Henry Rodney Adair | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1882-04-13)April 13, 1882 Astoria, Oregon, United States |
| Died | June 21, 1916(1916-06-21) (aged 34) Carrizal, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1904–1916[1] |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Commands | 10th Cavalry Regiment |
| Conflicts | Mexican Revolution |
Henry Rodney Adair (1882–1916) was an American cavalry officer. He is most notable for his participation in theBattle of Carrizal of thePancho Villa Expedition.
Adair was born inAstoria, Oregon, on April 13, 1882. He was a part of a prominent Oregon pioneer family.[2] He graduated fromWest Point on June 15, 1904, and served in various areas of the U.S. and overseas, including thePhilippines as Adair served inFort William McKinley from May 1908 until May 1909.[3] He served with the10th Cavalry Regiment from the outset of his career with periodic duties in other areas of the U.S., includingFort Ethan Allen inColchester, Vermont, from 1909 to 1913, then the Regiment was transferred toFort Huachuca, Arizona. He served there and along the Mexican Border until 1914 in response to theMexican Revolution, then back toFort Riley from 1914 to 1915, and returned to Arizona in 1915 until 1916.[4]
He was a famous horseman and polo player, traveling toCanada,Egypt andGibraltar in this capacity while serving in the cavalry. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on June 26, 1911.[4]
In the late spring of 1916, he served with C Troop, 10th Cavalry Regiment, with CaptainCharles T. Boyd inGeneral Pershing's "Punitive Expedition to Mexico" in search ofPancho Villa and his troops who had recently raided across the Border intoNew Mexico. He served from March 16 until his death on June 21, 1916, on this campaign.[4]
The last task of the expedition was to scout aroundVilla Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico "to recon in the vicinity of the Santa Domingo Ranch" and avoid any confrontation with theCarrancistas. This was about 60 miles east ofColonia Dubla where the main U.S. Army camp was set.[4]
However, it was atCarrizal, Chihuahua that the American troops came face to face with a much larger force of Carranza's Mexican troops, and a confrontation began. He was killed during the ensuingBattle of Carrizal in a hail of gunfire from the Carrancistas. Adair would later be buried inRiver View Cemetery inPortland, Oregon.[4]
Camp Adair in Oregon is named after Henry R. Adair as he was a native of Astoria.[2]