Notable Military Leaders from Knoxville

General Lawrence D. Tyson

In rank, length of service, and experience in military affairs, General Tyson stands at the head of the national guardsmen of Tennessee.  His military career reached its apex in his command of the Fifty-ninth Infantry Brigade of the Thirtieth Division during the World War.  For the splendid manner in which he handled it in its operations on one of the most difficult parts of the front, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the War Department upon the recommendation of General Pershing.

General Tyson's career as a soldier began in 1883 when he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Ninth United States Infantry, after he had completed the four-year course at the West Point Military Academy.  He remained as an officer of the regular army until 1896, when he resigned to come to Knoxville to reside and enter business.  When war with Spain arose, General Tyson volunteered his services and was made colonel of the Sixth Volunteer Infantry.  With his regiment he saw service in Puerto Rico.  After the declaration of war against Germany, Governor Rye recognized General Tyson's military ability by commissioning him brigadier general of the Tennessee volunteer troops.  In the reorganization of the national guard troops of Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Thirtieth Division, General Tyson was placed in command of the Fifty-ninth Infantry Brigade.  He accompanied it to France and led it in its battles in the Ypres sector in Belgium and in the attack on the Hindenburg Line, together with the bitter engagements which followed it in the succeeding three weeks.

General Tyson and His Staff in Knoxville View snapped just before he led parade of the 117th Infantry through Knoxville, April 5th, 1919.

Colonel James A. Gleason

All the way from a "buck" private to a full colonel is the gamut that Col. Gleason's military career has run in a period of twenty-five years of almost continuous service.  He enlisted in the Tennessee national guard in 1894; saw service in the Spanish-American War with the Third Tennessee Volunteer Infantry; commissioned successively, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain and lieutenant-colonoel of it between 1904-1912; and served with it on the Mexican border until he resigned on January 29, 1917.

During all these years he was very active in state national guard circles and spent much time in keeping alive the military spirit, especially in East Tennessee.  He was often a competitor at national rifle matches and was inspector of small arms for the state guard.

After the declaration of war on Germany, Col. Gleason was largely instrumental in raising the Second Tennessee Infantry and received a commission as its lieutenant-colonel.  On its dismemberment at Camp Seiver, he was transferred to the 114th Field Artillery with the same rank.  He served through all of its campaigns on the Western Front -- the St. Mihiel, Argonne Forest, and Woevre Plain offensives and the Toul and Woevre defensives.  For his military leadership and his outstanding ability as a handler of military men, he received his promotion to full colonel in 1919 at Le Mans, France, just before he sailed home to be mustered out.  During his army career, he commanded at different times four regiments -- the Second and Third Tennessee Infantry and the 114th and 115th Field Artillery.

Colonel Cary F. Spence

The military career of Colonel Spence extends over a period of more than two decades.  It began with the Spanish-American war in 1898, when he was commissioned first lieutenant and appointed regimental adjutant of the Sixth Volunteer Infantry.  He was promoted to the rank of Captain the following year while on duty in Puerto Rico.

After the close of the war, Colonel Spence did not allow his interest in military affairs to lapse, but continued to be an active factor in Tennessee national guard circles.  This lively participation in military matters led to his choice later as colonel of the Third Tennessee Infantry.  When war with Mexico threatened in 1918, he recruited the regiment in full strength and led it to the border, where it saw nearly a year of service on guard duty.

Colonel Spence's most active war service, however, was in the World War, through which he led the 117th Infantry.  He accompanied it to Camp Sevier in September, 1917; directed its training in preparation for overseas duty; was its active commander through all the fighting in Belgium, the attack upon the Hindenburg Line, and the several battles which followed; and he brought home the regiment in the spring of 1919 to be mustered out.  In recognition of his leadership, Colonel Spence was cited in divisional orders by Major-General Lewis, while he was also the recipient of special honors from General Pershing in the form of a citation for his work upon the Western Front.

Except as noted, all HTML code and graphics in the URL path [http://www.knoxcotn.org/military/wwi/] were created by and copyrighted 2001-2003 to Billie R. McNamara.   All rights reserved.   Please direct all questions and comments to Ms. McNamara.