Henry Tureman Allen
Major General, U.S. Army

Henry Tureman Allen was born on 13 April 1859 in Sharpsburg, KY.

He graduated from West Point in 1882 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Cavalry. After six years of service in the West, including command of an exploring expedition to Alaska in 1885-86, he returned to West Point as an instructor from 1888-90. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in June 1899. Allen was one of the more colorful Cavalrymen of the period.

From 1890-95 he was Military Attaché in Russia and during 1897-98 held a similar post in Germany. In the Spanish-American War, he served as a Major and Assistant Adjutant General, seeing action in the campaign against Santiago, Cuba, and distinguishing himself in Henry Lawton's capture of El Caney. After a bout with Yellow Fever and another short stay in Germany, Allen went to the Philippines to aid in suppressing the insurrection there.

He was briefly the Governor of Leyte from April-June 1901; he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers in May. He was mustered out of the Volunteer Service in June and reverted to his permanent rank of Captain. In June, he began organizing the Philippine Constabulary, a paramilitary force intended to replace the American military in the Islands. He remained the head of that organization until 1907. From January 1903 to April 1907, he held the temporary rank of Brigadier General.

Allen was promoted to Major of Regulars in April 1907 and returned to duty in the U.S. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August 1912 and to Colonel of the 8th U.S. Cavalry in July 1916; taking part in the Mexican Punitive Expedition that year under General John J. Pershing. In May 1917 he was advanced to Brigadier General and, in August he became a temporary Major General in Command of the 90th Infantry Division.

After training at Camp Travis, TX, he took the 90th to France in June 1918 and, beginning in August, saw action in the Toul Sector and in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. After the armistice was signed, he commanded VII Corps, IX Corps and VII Corps, prior to being named Commander of all American troops on Occupation Duty in Germany.

In March 1920 he was promoted to permanent Major General. Allen returned to the U.S. in early 1923 and, in April, he retired from the Army.

In Retirement

After retiring, Allen remained busy as an author, as Director of Foreign Affairs Council, Vice President and Executive Officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and as Chairman of the American Committee for the Relief of German Children.

Personal

Henry Allen married Dora Johnston and their son, Henry Tureman Allen, Jr., was a Colonel in the U.S. Army.

Death and Burial

Major General Henry Tureman Allen died on 30 August 1930 at Burne Vista Spring, PA. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

His wife, Dora, died in 1932 and is buried with her husband. Their son, Colonel Henry Tureman Allen, Jr., is also buried at Arlington.