Charles Symmonds

Charles J. Symmonds (October 6, 1866 – July 16, 1941) was a brigadier general in the United States Army. He served during the Spanish–American War and World War I, and was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal.

His award citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Cavalry) Charles Jacobs Symmonds, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. Colonel Symmonds Commanded for many months the important Intermediate Storage Depot at Gievres. He successfully administered a large personnel and supervised the growth of Gievres as a storage depot. He organized the system of supply from that station so efficiently that there were not shortages, either for food or material, at the regulating stations dependent upon Gievres for supply during all the active operations. His official residence was listed as Kenosha, Wisconsin. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1890 and was commissioned as an infantry officer. Transferred to the cavalry in March 1891,

Serving in the Arizona Territory from May 1895 to September 1898, Symmonds did not participate in combat during the Spanish–American War. After receiving quartermaster training in Huntsville, Alabama until November 1898, he was deployed to Puerto Principe, Cuba until November 1899. Symmonds contracted yellow fever there in August 1899.

Promoted to captain and reassigned to the 12th Cavalry Regiment, Symmonds served in Texas until April 1903. He was then sent to the University of Maine as a professor of military science and tactics until September 1906.

Symmonds received a temporary promotion to colonel in August 1917 and was deployed to France in February 1918, where he served as commander of the General Intermediate Storage Depot at Gièvres until July 1919. He was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal in March 1919 and made an officer of the Legion of Honour by Marshal Philippe Pétain in April 1919. His promotion to colonel was made permanent in July 1919.

In June 1928, Symmonds applied for a patent on folding or stowable tables.

Symmonds died at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.