Charles T. Menoher

Major General Charles Thomas Menoher (March 20, 1862 – August 11, 1930) was a U.S. Army general, first Chief of the United States Army Air Service from 1918–1921, and commanded the U.S. Army Hawaiian Department from 1924–1925.

Early life

The son of a Civil War veteran, Menoher was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1862 and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1886 with a commission as an artillery officer.

Military career

He later graduated from the Army War College and was selected for the original General Staff Corps, where he served from 1903–1907. He was commander of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment from 1916–1917.

Portrait of Charles T. Menoher

After being promoted to brigadier general in August 1917, Menoher commanded the Rainbow Division in France during World War I, participating in the Champagne-Marne offensive and in the successful Allied offensives of Saint Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Menoher was succeeded by General Douglas MacArthur in this position. At war's end, Menoher commanded the VI Corps (United States) and received the Distinguished Service Medal, along with foreign awards from France, Belgium, and Italy.

Following World War I, Menoher became first Director and then Chief of Air Service, where he began a famous (and ultimately losing) conflict with his Assistant Chief, Brigadier General Billy Mitchell. He was promoted to major general in March 1921. Requesting an assignment with troops, Menoher then took command of the Hawaiian Division in 1922 before taking over the entire Hawaiian Department. After this, he commanded the IX Corps Area in San Francisco until his mandatory retirement on March 20, 1926.

Personal life

He married Nannie Pearson. They had four sons: Charles, Pearson, Darrow, and William. His three youngest sons all graduated from West Point, and served in the Army during World War II. Pearson (1892–1958), a classmate of Dwight D. Eisenhower, reached the rank of Major General during the Korean War.

Menoher later married Elizabeth Painter.

Death and legacy

He died on August 11, 1930. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Menoher Boulevard in Johnstown, Pennsylvania is named after him.

Dates of rank

Insignia	Rank	Component	Date
None	Cadet	United States Military Academy	1 July 1882
None in 1888	Second Lieutenant	Regular Army	1 July 1886
	First Lieutenant	Regular Army	23 December 1892
	Captain	Regular Army	2 February 1901
	Major	Regular Army	25 January 1907
	Lieutenant Colonel	Regular Army	26 May 1911
	Colonel	Regular Army	1 July 1916
	Brigadier General	National Army	5 August 1917
	Major General	National Army	28 November 1917
	Brigadier General	Regular Army	7 November 1918
	Major General	Temporary	3 July 1920
	Major General	Regular Army	8 March 1921
	Major General	Retired List	20 March 1926