Adelbert Cronkhite | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cronkhite as depicted in the October 1918 edition of Munsey's Magazine. | |
| Born | January 6, 1861 Litchfield, New York |
| Died | June 15, 1937 (aged 76) St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1882–1923 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | United States Army Coast Artillery Corps |
| Commands | 22nd Field Artillery Battery Fort Totten, New York Panama Coast Artillery District 80th Division IX Corps VI Corps Newport News Port of Debarkation Coast Artillery Training Center Third Corps Area |
| Battles / wars | Sioux Wars Spanish–American War World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal French Croix de Guerre French Legion of Honor British Order of St Michael and St George Virginia Distinguished Service Medal |
| Relations | Alexander Cummings McWhorter Pennington Jr. (father in law) |
Adelbert Cronkhite (January 6, 1861 – June 15, 1937)[1] was a career officer in the United States Army. He was notable for his command of the 80th Division during World War I. He also served as interim commander of IX Corps and commander of VI Corps after the war. In addition, his later command assignments included the Newport News Port of Debarkation, the Coast Artillery Training Center, and Third Corps Area.
Cronkhite was the subject of national attention in the early 1920s when he advocated publicly for the investigation into the death of his son to be reopened; Alexander P. Cronkhite was an Army major stationed at Camp Lewis, Washington in 1918 when he died as the result of a gunshot. An investigation determined that the wound was accidental and self-inflicted; Cronkhite's public campaign led to the indictment of two soldiers who had been with Alexander Cronkhite at the time of his death. The 1924 trial of one ended in an acquittal, and charges against the second were dropped. Cronkhite's public campaign to renew the investigation brought him into disfavor with senior Army leadership, and he was retired against his wishes in 1923.
After his retirement, Cronkhite lived in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and became active in veterans' groups. He was also a frequent speaker at military reunions and other public events.
Cronkhite died in Florida in 1937 and was buried at West Point Cemetery.