Joseph T. Dickman

Joseph Theodore Dickman (October 6, 1857 – October 23, 1927) was a United States Army officer who saw service in five wars, rising to the rank of major general.

Early life

Dickman was born in Dayton, Ohio. He was the son of Theodore Dickman, who served as a first lieutenant in the 58th Ohio Infantry during the American Civil War. He attended the University of Dayton and graduated in the class of 1871. In 1881 he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned in the 3rd Cavalry. Among his classmates were several men who would attain the rank of general officer, such as John Frank Morrison, Francis Joseph Kernan, Enoch Crowder, Edwin St. John Greble, Charles H. Barth, Clarence Page Townsley, Charles L. Phillips, George True Bartlett, Joseph Alfred Gaston, Henry Clay Hodges Jr. and John Biddle.

Military career

Apache Wars and Border Duty 1883–1898

Dickman graduated from the United States Army Cavalry School in 1883 and proceeded directly to the Indian territory, where he participated in the Apache War from 1885 to 1886, to include the Geronimo Campaign. He next participated in the Mexican border patrol operations during the Garza Revolution against Garza revolutionists and the bandits, Benavides and Gonzales.

Dickman's early experience sent him to Fort Riley, where he was an instructor at the Cavalry and Light Artillery School from 1893 to 1894. He deployed to the Pullman Strike in Chicago 1894. Later that year, he was assigned to Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.

Spanish–American War, 1898–1900

Dickman's deployment during the Spanish–American War was notable. He participated in the Battle of San Juan Hill-El Caney, Santiago de Cuba. He served on the staff of General Joseph Wheeler during the Philippine–American War from 1899 to 1902 and at the Battles on the Island of Panay from 1899 to 1900.

Boxer Rebellion, 1900

During the Boxer Rebellion, Dickman was chief of staff to General Adna R. Chaffee for the Peking Relief Expedition and fought in the battle at Pa-ta-Chao, Peking on September 26, 1900.

1902–1917

Dickman was on the Army General Staff from 1902 to 1905. He was an instructor at the Army War College from 1905 to 1912. Dickman was the US Army Inspector General from 1912 to 1915, taking over 2nd US Cavalry in 1915.

World War I, 1917–1918

He was given command of the 85th Infantry Division, at Camp Custer, Michigan, in August 1917, four months after the American entry into World War I.

left, Dickman (center), CG IV Corps, with generals Frank L. Winn (left), CG 89th division, and Augustin Gérard (right), CG 8th army in Lucey, Meurthe-et-Moselle">Lucey