Henry D. Todd, Jr.

Henry Davis Todd Jr. (August 29, 1866 – January 22, 1964) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I he attained the rank of major general and was most prominent for his command of several Field Artillery and Coast Artillery units during and after the First World War.

Todd was born in Claverack, New York and was the son of a United States Navy officer and professor at the United States Naval Academy. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1886 and the United States Military Academy in 1890. Assigned to the Field Artillery, Todd served in positions of increasing rank and responsibility for the next 40 years, including assignments in the Coast Artillery.

During the Spanish–American War, Todd helped raise the new 7th Artillery and commanded a battery as the regiment took part in the coastal defenses of Florida and New York. During World War I, he was promoted to temporary brigadier general, then temporary major general, and commanded the 58th Artillery Brigade, a unit of the 33rd Division. He later commanded the field artillery of several Army divisions, and after the war remained in Europe on occupation duty. His First World War service was recognized with award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart.

After World War I, Todd returned to the permanent rank of colonel before earning promotions to permanent brigadier general and permanent major general. His later career included command of several Coast Artillery units and culminated with assignment as commandant of the Coast Artillery School. Todd retired in 1930. He died in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 1964, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life Henry D. Todd Jr. was born in Claverack, New York on August 29, 1866, the son of Flora (Johnson) Todd, daughter of Maryland Chancellor John Johnson Jr. and Henry D. Todd, a rear admiral in the United States Navy and faculty member at the United States Naval Academy. The younger Todd attended private schools and St. John's College Preparatory School in Annapolis, Maryland. Todd was a member of the university's baseball team and earned academic honors during all four years he was a student.

After graduating from Penn, Todd was appointed to the United States Military Academy by Maryland Congressman Barnes Compton. He graduated in 1890, ranked 7th of 54. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery and assigned to the 3rd Artillery Regiment. From July 1900 to July 1901, Todd attended the Artillery Officers Course at Fort Monroe, Virginia. After brief service at Fort Monroe in October and November 1908, Todd was assigned to duty with the Army General Staff, appointed as secretary of the Army War College and the general staff's second section. After completing organization and training, the division arrived in France in June 1918, and underwent additional training at the Valdahon-Ornans training area until entering combat in August.

First Silver Star citation

Later career

After the war, Todd reverted to the permanent rank of colonel. From August 1919 to June 1920, he attended the Army War College for the second time. In retirement, his activities included service as a vice president of the West Point Association of Graduates and Washington, D.C. chapter president of the Coast Artillery Association. He died at his daughter's home in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 1964. Todd was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Family In 1897, Todd married Emma Northrop Greene (1869–1955). They were the parents of three children – Henry Poultney (born and died in 1899), Harriet Stewart (1900–1994), and Harrison Tyler (1905–2001).