Colonel Charles H. Hilton Jr

Here's a SAW - WWI mounted medal group to Colonel Charles Henry Hilton Jr. 

Charles was born on March 22nd, 1871 in Indiana. He is the son of Charles H Hilton Sr and Harriet A Hilton. In January of 1892, he married Mary E Wheeler and together they had two children, Helen I Hilton and Donald B Hilton, who later became a Colonel in the Philippine Scouts during WWII. 

Charles first saw service in on May 1st, 1898, as a 1st Lieutenant in the 1st Colorado Infantry Regiment during the Spanish American War. He earned the rank of Captain in April of 1899 and mustered out of the 1st Colorado in September of that year. He would transfer to the 39th US Infantry Regiment as a Captian until he was mustered out of service in May of 1901. He entered service again as a 1st Lieutenant in the Artillery Corps in August of 1901 and was the rank of Captain by late November of that year. He graduated Artillery School in 1906 at Fort Munroe, Virginia, and rose to the rank of Major around 1915, serving at many Coast Artillery Corps locations around the United States. 

During WWI, Charles graduated General Staff Corps School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served in the General Staff from October of 1917 to December of 1919, serving both stateside and in France. After the war, Charles made the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was promoted to Colonel a few months later, serving in the Coast Artillery Corps once again. He was part of the staff in the 9th Coast Artillery District, later becoming the executive officer of the 9th Coast Artillery District and was ordered to command Fort MacArthur, California. 

Charles retired on September 30th, 1934, after serving 36 years in the Army, and reaching the rank of Colonel. He passed away on March 31st, 1942 at the age of 70 years old, he's buried at Arlington National Cemetery.