Earl J. Atkisson
Encyclopedia
Earl James Atkisson was Colonel
of the United States Army
's 1st Gas Regiment
in World War I
.
, but his family moved to Fresno County, California
and he graduated from high school in Fowler
. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy
in 1904. He graduated seventh in his class in 1908, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers
.
Atkisson served two years at Fort Leavenworth
, followed by six at the Army's Engineering school at Washington Barracks, less one year he spent earning his M.E.
degree at Cornell University
, which he received in 1911. While there, he was promoted to first lieutenant. He was next assigned as a captain to be superintendent of the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal
, where he was serving when World War I
broke out.
in the National Army, and placed in command of the 30th Engineers, which became the 1st Gas Regiment
. This regiment arrived in France on March 10, 1918 and eventually participated in the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihel
, and Meuse-Argonne
operations. In May 1918 he was made commandant of the Gas Service Experimental Field and Gas Defense School at Hanlon Field near Chaumont, France
. Beginning in January 1919, having risen to the rank of colonel
, he served in various capacities with the Army of Occupation. For his service in the war, Atkisson was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
, the Purple Heart
, and the Distinguished Service Order
of Great Britain
.
, and transferred to the fledgling Chemical Warfare Service. In 1920, he became commander of Edgewood Arsenal, the Chemical Warfare Service's large manufacturing establishment near Baltimore, Maryland, for three years. While there, he assisted in rescuing two officers from drowning, for which he was awarded the Lifesaving Medal
. He then served as Assistant Military Attaché
at the American embassy in London
from 1923 to 1925. He then served as the Chemical Officer for the Ninth Corps Area
at the Presidio of San Francisco
, until his retirement for disability in March 1926. He was given his World War I rank of colonel by Act of Congress in June 1930.
Upon retirement, Atkisson returned to Sanger, where he managed his father's department store company until his death in September 1941. He is buried in the Sanger Cemetery.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's 1st Gas Regiment
1st Gas Regiment
The 1st Gas Regiment was the first established offensive chemical warfare unit in the United States Army. Beginning as the 30th Engineer Regiment in 1917, the regiment has been re-designated several times, most recently to the 2nd Chemical Battalion...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early career
Earl James Atkisson was born in Broken Bow, NebraskaBroken Bow, Nebraska
Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...
, but his family moved to Fresno County, California
Fresno County, California
Fresno County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. As of the 2010 census, it is the tenth most populous county in California with a population of 930,450, and the sixth largest in size with an area of . The county...
and he graduated from high school in Fowler
Fowler, California
Fowler is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. It is located within the San Joaquin Valley. It has a strong agricultural community, with lush grape vineyards and expansive farmland. Fowler is located southeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 308 feet...
. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1904. He graduated seventh in his class in 1908, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
.
Atkisson served two years at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, followed by six at the Army's Engineering school at Washington Barracks, less one year he spent earning his M.E.
Master of Engineering
A Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
degree at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, which he received in 1911. While there, he was promoted to first lieutenant. He was next assigned as a captain to be superintendent of the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, where he was serving when World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out.
World War I
In July 1917, Atkisson was made a majorMajor (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the National Army, and placed in command of the 30th Engineers, which became the 1st Gas Regiment
1st Gas Regiment
The 1st Gas Regiment was the first established offensive chemical warfare unit in the United States Army. Beginning as the 30th Engineer Regiment in 1917, the regiment has been re-designated several times, most recently to the 2nd Chemical Battalion...
. This regiment arrived in France on March 10, 1918 and eventually participated in the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihel
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
, and Meuse-Argonne
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
operations. In May 1918 he was made commandant of the Gas Service Experimental Field and Gas Defense School at Hanlon Field near Chaumont, France
Chaumont, Haute-Marne
Chaumont is a commune of France, and the capital of the Haute-Marne department. , it has a of 24,039.The city stands on the Marne River and is situated on the railway linking Paris and Basel, which runs over a 52 m tall and 600 m long viaduct built in 1856.- History :Historically the...
. Beginning in January 1919, having risen to the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
, he served in various capacities with the Army of Occupation. For his service in the war, Atkisson was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, and the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
Later career
Returning to the United States in September 1919, Atkisson returned to his Regular Army rank of majorMajor (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, and transferred to the fledgling Chemical Warfare Service. In 1920, he became commander of Edgewood Arsenal, the Chemical Warfare Service's large manufacturing establishment near Baltimore, Maryland, for three years. While there, he assisted in rescuing two officers from drowning, for which he was awarded the Lifesaving Medal
Lifesaving Medal
The Gold Lifesaving Medal and Silver Lifesaving Medal are civil and military decorations of the United States Coast Guard which was first established by Act of Congress, 20 June 1874; later authorized by Title 14 of the United States Code Section 500-501...
. He then served as Assistant Military Attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
at the American embassy in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1923 to 1925. He then served as the Chemical Officer for the Ninth Corps Area
Corps area
A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
at the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
, until his retirement for disability in March 1926. He was given his World War I rank of colonel by Act of Congress in June 1930.
Upon retirement, Atkisson returned to Sanger, where he managed his father's department store company until his death in September 1941. He is buried in the Sanger Cemetery.