Henthorn, William T.

William T. Henthorn

Birth information from the IGI.
Birth: Batch #: C514509, Source Call #: 910156
William Henthorn, 18 Jun 1873, Muskingum, OH, son of Ellis H. Henthorn and Laura Tuttle

MILITARY:
William Henthorn served three years with the 3rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Spanish American War in the Phillipines, the Boxer Rebellion in China and with the 148th Infantry Regiment (37th Infantry Division, Ohio National Guard) during the Mexican Punitive Expedition. He continued with that Regiment during the First World War. He rose to the rank of 1st Sergeant of Co. B. He was much decorated: i.e., Spanish War Service Medal, Phillipine Campaign Medal, China Campaign Medal, Mexican Border Service Medal, The Belgian Order, WWI Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal, French C de G., Silver Star with V.

MILITARY: During WWI, he fought in the battles of Ypres Lys, Meuse Argonne,
Lorraine, Champagne Marne, St. Mihiel.


OBITUARY: Veteran of Two Wars Succumbs After Operation - Wm. T. Henthorne Dies at City Hospital, Springfield, Ohio
The Springfield daily papers gave the folowing account of the death and burial of William T. Henthorne, a first cousin of Misses Eldora and Blanche Lang of Woodsfield, [OH].

William T. Henthorne, 48, one of Springfield, Ohio's best known soldiers and a hero of two wars, died at 10:30 o'clock Tuesday night at the city hospital following an operation to remove an obstruction from his bowels.

Henthorne began his career as a soldier in June 1898, when he was enlisted for service in the Spanish American war. Later he served in the Phillipine Islands and was a member of the American expedition into China in the Boxer Uprising. He was one of the first Americans to scale the great Chinese wall when American troops entered Pekin.

Served on Border

At the outbreak of the World War Henthorne again enlisted as a member of Company B, 148th Infantry, Ohio National Guard, and served on the Mexican border as a member of that unit of which he was First Sergeant. Going overseas with his outfit he served throughout the war and took part in every engagement with his company. His service record shows particpations in the Meuse-Argonne, Flanders, Bascarat and Avocourt offensives and other engagements.

Despite his long record for service Henthorne never sustained a wound. He was one of the few men of the 37th division not wounded in action.

Had Many Medals

His list of medals includes a Victory Medal, a Spanish-American War Medal, Chinese Relief Expedition, Phillipine Islands, Border Service and an adjutant's medal of the 37th Infantry received under General Orders while serving with the A.E.F.

At the time of his death Henthorne was caretaker for the Armory of the local Guard units and was First Sergeant of one of the local machine gun companies. He was a member of the Spanish American War Veterans, St. Andrews Lodge of Masons and the Loyal Order of Moose.

He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Henthorne, of 932 Mound St., one brother, C.F. Henthorne of this city and one sister, Mrs. Bessie Bowers also of this city.

Large Funeral

Veterans of five military campaigns, members of St. Andrews Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite body, the Moose lodge, men of the Springfield National Guard companies and hundreds of citizens of Springfield, gathered Friday afternoon to show their respect at the funeral of Sergeant William Henthorne who died Tuesday night at the city hospital following an operation.

Rev. C.F. Irwin, chaplain of the 37th Division, preached the sermon upon the death of this widely-known soldier. Uniformed men acted as pall bearers at the funeral and there were honorary pall bearers from the various organizations to which the Sergeant belonged.

Full military honors were accorded during the final service which was held in Ferncliff cemetery at the lot of old Company B, in the Soldier's mound.
(Source: hand dated newspaper clipping, 8 Dec 1921, from Dener Yoho)