San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1031-1032
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 3/21/2010
GEN. WILLIAM THOMAS LITTEBRANT
Among the native sons of Stockton who rose to prominence and influence in the United States Army was the late Gen. William Thomas Littebrant, who was born in Stockton, March 27, 1865, the only son of Hartman and Catherine (Cunningham) Littebrant who are represented on another page in this work. He had two sisters, Mrs. Katherine McCoy, deceased, and Miss Christene Littebrant, of Stockton. After completing the grammar school, he attended the Boys' High School in San Francisco until he was appointed a cadet to West Point, at the age of nineteen. He was graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1888. He was at first assigned to the infantry, but a few months later was transferred to the 10th Cavalry, where he served with General Pershing, with whom he had been a schoolmate at the military academy. He was promoted to the 7th Cavalry in 1896, and afterwards served in other cavalry regiments, among them the 1st, 9th, 11th, 12th, 15th, and 23rd. His earlier service was on the frontier, and his training there fitted him physically for the strenuous army life which he had selected as his calling. Before he had been two years in the service he had won the first Gold Medal on a tri-departmental revolver team; and from that time on he excelled in both rifle and pistol shooting, and his name appeared frequently in departmental teams.
As regimental quartermaster he equipped his regiment for the strenuous Cuban campaign of 1898. On account of the difficulty of getting supplies, this proved a hard task; but his regimental commander testified that the regiment left for foreign service perfectly equipped in every detail. After service in Cuba, General Littebrant accompanied his regiment to the Philippines, and on returning therefrom again went to Cuba with the Army of Pacification for another tour of two years, in 1908 and 1909. He was a member of the Cavalry Equipment Board in 1910. In 1911 he became a student of the Army School of the Line, from which he graduated in 1912. He was assigned to duty in the Yosemite National Park, where as superintendent he displayed those same able qualities which had previously served the government so well. On July 10, 1914, the Secretary of the Interior, the Honorable Franklin K. Lane, stated in his report: “In this connection I desire to express my sincere appreciation of the very satisfactory success rendered by Major Littebrant in the administration of the affairs of the Yosemite National Park during the time that he has been assigned to that duty.”
General Littebrant next served as a lieutenant-colonel in the recruiting service at St. Louis, Mo. Shortly after the war with Germany was declared, he was promoted to a colonelcy and was assigned to the 23rd Cavalry. The organization of this regiment was under way when he joined it, and he carried the task to completion. Later the regiment was changed into artillery, and General Littebrant asked to be sent to Fort Sill, Okla., for a special course in artillery instruction. After this, he rejoined his regiment, now the 81st Field Artillery, and took up the strenuous training which he felt would be needed to fit the regiment for service on the battlefields of France. On October 1, 1918, he was appointed a brigadier-general and assigned to the 19th Field Artillery Brigade. This organization was scheduled to sail for France in December, 1918, but the armistice put an end to his hope of leading his brigade in battle. His failure to get to the front was the greatest disappointment of his life. He was honorably discharged as a brigadier-general, March 1, 1919, but remained at Camp McClellan, Ala., where an experienced officer was needed in demobilizing the troops. For the last two years his health had not been good. He died of heart failure at his home near the camp, July 2, 1919, leaving a widow and two daughters: Laura, the wife of Capt. C. Palmer Clark, of the air service; and Marian, wife of Frederick M. Kealor, of St. John, N.B. Thus ended the earthly career of a distinguished soldier who spent more than thirty-five of the best years of his life in the service of his country.
General Littebrant was a man of fine appearance and notable military qualities. Tall, well proportioned, and of soldierly bearing, he displayed outwardly those physical attributes which, added to his mental qualities, united to make him a successful leader of men. His kindly disposition, his unfailing sense of humor, and his devotion to his friends and family, were other qualities that made for him many friends. His family, and his native city and state as well, may justly be proud of his record.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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