Irving Hale
Encyclopedia
Irving Hale was a brigadier general
of the United States of America
who served in the Philippines
during the Spanish-American War
and the early stages of the Philippine-American War
.
Born in New York
, Hale's family moved to Colorado
in 1865. He graduated at head of the first class from Denver East High School in 1877. He enrolled at West Point in 1880, and graduated at the head of his class four years later. His final score was 2070.4 points out of a possible 2075, which was the highest ever from the United States Military Academy.
Hale pursued studies in electrical engineering following his commission as a second lieutenant
, but eventually resigned from the regular army to take a position with General Electric
. Still living in Denver, Hale joined the state militia
in 1897 as their lieutenant-colonel.
The First Colorado, like many other state militias, was sworn into service at the beginning of the Spanish-American War
in April, 1898, with Irving Hale in command. The Colorados were sent to the Philippines, along with other militias from western states. The First Colorado secured the American left flank during the Battle of Manila
, capturing Fort San Agustin, and raising the first American flag over the city's fortifications; his excellent leadership secured Hale a promotion to the rank of brigadier general
of volunteers in command of the second brigade, second division, VIII Corps
.
During the Philippine-American War
, Hale led led troops into battle on several occasions, and was wounded while scouting an enemy position during the battle of Meycauyan on March 26, 1899. He later received a silver star for his leadership near Calumpit on April 25, 1899.
Though offered a position in the new volunteer army, Hale decided to return home with the state militias in the fall, and was honorably mustered out on October 1, 1899, returning to his civilian career as an electrical engineer. Following the war, he was active as one of the founders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
.
On September 29, 1911, Hale suffered a paralytic stroke
from which he never fully recovered. He died on July 26, 1930, and is buried in Denver
's Fairmount Cemetery
.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who served in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
and the early stages of the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
.
Born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Hale's family moved to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1865. He graduated at head of the first class from Denver East High School in 1877. He enrolled at West Point in 1880, and graduated at the head of his class four years later. His final score was 2070.4 points out of a possible 2075, which was the highest ever from the United States Military Academy.
Hale pursued studies in electrical engineering following his commission as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
, but eventually resigned from the regular army to take a position with General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. Still living in Denver, Hale joined the state militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
in 1897 as their lieutenant-colonel.
The First Colorado, like many other state militias, was sworn into service at the beginning of the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in April, 1898, with Irving Hale in command. The Colorados were sent to the Philippines, along with other militias from western states. The First Colorado secured the American left flank during the Battle of Manila
Battle of Manila (1898)
The Battle of Manila was a short land engagement between the United States and Spain at the end of the Spanish-American War, which occurred a couple of months after the pivotal American victory during the naval Battle of Manila Bay...
, capturing Fort San Agustin, and raising the first American flag over the city's fortifications; his excellent leadership secured Hale a promotion to the rank of brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of volunteers in command of the second brigade, second division, VIII Corps
VIII Corps (PE)
The VIII Corps was formed on June 21, 1898 to provide a ground contingent to exploit Admiral Dewey's success in defeating the Spanish fleet in Manila harbor...
.
During the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
, Hale led led troops into battle on several occasions, and was wounded while scouting an enemy position during the battle of Meycauyan on March 26, 1899. He later received a silver star for his leadership near Calumpit on April 25, 1899.
Though offered a position in the new volunteer army, Hale decided to return home with the state militias in the fall, and was honorably mustered out on October 1, 1899, returning to his civilian career as an electrical engineer. Following the war, he was active as one of the founders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
.
On September 29, 1911, Hale suffered a paralytic stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
from which he never fully recovered. He died on July 26, 1930, and is buried in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
's Fairmount Cemetery
Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado)
Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado was founded in 1890 and is Denver's second oldest operating cemetery after Riverside Cemetery. It was designed by German landscape architect Reinhard Schuetze...
.