Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/37

 president; Maj. Albert A. Sprague, II, chairman Board of Directors; Maj. Philip Fox, first vice president; Maj. J. W. E. Taylor, second vice-president; Col. Abel Davis, third vice-president; Maj. John S. Miller, Jr., secretary; Lt. John S. Broeksmit, treasurer; Harry E. Weese, assistant treasurer. Direc- tors: Col. Abel Davis, Capt. Marshall Field, III, Maj. Thomas R. Gowenlock, Maj, John S. Miller, Jr., Gen. James A. Ryan, Maj. Albert A. Sprague, II, Capt. John A. Stevenson.

The Association has consistently backed every effort to secure for return- ing ex-service men every help the Government could give them, and has championed their cause on every occasion. Complaints have been investi- gated. Information that wounded men were to be discharged from army hospitals before they w^ere fit for civil life brought speedy action at Wash- ington from the Chairman of our Board of Directors, Maj. A. A. Sprague, and resulted in the order being revoked. Special cases outside the membership have been taken care of in homes and hospitals. In addition, the Association has given $10,000 to the American Legion to install a service department, believing that through such an organization large results w^ould be secured.

Throughout its w^hole career the Association has sought to do the greatest possible good to the largest number, w^ithout seeking credit or considering its ow^n personal advantages.

After the return of the men, several reunions have been held. Men came from long distances to be present. A larger reunion w^as held in Chi- cago, to which all of the members were invited. More than seven hundred attended. Every company in the First and Second Camps was represented. There was a spirit of a good fellowship which carried every man back to Fort Sheridan in 1917. Such reunions will be planned in the future in other cities and at Fort Sheridan.

Records of men killed or wounded have been carefully kept. Full information is on file in our office and is always available to members.

The memorial section of this volume contains a brief resume of each. No attempt has been made to go into detail. The fuller records carry a wealth of honorable service which will always be an inspiration to the mem- bers of the Association.

Two hundred and seventy of our members were killed in the service. Many of them left dependent families, to which we are obligated by every law of life. Sometimes they have needed the simple testimony of our con- tinued interest and appreciation to help them over the lonely hours and the heavier responsibility.

At Christmas time in December, 1919, the Association sent to the seventy children, whose fathers were our fellow^ officers and friends, a beau- tiful solid silver table ring with this inscription:

"To

��From his Father's Brother Officers who served with him at Fort Sheridan in 191 7."

�� �