Albert Hazen Blanding (November 9, 1876 – December 26, 1970) was a
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
officer. Among the most distinguished military figures in
Florida's history, he was a recipient of the
Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation, state or country.
Examples include:
*Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in act ...
.
Early life
Blanding was born in
Lyons, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. It borders the Mississippi River. The population was 24,469 as of 2020 United States census, 2020.
Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa, DeWitt (also located in Clinto ...
, but his family moved to Florida when he was two years old. Blanding attended
East Florida Seminary
The East Florida Seminary was an institution of higher learning established by the State of Florida in 1853, and absorbed into the newly established University of Florida in 1905. The school operated in Ocala from 1853 until 1861. After being clo ...
, now known as the University of Florida, in
Gainesville, graduating in 1894.
He was commissioned a
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
in the
Florida National Guard
The Florida National Guard is the National Guard force of the state of Florida. It comprises the Florida Army National Guard and the Florida Air National Guard.
The United States Constitution charges the National Guard with dual federal and st ...
in 1899. At the time, he was a
phosphate
Phosphates are the naturally occurring form of the element phosphorus.
In chemistry, a phosphate is an anion, salt, functional group or ester derived from a phosphoric acid. It most commonly means orthophosphate, a derivative of orthop ...
company executive.
he advanced through the ranks in a variety of staff and command positions, receiving promotion to major in 1906 and lieutenant colonel in 1908.
Pancho Villa Expedition
Blanding was promoted to the rank of
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
in 1909 and ran a
turpentine
Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthine, terebenthene, terebinthine and, colloquially, turps) is a fluid obtainable by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Principall ...
,
sawmill
A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logging, logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes ...
, and
lumber
Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...
business from 1910 to 1914 while active on the National Guard roster.
[ In the ]Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—now known officially in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, but originally referred to as the "Punitive Expedition, US Army"—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the para ...
, Blanding commanded the Second Florida Infantry.
World War I
On August 5, 1917, Blanding was called up to serve in World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, where he commanded the 53rd Brigade, part of Major General John F. O'Ryan
John Francis O'Ryan (August 21, 1874 – January 29, 1961) was a Manhattan, New York City attorney, politician, government official and military officer. He served as commander of the 27th Division during World War I. He later served as a memb ...
's 27th Division, O'Ryan's roughnecks as it was often called, as a brigadier general.
In France, he commanded the 185th Infantry Brigade, which included the 370th Infantry Regiment from Illinois.
Post World War I
Blanding was the production manager of the Florida Citrus Exchange, and served a term as head of Florida's American Legion
The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...
.Florida Board of Control
The Florida Board of Control (1905–1965) was the statewide governing body for the State University System of Florida, which included all public universities in the state of Florida. It was replaced by the Florida Board of Regents in 1965.< ...
from 1922 to 1936.
In 1924, he was promoted to major general in the National Guard
National Guard Bureau
From 1936 to 1940, Blanding was Chief of the National Guard Bureau
The chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) is the highest-ranking officer of the National Guard and the head of the National Guard Bureau. The position is a statutory office (), held by a federally recognized commissioned officer who has ser ...
by appointment of President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...
.lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
in recognition of his service and accomplishments.
World War II
During World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Blanding was the Military Advisor to Florida's Governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
. After the war, he was an advocate for the establishment of the Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States that protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. The park is the largest tropical wilderness in the Un ...
.
Philanthropic and civic activities
Blanding was a member of the Elks, the Kiwanias, and a Mason.
Awards
*Army Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. ...
*Florida Active Service Medal
Death and burial
Blanding died December 26, 1970.Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County, Florida, United States, and the most populous city in North Central Florida, with a population of 145,212 in 2022. It is the principal city of the Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida, Gainesv ...
.
Legacy
In 1939, he was honored by the establishment of a military station, Camp Blanding
Camp Blanding Joint Training Center is the primary military reservation and training base for the Florida National Guard, both the Florida Army National Guard and certain nonflying activities of the Florida Air National Guard. The installation ...
. A major Army training installation for World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, it was later designated as the primary military reservation and training site for the Florida National Guard.
The University of Florida
The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...
awarded him Doctor of Laws
A Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) is a doctoral degree in legal studies. The abbreviation LL.D. stands for ''Legum Doctor'', with the double “L” in the abbreviation referring to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both canon law ...
in May 1942. During World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
he served on the Florida Board of the Selective Service System
The Selective Service System (SSS) is an Independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the United States government that maintains a database of registered male U.S. Citizenship of the United States, citizens and o ...
and helped found Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States that protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. The park is the largest tropical wilderness in the Un ...
.Great Floridian
Great Floridian is a title bestowed on citizens of Florida by the Florida Department of State. There were actually two formal programs. The Great Floridian 2000 program honored deceased individuals who made "significant contributions in the histor ...
by the Florida Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs ...
in the Great Floridians 2000 Program. A plaque attesting to the honor is located at Bartow City Hall.[Florida Department of State: Great Floridians 2000 Program]
Photos
File:GenAHBlanding.PNG, Blanding, Camp Logan in Houston, Texas
Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
, 1918
File:AHBlandingServiceRecord.PNG, Blanding's service record, incorrectly naming WWI award as Distinguished Service Cross. Blanding received Distinguished Service Medal.
File:Discuss plans for mobilizing 2,000,000 men. Washington, D.C., March 28. Plans for the most intensive recruiting campaign in American history, to be followed by enactment of a selective LCCN2016873297.jpg, Blanding (left) in 1938
File:BlandingGreatFloridian.PNG, Blanding's Great Floridian Marker
References
Bibliography
*
*''Borrowed Soldiers: Americans Under British Command, 1918''. 2008. University of Oklahoma Press.