William Abram Mann

William Abram Mann
Born	July 31, 1854 Altoona, Pennsylvania
Died	October 8, 1934 (aged 80) Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1875–1918
Rank	Major General
Commands held	6th Infantry Regiment Department of Dakota Recruit Depot, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri 3rd Infantry Regiment 1st Brigade, Department of the East 2nd Cavalry Brigade School of Musketry and Field Artillery Militia Bureau 42nd Infantry Division Department of the East
Battles/wars	American Indian Wars Spanish–American War Pancho Villa Expedition World War I
Awards	Silver Star
Other work	Executive, Equitable Trust Company of New York

William Abram Mann (July 31, 1854 – October 8, 1934) was a general officer in the United States Army. He served as the commander of the 17th Infantry Brigade in the Spanish–American War of 1898 and the commander of the 42nd Infantry Division ("The Rainbow Division") in World War I.

After he retired from military service, he became an executive at Equitable Trust Company of New York. He resided in Washington D.C., until his death on October 8, 1934. He had a troop carrier (AP-112) named after him, that was commissioned in 1943 and served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Early life and start of military career

Mann was born on July 31, 1854, in Altoona, Pennsylvania and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1875, receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.^[1][2]

He served in the western United States throughout the 1870 and 1880s, mostly in assignments with the 7th Cavalry. As part of the 17th Infantry Regiment, he took part in the Sioux Indian campaign of 1890 to 1891.^[3]

Spanish–American War

Mann served with the 17th Infantry Regiment in the Spanish–American War, participating in the Battle of El Caney and the Siege of Santiago.^[4] He received a Silver Star for gallantry in action at El Caney.^[5] Mann also served in the Philippines in 1899 and the early 1900s.^[6] He graduated from the Army War College in 1905.^[7]

Post Spanish–American War

From 1907 to 1909 Mann commanded the 6th Infantry Regiment at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana, also temporarily commanding the Department of Dakota on several occasions. From 1910 to 1911 he commanded the Recruit Depot, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.^[8]

In 1911 he was assigned to the Army's General Staff, and from 1912 to 1913 he was Chief of Staff for the Eastern Department in New York City. He served as Chief of Staff for the division based in Texas City, Texas from 1913 to 1914.^[9]

From 1914 to 1915 Mann commanded the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Madison Barracks, New York, and in 1915 he was assigned as commander of 1st Brigade, Department of the East in Albany, New York, receiving promotion to Brigadier General.^[10][11]

In 1916 General Mann assumed command of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in Texas during the Pancho Villa Expedition, and later took command of the School of Musketry and Field Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.^[12]

In 1917 he was named to head the Army's Militia Bureau (now the National Guard Bureau), receiving promotion to Major General.^[13]

World War I

General Mann left the Militia Bureau and was succeeded by Jesse McI. Carter. Mann became the first commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, nicknamed the Rainbow Division, which was composed of National Guard units from 26 states and the District of Columbia. The 42nd Division's activation was important because it was the first time National Guard units from multiple states were organized together and it was the first time smaller Guard units were formed into divisions.^[14][15][16]

Mann led the Rainbow Division to France, but did not pass his physical exam, and so was not able to command the organization in combat.^[17] He then returned to the U.S. and commanded the Department of the East until he reached mandatory retirement age in late 1918.^[18]

Post-military career

After leaving the military Mann became an executive at Equitable Trust Company of New York.^[19]

Retirement and death

In retirement Mann resided in Washington, D.C., and he died there on October 8, 1934.^[20] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 1996.^[21]

Legacy

The USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112), a World War II troop carrier, was named for him. The General Mann was commissioned in 1943, used in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and remained in service until 1965.^[22]

References

1. Pennsylvania Society, Pennsylvania Society Yearbook, 1919, page 187
2. Eugene J. O'Brien, Seventh Regiment Gazette, "First Grayjackets Leave for France", September, 1917, page 235
3. American Rifleman, "Brig. Gen. Mann to Head Militia Bureau", November 9, 1916, page 129
4. United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, Annual Report, 1935, page 83
5. Altoona Mirror, "U.S. Troop Ship Named for Mann", July 19, 1943
6. Henry Blaine Davis, Generals in Khaki, 1998, page 241
7. Henry Joseph Reilly, Americans All: The Rainbow at War; Official History of the 42nd Rainbow Division in the World War, 1936, page 34
8. George Washington Cullum, Edward Singleton Holden, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, Volume 6, Part 1, 1920, page 203
9. Association of Graduates, Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy, 1963, page 265
10. The American Whitaker Almanac and Encyclopedia, 1915, page 105
11. Underwriter Printing and Publishing, The Insurance Almanac, Volume 3, 1915, page 371
12. Leroy Thompson, The M1903 Springfield Rifle, 2013
13. New York Times, "Militia Mobilization", December 26, 1916
14. Hartford Courant, "Will Command First Militia Division in France", August 17, 1917
15. Atlanta Constitution, "'Rainbow Division' Reviewed by Baker", September 24, 1917
16. Wall Street Journal, "New Militia Bureau Head", November 29, 1917
17. Spokane Spokesman-Review, "Rainbow Outfit Commander Dies: Major General Charles Menoher, Retired, Decorated in France During War", August 13, 1930
18. Meridien Morning Record, "Gen. Mann Heads Dept. of the East", January 3, 1918
19. Chicago Tribune, "Brig. Gen. Mann Goes Into Bank for Overseas", November 24, 1918
20. New York Times, "Maj. Gen. W.A. Mann Dies at Age of 80", October 9, 1934
21. Arlington National Cemetery, Entry for William A. Mann, accessed April 21, 2013
22. U.S.S. General W.A. Mann Association, Home Page, accessed April 21, 2013

Sources

• U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General's Office, 1875
• Reminiscences of West Point in the Olden Time, Augusta Blanche Berard, 1886, page 50
• U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General's Office, 1888, page 266
• Historical Register of the United States Army, by Francis Bernard Heitman, 1890, Volume 1, page 450
• The World Almanac and Encyclopedia, published by Press Publishing Company, 1903, page 407
• Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, 1903, Volume 1, page 687
• The Tribune Almanac and Political Register, published by the Tribune Association, 1906, Volume XVIII, No. 1, page 1866
• War Department Annual Reports, published by U.S. War Department, 1908, page 113
• Who's Who in Pennsylvania: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries, 1908, Volume 2, page 466
• Journal of the Military Service Institution of the United States, 1913, Volume LII, page xii
• "Army Promotions, The Outlook, November 25, 1914
• "The General Staff, the North American Review, July 1917, Volume CCVI, page 230
• "New Army Board Named to Consider Relationship Between Department Commanders and Guard, Official U.S. Bulletin, June 28, 1917
• Current History: A Monthly Magazine of the New York Times, Volume VII, October 1917 to March 1918, page 12
• "Rainbow Division Again in Review," New York Times, October 8, 1917
• "New Commands for Returned Officers," Los Angeles Times, January 3, 1918
• "Gen. Mann to Command Eastern Department," Hartford Courant, January 3, 1918
• "Gen. Mann Goes Into Bank for Overseas," Chicago Tribune, November 24, 1918
• Trust Companies News, Banking Publicity Association of the United States, 1918, volume 27, page 624
• America's Part in the World War, Richard Joseph Beamish and Francis Andrew March 1919, page 586
• Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, by George W. Cullum, 1920, Volume 1, page 203
• Harper's Pictorial Library of the World War, Albert Bushnell Hart, 1920, page 109
• U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General's Office, 1922, page 1198
• "Maj. Gen. W. A. Mann died at 80," New York Times, October 9, 1934
• Carbine and Lance: The Story of Old Fort Sill, Wilbur Sturtevant Nye, 1983, page 326
• U.S.S. General W.A. Mann Association web site, http://www.ussgenwamann.org/
• Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades, by John B. Wilson, United States Army Center of Military History, 1998, Chapter 3, end note 31