Robert Tyndall
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Tyndall was an United States artillery
officer in World War I, a Major General
, and mayor of Indianapolis
during World War II.
In 1897, Tyndall enlisted in Battery A of the Indiana National Guard
. The Spanish-American War
erupted the following year, and he served with the 27th Indiana Volunteers in Puerto Rico
.
Following the war, Tyndall engaged in a number of business ventures. In 1908, he married Dean Spellman, a daughter of Samuel and Emma Spellman of Indianapolis. The couple had three children. During 1915–1916, he served as president of the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution
. In 1916 he sold out to his business partner and rejoined the military.
, and assigned to the 42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division, which participated in several major battles in 1918. Tyndall was promoted to Colonel in command of the entire regiment, which was issued French 155 millimeter cannons
. The men referred to him simply as "Bob," and generally admired him as an officer who started as a private
and worked his way up through the ranks.
Colonel Tyndall was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
, the Croix de guerre
, and Légion d'honneur
. He served in the army of occupation in Germany until 1919, where he suffered from a severe case of the flu. After recovering, Col. Tyndall rejoined the 150th and returned to the United States, where he was honorably discharged from active service in May 1919.
Tyndall returned to business, and served as Vice-President of the Fletcher American Bank from 1919 to 1925. During those same years, he was national treasurer of the American Legion
, and worked to establish the organization in Indianapolis. He would continue to work with several businesses in the following years.
on 29 October 1924. In 1941, Tyndall mobilized the 50,000 troops of the 38th Division at Camp Shelby
, but was forced to retire when he turned sixty-four.
, was elected Mayor of Indianapolis in 1942, and served until his death in 1947, at age 70. His term is remembered for long-term planning to achieve grade separation, smoke abatement, revamping of the city's sewer and sanitation systems, and non-partisan administration of City Hospital. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery
in Indianapolis.
Tyndall Armory, in downtown Indianapolis, is named in honor of Robert Tyndall. The armory was the headquarters for the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
from 1969–2011, when it moved to a new facility at the former Fort Benjamin Harrison
.
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
officer in World War I, a Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
, and mayor of Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
during World War II.
Early career
Robert Tyndall was born in Indianapolis, the son of William Eddy and Alice (Boyd) Tyndall.In 1897, Tyndall enlisted in Battery A of the Indiana National Guard
Indiana National Guard
The Indiana National Guard is the armed force of the state of Indiana. It consists of the Indiana Army National Guard and the Indiana Air National Guard, and is part of the larger Army National Guard and the Air National Guard...
. 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...
erupted the following year, and he served with the 27th Indiana Volunteers in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Following the war, Tyndall engaged in a number of business ventures. In 1908, he married Dean Spellman, a daughter of Samuel and Emma Spellman of Indianapolis. The couple had three children. During 1915–1916, he served as president of the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
. In 1916 he sold out to his business partner and rejoined the military.
World War I
Tyndall served as a Major in command of a Battalion of the Indiana Field Artillery, which was at service on the Mexican border when the United States declared war on Germany in 1917. As the United States mobilized for World War I, the Indiana Field Artillery became federalized as the 150th Field Artillery Regiment150th Field Artillery Regiment
The 150th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery unit in the Indiana National Guard.-History:The 150th Field Artillery was formed from the 1st Indiana Field Artillery, which served during the Spanish-American War. The Indiana Field Artillery was at service on the Mexican border when the...
, and assigned to the 42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division, which participated in several major battles in 1918. Tyndall was promoted to Colonel in command of the entire regiment, which was issued French 155 millimeter cannons
Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider
The Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider, often abbreviated as the C17S, was a French howitzer designed by Schneider et Cie. It was essentially the Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 Schneider fitted with a different breech to use bagged propellant rather than the cartridge cases used by the older howitzer...
. The men referred to him simply as "Bob," and generally admired him as an officer who started as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
and worked his way up through the ranks.
Colonel Tyndall was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, and Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He served in the army of occupation in Germany until 1919, where he suffered from a severe case of the flu. After recovering, Col. Tyndall rejoined the 150th and returned to the United States, where he was honorably discharged from active service in May 1919.
Tyndall returned to business, and served as Vice-President of the Fletcher American Bank from 1919 to 1925. During those same years, he was national treasurer of the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, and worked to establish the organization in Indianapolis. He would continue to work with several businesses in the following years.
Major General Tyndall
Tyndall continued to serve as a colonel in the Field Artillery Officer's Reserve Corps. In 1923, was put in command of the 38th Infantry "Cyclone" Division, and he was promoted to Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
on 29 October 1924. In 1941, Tyndall mobilized the 50,000 troops of the 38th Division at Camp Shelby
Camp Shelby
Camp Shelby is a military post whose North Gate begins at the southern boundary of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on United States Highway 49. It is the largest state owned training site in the nation. During wartime, the camp's mission is to serve as a major, independent mobilization station of the...
, but was forced to retire when he turned sixty-four.
Mayor Tyndall
Robert Tyndall, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, was elected Mayor of Indianapolis in 1942, and served until his death in 1947, at age 70. His term is remembered for long-term planning to achieve grade separation, smoke abatement, revamping of the city's sewer and sanitation systems, and non-partisan administration of City Hospital. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
in Indianapolis.
Tyndall Armory, in downtown Indianapolis, is named in honor of Robert Tyndall. The armory was the headquarters for the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)
The 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is a modular infantry brigade of the United States Army National Guard of Indiana...
from 1969–2011, when it moved to a new facility at the former Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. It is named for the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post being officially named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being...
.