Warren Whitside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warren Webster Whitside
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Colonel Warren Webster Whitside
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| Born | November 2, 1875 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 3, 1964 Front Royal, Virginia, United States |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1898–1939 |
| Rank |  Colonel Quartermaster Corps |
| Unit |  5th Cav Regt
 89th Division |
| Commands held | Fort Apache 89th Division Trains and Military Police Aleshire Quartermaster Remount Depot |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War
 Occupation of Germany |
| Awards |  Distinguished Service Medal Quartermaster Hall of Fame |
| Relations | Brig. Gen. Samuel M. Whitside (father) Lt. Col. Archie Miller (brother-in-law) Capt. Warren W. Whitside, III, USN (son) |
Warren Webster Whitside was a brave United States Army officer who spent his whole career serving his country. He was a Colonel, which is a high rank in the army. He worked with horses in the Cavalry and later managed supplies and equipment as a Quartermaster. After he passed away, he was honored by being added to the Quartermaster Hall of Fame in 2010.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Warren Webster Whitside was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on November 2, 1875. His father, Brig. Gen. Samuel Whitside, was also a career cavalry officer. Warren grew up surrounded by soldiers and Native Americans on the Western plains for the first 15 years of his life.
He went to school at Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. Later, he studied at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
Military Career
In May 1898, Warren Whitside left college early to join the army. This was during the Spanish–American War, when President William McKinley asked people to serve. In 1899, he became a Second Lieutenant in the Cavalry. For the next seven years, he served in the 10th Cavalry and 15th Cavalry Regiments.
In 1906, he was promoted to Captain in the Quartermaster Corps. For the next 33 years, he held many important leadership roles in the Quartermaster field. This meant he was in charge of making sure soldiers had all the supplies and equipment they needed.
Important Campaigns and Battles
Colonel Whitside served in many important military actions:
- Spanish–American War (1898): He was part of the Spanish Campaign.
- Cuban Occupation (1899-1902): He helped occupy Cuba and even served as an aide to his father, who was a commanding general there.
- Army of Cuban Pacification (1906-1909): He was a troop commander in the 15th Cavalry Regiment.
- Punitive Expedition (1916): He commanded a motor truck company along the Mexico–U.S. border.
- World War I (1918): He fought in major battles like the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse–Argonne offensive. He was in charge of the 89th Division's trains and military police. For his excellent service, he received the Distinguished Service Medal. At that time, this was the highest award for service in the U.S.
Key Leadership Roles
From 1912 to 1915, Colonel Whitside helped build and set up the Aleshire Quartermaster Remount Depot in Front Royal, Virginia. This was a place where the army kept and trained horses. He was one of its first commanders. After his time on the Mexican border, he commanded Fort Apache, Arizona from 1916 to 1917.
From 1920 to 1925, he was the Post Quartermaster at Fort Riley. He was responsible for modernizing much of the base, including training areas for the National Guard. One of these areas was even named Camp Whitside in his honor! From 1925 to 1930, he served as the Department Quartermaster for the Panama Canal Division.
In 1930, he became the Post Quartermaster of West Point in New York. Later, he worked in Washington, D.C. as the Chief of Storage and Distribution for the Quartermaster General's office. He was even featured on the cover of the Quartermaster Review magazine in 1934. From 1934 until he retired in 1939, he returned to Front Royal to command the Remount Depot again. This depot had become the largest of its kind in the Army and was very important for the local economy.
Colonel Whitside retired from the military in 1939. He tried to start an apple cider business, but it didn't work out. He was married for over 63 years to Lillian Rigney. He passed away in 1964 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Awards and Honors
Colonel Warren W. Whitside received several important awards for his service:
- Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army): This award was given for his outstanding service during World War I. As the Quartermaster and later Commander of the 89th Division Trains, he made sure supplies and equipment moved smoothly. His excellent planning helped the 89th Division succeed in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne battles.
- Spanish Campaign Medal
- Army of Cuban Occupation Medal
- Army of Cuban Pacification Medal
- Mexican Service Medal
- World War I Victory Medal (United States) with three battle clasps (St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector)
- Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
- French Croix De Guerre with two stars: He was honored by France for his brilliant organization and courage during dangerous scouting missions before the St. Mihiel attack in August 1918.
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Colonel Whitside was honored posthumously (after his death) by being inducted into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame on June 18, 2010. This ceremony took place at Fort Lee, Virginia.
