One of the most often asked question at events held by Adair Living History, Inc (ALH) is “How did Camp Adair get its name”? Although there are plenty of sources that are easily found about 1st Lt Henry Rodney Adair, it is still asked at almost every event. This blog is meant to be a concise but thorough biography of Capt Adair.
Cadet Henry R. Adair, U. S. Military Academy, 1904 1st Lt Henry R. Adair 1911
Henry Rodney Adair was born in Astoria, Oregon, on April 13, 1882. He was a part of a prominent Oregon pioneer family, son of Samuel Dickinson Adair and Mary Rodney Morris Adair. He was a descendant of Oregon’s first Federal revenue/customs collector, General John Adair. He grew up on a ranch in Clatsop county, Oregon and graduated from Astoria High School in 1900.
In 1900 he entered the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, New York in 1900, graduating in 1904, obtaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
He was assigned to the 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Robinson, Crawford, Nebraska from 1904-1907
In 1907 he was assigned to Fort William McKinley, Taguig/Manila, Philippines, until 1909.
In 1909 he re-joined the 10th Calvary at Fort Ethan Allen, Colchester, Vermont. He was a famous horseman and polo player, traveling to Canada, Egypt and Gibraltar in this capacity. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on June 26, 1911. In 1912 he took part, with cavalry officers from Belgium, Holland, Canada, England, at the International Horse Show at New York City, where he won the broad water jump.
In 1913 the 10th Cavalry Regiment was assigned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The regiment was made up of the famed Buffalo Soldiers. He served there and along the Mexican Border until 1914 in response to the Mexican Revolution,
1914 – 1915 – He attended a post graduate course at the Mounted Service School, Fort Riley, Kansas
1915 – He returned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona
1916 – He joined Colonel Townsend F. Dodd’s (1st Commissioned Army Aviator) of the 1st Aero Squadron as Adjutant and entered Mexico, going father into the interior than any other unit, marching several hundred miles.
In the late spring of 1916, he served with C Troop, 10th Cavalry Regiment, the Buffalo Soldiers all-black unit, with Captain Charles T. Boyd, in General Pershing’s “Punitive Expedition to Mexico” in search of Pancho Villa and his troops who had recently raided across the Border into New Mexico. He served from March 16 until his death on June 21, 1916, on this campaign.
Morning Oregonian, 28 June 1916. Caption reads: To the right stands Lieutenant Henry R. Adair of the Tenth Cavalry. To the left if Captain G. F. Trevino, an officer of General Garcia’s staff. The photograph was taken recently at a Conference held between United States and Mexican officers at the American base camp.
The last task of the expedition was to scout around Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico “to recon in the vicinity of the Santa Domingo Ranch” and avoid any confrontation with the Carrancistas. This was about 60 miles east of Colonia Dublan where the main U.S. Army camp was set.
At Carrizal, Chihuahua American troops came face to face with a much larger force of Carranza’s Mexican troops, and a battle began. A Sergeant sought to take reinforcements of ammunition to trapped troopers at the time of the surprise attack in Carrizal. Wounded and surrounded, with his final orders “go on sergeant”, 1st Lt Adair willingly relinquished the last chance of saving his own life.
1st Lt Adair was slated to be promoted to Captain on July 1, 1916.
His father died a couple of weeks after and was never told that his son was killed. They were buried together at the same time.
Morning Oregonian, 11 July 1916
Nephew Henry Rodney Adair II
Camp Adair Sentry, 14 May 1942
1st Lt Adair was interred in River View Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, Section 109, Lot 228, Plot 7.
As a memorial to the heroism of a young Oregonian, the name “Camp Henry R. Adair” was selected by Congress and the War Department on March 27, 1942 for the mid-Willamette Valley cantonment.
Awards: Mexican Border Service Medal, Mexican Service Medal (Army), Purple Heart.
SOURCES:
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_R._Adair
- Cullum, George Washington(1920). Robinson, Wirt (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. From Its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890. Vol. VI-A: 1910–1920. Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. p. 1132. Retrieved July 30,2022 – via Google Books.
- Together We Served, Role of Honor https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=270275&source=fold3
- The Oregon Daily Journal, 23 June 1916, page 1, Portland, OR.
- Oregon Statesman, Camp Adair Edition, November 8, 1942
- The Battle of Carrizal: Details of the battle, how this battle came about, and evaluation of the operation can be found at: http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/huachuca/HI1-22.htm
- Willamette Heritage Center: https://www.willametteheritage.org/henry-adair/