Henry Pinckney McCain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Pinckney McCain
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Henry P. McCain
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| Born | January 23, 1861 Carroll County, Republic of Mississippi |
| Died | July 25, 1941 (aged 80) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Place of Burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1885–1921 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands held | Adjutant General of the U.S. Army |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War World War I |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal |
| Relations | John S. McCain, Sr. (nephew) |
Henry Pinckney McCain (January 23, 1861 – July 25, 1941) was an officer in the United States Army who served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1914 to 1918.
Early life
McCain was born in Carroll County, Mississippi, and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1885. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry at Fort Shaw, Montana.
Military career
From March 1889 to August 1891, he was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Louisiana State University. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the 21st Infantry in February 1892, and transferred to the 14th Infantry in March, serving in the Department of the Columbia.
He was stationed in Alaska when the Spanish–American War broke out in April 1898. McCain sailed with his regiment to the Philippines in May, and was present for the Battle of Manila. He served as the acting assistant adjutant general for U.S. forces in the Philippines, but had to return to the United States in September due to illness. He held various staff positions in the Department of the Columbia and was promoted to captain in March 1899.
In November 1900, McCain was promoted to major and transferred to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, D.C.. He was promoted again to lieutenant colonel in January 1901. In August 1903, he was assigned as chief of staff for the Department of Mindanao in the Philippines. In March 1904 he returned to the United States as chief of staff for the Southwestern Division. And in April 1904 he was promoted to colonel and returned to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, where he served until the autumn of 1912.
Following a stint as adjutant general of the Philippines Division from 1912 to 1914, McCain was promoted to brigadier general and elevated to Adjutant General of the U.S. Army. In October 1917, following the United States' entry into World War I, he was promoted to major general. In August 1918 he was given command of the 12th Division at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. The division was demobilized in January 1919 without having gone overseas. McCain continued to command Camp Devens to July 1920.
In June 1920, McCain reverted to the rank of colonel and served as adjutant of the 6th Corps area until his retirement in July 1921. He served as governor of the United States Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C. from May 1927 to April 1936. He died in Washington on July 25, 1941 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Awards and honors
He received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his services in administering the Adjutant General's Department during World War I.
He also received the following service medals -
- Spanish Campaign Medal
- Philippine Campaign Medal
- World War I Victory Medal
Legacy
Camp McCain, an Army mobilization site near Grenada, Mississippi, was established in 1942 and named for General McCain. It was later used as a Mississippi Army National Guard training facility.
Personal life
He married Emiline DeMoss on November 14, 1888.
Images for kids
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Major General Peyton C. March and Brigadier General Henry P. McCain, March 28, 1918.
