William Campbell Langfitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Langfitt
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Major general William Langfitt, Tours, April 1918
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| Born | August 10, 1860 Wellsburg, Virginia |
| Died | April 20, 1934 (aged 73) Washington, DC |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1883–1922 |
| Rank |  Major general |
| Unit | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Order of the Bath (Great Britain) Legion of Honor (France) Order of the Crown (Belgium) |
William Campbell Langfitt (born August 10, 1860 – died April 20, 1934) was a very important major general in the United States Army. He was known for being the chief of staff and chief engineer for the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Langfitt was born in Wellsburg, Virginia. This area is now part of West Virginia. He went to Ohio State University. Later, he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1883. He was the second-best student in his entire class!
After West Point, Langfitt joined the Engineer branch. These are the people who build and manage important structures for the Army. He finished the Engineer School in 1885. From 1886 to 1888, he worked with the Department of the Columbia. Then, from 1888 to 1893, he worked at the Port of Galveston. There, he planned and finished projects to improve rivers and harbors.
From 1893 to 1895, Langfitt helped make the Ohio River easier for boats to travel on. He also taught at the Engineer School from 1895 to 1898.
Serving in the Spanish–American War
During the Spanish–American War, William Langfitt was promoted to major. He served with the 2nd United States Volunteer Engineer Regiment in the Hawaiian Islands.
After the war, Langfitt became an engineer officer. He worked with the Army's 13th Lighthouse District, which covered Alaska and Washington. His job was to plan and watch over the building and upkeep of lighthouses and other port buildings.
Work Before World War I
From 1905 to 1906, Langfitt was the commander of the Engineer School and Depot in Washington, D.C.. In 1906 and 1907, he was the chief engineer for Army forces in Cuba. After that, he went back to commanding the Engineer School until 1910.
From 1910 to 1914, Langfitt worked on improving rivers and harbors in the Washington, D.C., area. He also helped improve the city's water supply. From 1914 to 1916, he was the chief engineer of the Southern Department. This meant he was in charge of improving rivers and harbors around Savannah, Georgia.
Role in World War I
In May 1917, Langfitt helped create the 13th Engineer Regiment. This was part of the Army getting ready for World War I. He led this regiment until August. Then, he was promoted to brigadier general. He joined the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) as their chief of staff.
From October 1917 to May 1918, Langfitt commanded all U.S. forces in Europe. He helped them get ready for the main part of the AEF to arrive. In December 1917, Langfitt was promoted again to major general.
From March 1918 until the war ended, Langfitt was the AEF's chief engineer. This was a very big job! He was in charge of all the organization's utilities and transportation. This included departments for construction, forestry, light railways, and roads. He took part in many major battles. These included the first Battle of Cambrai, the Somme Defensive, and the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives.
After World War I
After World War I, Langfitt came back to the United States. He went back to his permanent rank of colonel. He served as a district engineer in New York and Puerto Rico. He retired from the Army in 1922.
Retirement and Passing
In his retirement, William Langfitt lived in Geneva, New York. He passed away in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 1934. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a special place where many military heroes are laid to rest.
Awards and Honors
Langfitt received many awards for his service, including:
- The Army Distinguished Service Medal from the United States.
- Companion of the Order of the Bath from Great Britain.
- Commander of the Legion of Honor from France.
- Commander of the Order of the Crown from Belgium.
Legacy
A United States Navy transport ship was named after him: the USS General W. C. Langfitt (AP-151). It was launched on September 30, 1944. This ship was used to transport people and supplies until 1969. Then, it was sold to a private company and changed for civilian use. The Langfitt carried cargo as the SS Transindiana until it was taken apart in 1983.
