Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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I hope some day that I can tell you and Joe’s splendid mother and sisters, and fiancee personally what I have tried to express in this letter — how I personally held and loved him. (Enclosure in preceding letter) Request for naming of Experimental Field after Lieut. Hanlon. From: Commandant Experimental Field, C. Y. S. To: Chief of Chemical Waifare Service, T. E. F. Subject: Name for Experimental Field. 1. On Tuesday night, July 31, Lieutenant J. T. Hanlon, Company B, 30lh Engineers, was killed in action near Villers-sur-Fcre, while en- gaged in conducting a carrying party to the site of a proposed Stokes Mortar Operation. 2. It is quite im])ossible to state in words how highH Lieutenant Hanlon was considered. He came as near representing that high ideal of an American soldier that it has ever been my good fortune to know. There never was any question about Lieutenant Hanlon, he was every inch a soldier. 3. Lieutenant Hanlon was the personification of the spirit of the regiment and likewise of the Chemical Warfare Service. By his death, I am further insiiired to do and give the little I have to make his death worth while. I know that this is the feeling of all officers and men who knew Lieutenant Hanlon. 4. It seems especially fitting to make the following request, that is that this field be called “Hanlon Field.” It would mean a great deal to every man on duty here to feel that any results that he might obtain would be to helj) make good the loss of this splendid young soldier. E. J. xLtkisson, Lieutenant-Colonel Engineers. Chemical Wareare Services, September 4, 1918. Special Order Designating C. IT. S. Experimental Field as “Hanlon Field.” C. W. S., A. E. F. Special Orders No. 9. Hereafter the Experimental Field, Chemical Warfare Service, will be known as Hanlon field,” Chemical Warfare Service, in honor of Lieutenant J. T. Hanlon, Company B, ist Gas Begiment, wlio was killed in action July 31, 1918, near Villers-sur-Fere, while engaged in con- ducting a carrying jiarty to tlic site of a proposed Stokes Mortar opera- tion in support of an infantry attack, when the Germans were being driven from the Marne to the Vesle. 23

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From the Colonel of the Regiment, E. J. Atkisson. I liave delayed writing to you i)revious to the War Department’s announeeinent of Joe’s death. I re([uested iVIajor Wood, who is in the States, to see you if he possibly eould, and tell you about his death. You will remember that Joe was one of my first oiheers, and 1 grew to know him very well indeed. No man in the Regiment was held in higher regard, and we all felt a direet jiersonal loss when he was killed. He was killed near Fere-cn-Tardenois, in the Chateau-Thierry drive, while taking U]) a carrying party for a Stokes Mortar operation. He and four of his men were killed by the same shell. There was never the slightest question or doubt about Joe. He performed his full duty at all times. He was loved by his men. He got into as much action, if not more, than any lieutenant in the Regiment U]) to the time he was killed. He had made himself an expert in all of our special work — Cylinders, Projectors and Stokes Mortars. He was the best (lualilied Stokes Mortar man in Company R. I am enclosing a letter which I wrote as Commandant of our Kxi)erimental Field, shortly after his death, and the copy of an order from our Chief. Hanlon Field is really the center and heart of the Chemical Warfare Service. We have a large organization there that is continually carrying on ex])eriments and tests to further devclo]) and improve our work. There is also located there the American Expeditionary Forces’ Gas Defense School, where some 20U, possibly 300 officers belonging to all units of our army, will be trained in the proi)er defensive measures to be taken against gas. It is also the head([uarters of our Officers’ Training School, where otliecrs arc trained for the Chemical Warfare Service. It is also the headquarters for the training of all our gas troops, and from our little beginning at American Fniversity, with Comj)anies A and B, we expect eventually to have three regiments, comi)osed of some 600 otliecrs and about 15,000 men. Joe’s name and work and noble death will leave an inqjression on all of tins. We were fortunate in obtaining Joe’s body, and it was brought to La Ville-aux-Rois, near Hanlon Field, wliere several of the eonq)anies were located at the time. Ca])tain Keizer succeeded in obtaining a spiendid casket, whieli was sealed, and he was buried in grave No. 51, Otliecrs’ Plot, American Cemetery, at G. J. Q., within three kilometers of Hanlon Field, with full Military Honors. Cha])lain Doherty, a (adliolic, and a man wlio knew ,loc, and to wliom Joe liad gone pre- viously, conducted tlie services. 5ou may know that wq sliall do everytliing tliat we can to assist you in eventually bringing Joe’s liody liack to the States. 22

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Liculenanl Hanlon is the first oilieer of the Cheinieal Warfare Serviee to he killed in aetion. He was an otiieer of unusual promise, great ability and high ideals, and one who, while every ineh a soldier, was loved by all who knew him. In his death the Service sutfered a serious loss, and as the experimental field typifies in its various activi- ties the very soul of the Chemical Warfare Service, it is most fitting that it should bear the name of one who in his youthful life typified all that is good in the Service. Commencement Day, June, 1912 JOSEPH HAXLOX (A.B., ’12) From the Major of the Regiment, George S. Watson. It is im])ossible at such a time to in any measure convey to you my sorrow and the sorrow of all my brother officers at the loss of Lieutenant Hanlon. At 4 P. M. of the 30th instant, he was examined for promotion, the recommendation had gone in and now where he had once been the life and sj)irit of his mess there is a vacant scat. If ever a boy was ujiright, fearless and loved by all, it was Joe. He was absolutely clean morally, in Ihought and in action. It was a ])leasure to hear the reverence with which he sjioke of his family, and he had enshrined in his heart the image of a girl, “His 24