 21 years his senior in his household.  The age difference was so great that Carey was listed as his son in the next Census, along with his brothers children.  At 19, it was time to move out and move on.

 

 

Three years later after serving in Ohio, Indiana & Texas, he was discharged from the Tenth Infantry on the 18th day of May, 1911 (by Frederick W. Coleman, Capt. and Commis'y 10 Infty. Commanding.  He would be awarded the DSM & SS in WWI with the 91st ID and later as a Major General became Chief of the Army Finance Corps).   

 

Caption:  Standing under the two-star flag of a major general is Maj. Gen. Frederick W. Coleman (USA RET), who is here visiting his son, Lt. Col. F. W. Coleman, III, commander of special troops, and Maj. Gen. Harry J. Collins, Division Commander.  Camp Gruber, Okla. 10/26/43 (111-SC-188572)

 

His Regiment was then away from Columbus Barracks and in the field at Maneuver Camp, San Antonio, Texas when he was discharged.  In March 1911, the 10th Infantry had been despatched to San Antonio, Texas, where it became part of the Maneuver Division, which was formed to undertake offensive operations during the Border War with Mexico. 

 

He had qualified as a 1st class marksman, and then a sharpshooter in 1910 during his infantry training.  His company commander noted his character as "excellent...service honest and faithful" and no doubt with some of Uncle Sam's pay in his pocket (as noted by the paymasters office stamp) he headed on down the dusty Texas road.

 

 

But not for long and not very far...

 

Three months later at Columbus Barracks on August 8th, 1911, he stepped up to the same Enlistment Register at the same place and re-enlisted in Company F for another three year hitch but this time as a Lance Corporal, listing his occupation as "Soldier".

 

[Salvage Sailor]

To The Canal Zone - Second Enlistment 1911

 

Lance Corporal Carey Blake, now an experienced Soldier, had used his three month hiatus wisely as he knew that his Regiment had been training on the Texas plains and border to prepare for overseas movement again.  Instead of the Philippines or Alaska, this time their assignment was the defense of the Panama Canal Zone.  Carey rejoined his Regiment in Texas and departed Galveston for The C.Z. in September, 1911, arriving there in October.

 

News Item:  Arrival of 10th Infantry
Originally printed: Canal Record October 4,1911

 

The Tenth Regiment of Infantry, U.S.A., arrived on the Canal Zone on Wednesday morning, having embarked at Galveston, Texas on September, from Fort Sam Houston.  Temporary barracks have been provided in canal quarters at Las Cascadas.  The regiment, as it arrived on the Zone, consists of 33 officers and 813 enlisted men.  Col. Henry A. Green is in command.

 

 

In 1906 Henry A. Greene was promoted to colonel and command of the 10th Infantry Regiment. He took the regiment to Alaska and Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, followed by Texas border duties, and then the Panama Canal Zone.  After service as commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, he commanded the 91st Infantry Division, AEF, as a Major General (with Frederick W. Coleman at his side).

 

The Tenth was the first Infantry Regiment sent to Panama for the defense of the Zone.  When Carey Blake arrived at Camp Otis, in the Zone, it was an unfinished post not yet prepared for the Tenth Regiment. Two old labor camps consisting of dilapidated French barracks which housed laborers during the abortive French effort to construct the Canal in 1881-1887 were used to house the first arrival of troops.  By 1912, with the arrival of an additional 102 recruits, the last element of the 10th Infantry assigned to Panama, Camp Otis was filled to capacity.   The following news piece will sum up the situation nicely.

 

News Item: Conditions at Camp Otis
Tenth Infantry, U.S.A., in Crowded Quarters at Las Cascadas
Originally printed: Canal Record November 1911

 

The Tenth Regiment of Infantry, U.S.A., on November 4 completed its first month of service on the Isthmus. The temporary quarters in Camp E. S. Otis at Las Cascadas, require a great deal of crowding of men and officers and the grounds afford no space for even company formations; no authorization has been made for improvements and no one in the regiment knows whether it is to stay on the Isthmus or is resting over here before making another move. It is the expectation however that a few more quarters will be erected shortly, presumably Commission buildings removed from the Gatun Lake area.

 

 

One of the new buildings will house the post exchange. This a combined general merchandise store and clubhouse for the men. The necessaries of wearing apparel, and sutler’s supplies are on sale, under a credit system which automatically extends the men’s spending period over the month. In the same building are rooms for reading and for cards, billiards and other amusements.

 

 

None of the men are quartered in tents, though several of the company messes are under canvas. By direction of the War Department, the regiment obtains its commissary supplies from the Commissary Department of the Panama Railroad Company. Every morning by nine o’clock the mess sergeants give their lists of foodstuffs for a day’s provisioning to the regimental commissary, who combines them in a bulk order on the Cristobal store, from which they are delivered the next morning at 6:45 at the regimental store house. From this point detachments from the messes take their supplies away on their backs or in wheelbarrows, as the road through the camp is, for the most part, at present impassable for wagons. Some of the mess halls and tents are three quarters of a mile from the storehouse. The regulation Army ration costs here 31 cents per day. At Fort Sam Houston, where the regiment was stationed before its embarkation for the Canal Zone, the day’s ration cost 22 ½ cents per man. The cost of the ration is calculated from the prices prevailing in the vicinity and the mess allowances are made accordingly, the company commander spending as much extra on the mess as he deems wise, from the company fund. On November 4, there were 810 enlisted men present with the regiment, and the aggregate monthly expenditure on their rations is about $8,500.

 

 

The sick of the regiment are treated at Ancon Hospital. The sanitation of the camp area is in charge of the regimental sanitary department, which also maintains a dispensary, The camp is well drained and the quarters are screened. The health of the soldiers has been excellent, the few cases of illness being due principally to maldigestion.

 

Numerous permits are granted for visiting Panama and Colon and the Canal Zone villages. The members of the regiment and their families are given half-rates on the Panama Railroad, and avail themselves extensively of the opportunities of observing the Canal construction. At present, on account of restricted ground, there are no formations, except squad, in rank. Rolls are called in the quarters, the men standing at attention beside their bunks. "Fatigue" duty has provided exercise, and it is hoped shortly to have target practice and service marches. Band concerts are given on Monday and Thursday afternoons at three o’clock and on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at seven-thirty. At these, and at anytime during the day, the public is welcome. Of the thirty-five officers present, eighteen have their families with them.

 

Officers of the Tenth Infantry in Panama including future General Eichelberger (right).  Eichelberger was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 25th Infantry on 11 June 1909, but was transferred to the 10th Infantry at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, on 22 July.  In March 1911, the 10th Infantry was despatched to San Antonio, Texas, where it became part of the Maneuver Division, which was formed to undertake offensive operations during the Border War with Mexico. Then, in September, it was sent to the Panama Canal Zone. It was in Panama that Eichelberger met Emmaline (Em) Gudger, the daughter of Hezekiah A. Gudger, the Chief Justice of the Panama Canal Zone Supreme Court. After a brief courtship, they were married on 3 April 1913

 

Promotion to NCO

 

 

Two months after arriving in the CZ, Captain Coleman and Colonel Greene though enough of Lance Corporal Blake to promote him to Corporal in Company F.  This was done on December 1st, 1911 at Camp E. S. Otis, Las Cascadas, Panama Canal Zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dpast32]

THANKS MUCH for this very interesting & apparently complete 'term of service' report. Hopefully, they buried him his an U.S. Army Flag, as his whole life was pretty much in their service.

 

             Best,     Dom P.

[Salvage Sailor]

Eastern Division - Governors Island, New York City

Corporal Blake did not stay in the CZ for very long though, as he was detailed to the newly resurrected Eastern Division at Governors Island in New York City, now responsible for the Canal Zone construction, supply and defense from 1911 to 1913.

 

 

He was discharged from the Tenth Infantry and sent to New York by reason of S.O. No. 284. and assigned by Headquarters U.S. Army Eastern Division, Governors Island, NY 1913 until his next reenlistment on August 3rd, 1914.

 

 

Once again on his Tenth Regiment 1912 discharge he was deemed "excellent" in character and recommended for reenlistment by his Company commander Captain Cabell and the Lt. Col. of the Regiment.

 

 

He shipped out to New York from Christobal, C.Z. on Dec. 21, 1912 on the S.S. COLON, arriving in the Port of New York on Dec. 27, 1912 (First entry on the manifest below).  Altogether Carey Blake had spent 14 months in Panama improving Camp Otis, guarding the locks and filling the mundane duty hours of a Soldier in the tropical heat.

 

 

During this period, he was promoted to (Acting) Sergeant, Infantry, and when his second (detached) three year enlistment expired, he returned not to Ohio, but back to San Antonio, Texas in 1914.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Eastern Division

During his Eastern Division hiatus, Carey appears to have taken up the trade which many career Army NCO's have been attracted to - Bartending.  It was a good way to make money on the side to supplement his paltry enlisted pay and allowances.  He also had picked up something else, a wife.  By June of 1914, even soldiers had to register for the draft in 1914 and Carey was no exception, listing his occupation as Bartender, and noting his 6 years of Army service.

 

 

 

 

1914 was a 'hot time' on the Texas border and Carey, apparently not amenable to returning to the Tenth and the CZ, decided to reenlist in the 17th Infantry Regiment - "The Buffalos" of the Texas Infantry heading down South of the Border.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

1914 Punitive Expedition to Mexico - 17th Infantry Regiment - "The Buffalos" of the Texas Infantry

Brief background of the US 17th Infantry Regiment in the 1916-1917 Punitive Expedition to Mexico.

 

 

At this time, the Colonel of the 17th Regiment was Henry Clay Hodges Jr. (USMA 1881)  After serving as Secretary of the General Staff from June 11, 1913, to August 31, 1914, he went to the 17th Infantry Regiment in Eagle Pass, Texas because of the Border War.

 

Colonel Hodges departed Washington for duty with the 17th Infantry, to help suppress the border raids by Pancho Villa and other bandit bands.  In 1916, upon his departure for the Hawaiian Department and the 1st Infantry, he was honored by the officers and men of the entire post. While in Hawaii he was promoted to brigadier general and subsequently to major general as the Army began to expand with America's entry into World War I.

 

As Major General Hodges he became the Academy's oldest graduate since April 2, 1955 when Colonel Clarence E. Dentler, USMA 1884, passed away in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 95. General Hodges also had the distinction of being the only centenarian in the history of the Military Academy passing at age 103.

 

The 17th Regiment was a follow on unit during the Punitive Expedition, guarding roads, depots, and supply lines.  Not a whole lot is known about their duty in 1916 as noted in this recent JSTOR article.

 

 

But what is known is that Carey Blake was there with his new Infantry Regiment.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Corporal Blake in Mexico with the 17th Infantry

Having been on detached service and by not rejoining his Regiment, Carey Blake had to start over as a Private which was typical for Army service in this period.  He quickly regained his stripes and was again appointed Corporal, but this time in Company I of the 17th Regiment of Infantry, then at Camp Eagle Pass, Texas on December 1st, 1914.  Signed by Colonel Henry Clay Hodges Jr. , Commanding

 

 

 

 

But this time he was on the way up and on the 6th of February, 1916 he was promoted to Sergeant

 

 

Again appointed by Colonel Henry Clay Hodges, Jr., at Camp Eagle Pass, Texas

 

 

Soon he was off to Columbus, New Mexico and then on the Pursuit to catch Pancho Villa in Mexico.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Sergeant Blake joins the Texas National Guard 1917 - 'Over There' with the 141st Infantry

With more digging and some lucky archival research this part of the story may be filled out at a later date and we'll know more about his duty with the 17th Infantry in 1916-1917 in Mexico.

 

But on the anniversary date of this enlistment, August 5th, 1917, he did something rather unexpected.  Even though a European war was raging, he left the Regulars and signed up as a Sergeant with the First Texas Infantry, Texas National Guard

 

 

First Texas Infantry, Texas National Guard, San Antonio, Texas, (later to be redesignated as the 141st Infantry Regiment)

 

 

Now you may be wondering, "what's he up to", being an Infantry Sergeant but not staying in the Regulars even though the US is in the war by this time in 1917.  Perhaps for personal reasons such as being married (not easy for an enlisted man of the day) and already being away for extended periods in the last few years. 

 

That was not on Carey's mind.  There's an old Army adage of his day that you're heard, "If the army wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one", and in this case it was true.  By 1917 he was single again.

 

Perhaps he just didn't wish to get involved in the Great War in Europe.

 

Not likely I'd venture.  He was a Soldier.  He wanted to pursue Bandits in Mexico and get a crack at the Hun.   He must have known that several of the Regular regiments were being held as garrison troops in Hawaii, Alaska, the C.Z., and the States yet some of the National Guard units were already overseas in the Rainbow Division.  What you're missing is that he knew the 1st Texas Infantry had already been: (from the records)

 

Called into Federal service 31 March 1917;

Mustered into Federal service 11–12 April 1917;

Drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917

 

All before his joining them on 5th of August, 1917.  Notice the date?  I'd say that Carey Blake wanted to serve with a Texas unit from his new adopted home in San Antonio, Texas.  They were going to be Brigaded with the next large National Guard Division.

 

The 1st Texas Infantry was soon to be:

Consolidated 12 October 1917 with the 1st Infantry Regiment (see ANNEX);

and consolidated unit designated as the 141st Infantry, an element of the 36th Division

 

ANNEX:  

Former Companies B, D, and K, 1st Infantry Regiment, reorganized 1 January 1908 in the Texas National Guard from existing elements as a separate infantry battalion

Reorganized and redesignated 9 November 1911 as Separate Companies B, D, and K
Expanded and reorganized in June 1917 to form the 1st Infantry Regiment
Drafted into Federal service 5 August 1917

 

He was going to France with the newly formed 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th "Texas" Division

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Over There - Infantry Sergeant Carey Blake, ASN 1487573, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th "Texas" Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Force

 

 

The 141st regiment sailed from New York July 26, 1918, arrived at Brest, France, August 6, and was sent to the 13th Training Area at Bar sur Aube, where it remained until September 26, 1918.  It began its movement to the front lines, going into the Epernay-Chalons area as reserve of the French Group of Armies of the Center. On October 3, 1918, the 36th Division was attached to the Fourth French Army and on October 6 began the relief of the Second Division, U. S. A. The 71st Brigade (141st and 142nd Infantry) relieved the Ninth and 23rd United States Infantry.

 

On October 8, the regiment participated in the great offensive in the Champagne sector. On October 28, after three weeks of front line service, the regiment was relieved by the French Army and marched back 150 miles to become part of the First Army Reserve, United States. The division and regiment were scheduled to be sent into the Meuse-Argonne battle which was raging, but the signing of the Armistice prevented this.

 

That's the official story for the 141st, but for Carey Blake, he parted with the Regiment in October & continued his overseas service for another year.  

 

Which brings us to one of the most interesting documents in his service archive for on October 31st, 1918 Infantry Sergeant Carey Blake was honorably discharged from the military service of the United States by reason of "to accept comm. as 2nd LT Inf." per S.O. G.H.Q. A.E.F. Oct. 1918

 

 

Issued by 3rd Bn, Army Candidate School, U.S. Army 31OCT1918, Signed by a Medical Corps Major.

 

 

As with many rushed wartime records, there are errors in the service dates and enlistments.  These have been later corrected perhaps by Blake himself.  Under 'Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions is written - American Ex. Forces

 

 

OCS in France - Appointment to Second Lieutenant of Infantry, 38th Infantry Regiment, United States Army 31OCT1918

 

But as was the policy of the US Army and the AEF, men commissioned from the ranks were not returned to their old units, but rather transferred to new units.  In this instance, Sergeant Blake of the 141st Infantry, 36th Division was transferred as 2nd LT Blake to the 38th Infantry Regiment, "the Rock of the Marne", 3rd Infantry Division.  Undoubtedly by the first week of November 1918, they were in great need of Infantry lieutenants to replace their losses in the ongoing Meuse-Argonne battle.

 

As the Great War came to a bloodstained conclusion, LT Blake continued to serve with the 38th Infantry Regiment as they transitioned to occupation service in Germany.  With the comings and goings of troops and units, his was redesignated as 38th Infantry, Company D, 3rd Army Composite Regiment.  General Pershings parade troops.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Occupation of Germany, Redesignated as 38th Infantry, Company D, 3rd Army Composite Regiment. 

General Pershings parade troops.

 

GIANTS OF THE SEA - The ex-VATERLAND, used by the United States against Germany as the USS LEVIATHAN

 

 

2nd LT Carey Blake continued his service with the 38th Infantry on occupation service in Germany until September 1919 when he returned to the US aboard the USS LEVIATHAN with General Pershing.  He was still assigned to Company D, 3rd Army Composite Regiment, General Pershings parade troops on detached service from the 38th Infantry Regiment.

 

 

USS LEVIATHAN illustration by Lyendecker

 

He also was 'rubbing elbows' with fellow Composite Regiment officers aboard the LEVIATHAN including a USMC legend, Captain Clifton Cates and other AEF heroes of the Great War.

 

 

USMC 7938 Belleau Wood Sector Survivors, 18 June 1918

Description: Among the surviving U.S. Marines Officers pictured with the 2nd Battalion, Sixth Regiment are: Major Thomas Holcomb, USMC; First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, USMC; and First Lieutenant Graves B. Erskine, USMC U.S. Marine Corps Photograph, National Archives collection

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Mustered Out of Federal Service

 

 

Carey Blake, Second Lieutenant Infantry, was honorably discharged from the military service in the United States Army at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, on the seventh day of October 1919 by order of Major General Charles P. Summerall after eleven years of service.  He was noted as being in France at the Meuse Argonne and eligible for two gold service chevrons.

 

 

Major General Charles P. Summerall

 

Starting anew, Soldier in the Interwar Years with the Manchus

 

Once again, Carey Blake found himself to be a civilian, mustered out of his wartime commission after returning to the States in 1919.  But not for long.  He again enlisted in the US Army in Texas regaining his previous regular enlisted serial number, R-1487573, this time as a Private in Company I (eye) 9th US Infantry Regiment "The Manchus".  By August of 1922 he had regained his Corporal stripes in the Interwar US Army then at Camp Travis, Texas.

 

 

 

 

...an Excellent Non-Commissioned Officer

His Manchu hitch concluded, he re-enlisted for another three years at Fort Sam Houston, Texas

[Salvage Sailor]

Sergeant Carey Blake, 1st United States Infantry Regiment, Regular Army 1924

 

 

His next hitch brought him to the 1st Infantry Regiment, Second Division, Fort Sam Houston, Texas - Semper Primus - "Always First"

Corporal, Company B, 1st Infantry of the Regular Army

 

His promotions were signed by Lt. Colonel Lochlin Washington Caffey, Sr. USA.  Colonel Caffey served first with the Second Georgia Volunteers in 1898. He was colonel of the Twenty-second Infantry at Fort McPherson from 1928 to 1930, when he was transferred to Fort Benning, where he served until his retirement in 1940.  One of his sons, Eugene Mead Caffey (December 21, 1895 – May 30, 1961) was an American Colonel in the United States Army during World War II, and he later served as Judge Advocate General of the United States Army. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism as CO of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade at Normandy, and retired as Major General.

 

He rapidly moved up the ranks with the First Infantry Regiment, making Sergeant again in December 1924

 

 

...and then First Sergeant of Company B two months later in January of 1925, promoted by Colonel J.F. Preston, later Major General & Inspector General of the Army.  Preston was also a veteran of the Spanish American war fighting at Santiago and San Juan Hill, and then served in the Philippines.

 

 

[Popo367]

I haven't logged in quite sometime. Blake should be in this yardlong. COMPANY D 3rd Div 6th Brigade.tif

[Salvage Sailor]

Company D 3rd Division 6th Brigade

[BILL THE PATCH]

What an excellent story, what happened after1924?, I feel like I'm reading a book. 

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Bill,

 

Well, 34 year old First Sergeant Blake finished up that three year hitch with the 1st Infantry Regiment at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  At his expiration of service he was discharged on January 28th, 1927, now having changed his side hustle from Bartender to 'Real Estate Business'.

 

 

Once again he received exemplary marks for character and service and on February 4th, 1927 he cashed in to try his hand at business.  He also was married again and perhaps ready to settle down after two decades of Infantry service....but notice the stamp at the right center of the Enlistment Record below.  His hiatus only lasted for six years and he reupped again for three years on January 26th, 1934.  But that's for the next installment.

 

 

To Review, here are the first two decades of his service since 1908 - 10th Infantry, 17th Infantry, 141st Infantry, 38th Infantry, 9th Infantry, 1st Infantry.

 

CAREY BLAKE, USA, Serial Number R-1487573
Enlisted as Private of Company F of the Tenth Regiment of Infantry as Columbus Barracks, Ohio on 19 May, 1908 for three years.  Born in Sharon, Ohio, February 1889, Waiter, Blue #12 eyes, Dark Brown hair, fair complexion, 5’7 ½”

1.    05/18/1911 – Discharged from 10th Infantry.  Reenlisted 08/08/1911 10th Infantry at Columbus Barracks, Ohio
2.    12/01/1911 – Promotion from Lance Corporal to Corporal, Co. F, 10th Inf., Panama Canal Zone
3.    12/20/1912 – Discharged from 10th Infantry in Panama, Reenlisted 08/03/1914 at Columbus Barracks, Ohio.
4.    12/01/1914 – Appointed Corporal Company I or L, 17th Infantry Regiment, Eagle Pass, Texas
5.    02/06/1916 – Promoted to Sergeant, Company I of L, 17th Infantry Regiment, Eagle Pass, Texas.  Mexican punitive expedition.
6.    08/05/1917 – Appointed Sergeant, Texas National Guard, San Antonio, Texas, 1st Texas Infantry. 

Left US for foreign service July 20, 1918.  141st Infantry Regiment, 36th "Texas" Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Force.

7.    10/31/1918 – Discharged to accept commission.  3rd Battalion Army Candidates School (AEF) US Army.  Carey Blake 1487573
8.    10/31/1918 – Appointed Second Lieutenant Infantry (recorded March 4th, 1919)
9.    10/07/1919 – Honorable Discharge Second Lieutenant Infantry (signed by MG Summerall)  

Battles – Meuse Argonne, two gold chevrons, 141st Infantry, 38th Infantry (composite) regiment, service AEF France and Germany.

10.    08/24/1922 – Appointment Corporal, Co I, 9th Infantry, Camp Travis, Texas (09/03/1922)
11.    02/23/1923 – Discharged Corporal Co I, 9th Infantry, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  Reenlisted 01/29/1924 Fort Sam Houston, Texas for (3) years.
12.    03/19/1924 – Appointed Corporal, Company B, 1st US Infantry Regiment, Regular Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
13.    12/06/1924 – Promoted to Sergeant, Company B, 1st US Infantry Regiment, Army of the US as Fort Sam Houston, Texas
14.    01/12/1925 – Promoted to First Sergeant, Company B, 1st US Infantry Regiment, Regular Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
15.    01/28/1927 – Discharged as Sergeant Company B, 1st Infantry Regiment at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Back to the Texas Infantry

 

The Great Depression Years - Discharged as a Sergeant, Carey tried his hand on civvy street once again as a married man and real estate dealer.  But life was tough out there for an ex-bartender and soldier during the dry hard times and he once again enlisted in the 23rd Infantry Regiment.

 

The Twenty Third Infantry returned to the United States on 4 August, 1919, and took part in the 2nd Division parade in New York. It then entrained for Camp Travis, Texas (later Fort Sam Houston), where it remained for 23 years (1919-1942).

 

Signed by Colonel Leopoldo Mercader, one of the few Puerto Rican field rank commanders in the US Army in 1934

• MERCADER, Leopoldo was born on December 2, 1884 in Mayaguez, Porto Rico. Son of Juan and Josefa L. (Cruz) Mercader.
• Lehigh University, Continuing Education, 1906. Advanced Course, the Infantry. School. Fort Benning, Georgia., 1925.
• P.R. Civil Engineer, Office of Public Roads, United States Department of Agriculture, 07. Inspector of Bridges, Department of Interior, Porto Rico, 1907-1909. Second Lieutenant, United States Army, 1909-1915.
• First Lieutenant, 17. Captain, 1917-1918 (WWI); Major, 1918-1919. Major, since 1920. Regimental Commander 65th Infantry Regiment (PR) 1931, Colonel, Infantry (AUS) 1934.

 

Unfortunately for Blake, in the Interwar penny pinching Army he only gained a 'temporary warrant' as a Sergeant, and his rank after all these years (and a field commission) was Private First Class.

 

Rising to Corporal, 23rd Infantry in 1935

 

...and back to Sergeant, Company L, 23rd Infantry by 1936

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

...and now for an interesting certificate earned in 1936 for the Texas Centennial Exposition

 

Serving as Sergeant & Color Sergeant

Camp Stephen F. Austin, Dallas, Texas

June 2, 1936 to November 29, 1936

Certificate of Merit - Company "C" Texas Composite Centennial Battalion, Dallas Texas

 

It was quite a big shindig in Texas.  Lots of info including films of this Texas Centennial celebration online if you wish to peruse the festivities.  I haven't seen another of these certificates posted anywhere online yet.