George Franklin Baltzell

As of February 2010, best research indicates that George F. Baltzell served as
Commander 22nd Infantry from 1926-1929.

He is confirmed as being in command of the Regiment during the year 1926, at Camp McClellan, Alabama,
and at Fort McPherson, Georgia during the years 1927-1928.

It takes a sterling career to have a road named after you.

Col. George F. Baltzell — of Baltzell Gate fame — was a decorated officer of the Army
who helped to develop the military school system.

Baltzell was born in 1875 in Marianna, Fla., and died there at age 62.

He was a career military man, who after many other posts spent his final assignment
in command of the 22nd Infantry at Fort McClellan.

After his 1897 graduation from the U.S. Military Academy, Baltzell served in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.
He then sailed for a tour in the Philippines before attending the Infantry-Cavalry school where he was a distinguished graduate.
Baltzell graduated the Army Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., then stayed for several years
teaching military art in the Army Service Schools.

In 1911 he was ordered to the Panama Canal as Inspector-Instructor of the Virginia National Guard for six years.

During WWI he was named Inspector of a National Guard division from Washington D.C. and was shipped to France.
Less than a month after he arrived, he was moved to the training staff, where he served for the next year.

He returned to the United States in February 1919 and served as the executive officer of the Infantry School
at Fort Benning, Ga., for about a year before returning to Washington, working in the office of the Chief of Infantry.

Baltzell received the Distinguished Service Cross (Ed., should read: Distinguished Service Medal)
for contributing to the training of officers and troops of the A. E. F. and to the development of military school system.

After graduating the Army War College in 1922, he was assigned to work in the office
of the chief of militia bureau for three years.

He then left and took a short course at the infantry school before being put in charge of the 22nd Infantry.

Baltzell was then moved in that capacity, to Fort McClellan where he served out his final assignment.
(Ed., Baltzell also served as Commanding Officer 22nd Infantry at Fort McPherson, GA.,
subsequent to his service at Fort McClellan.)

George F. Batlzell entered the US Military Academy on June 21, 1893. He graduated and was commissioned
a 2nd Lieutenant in the 12th Infantry on June11, 1897. He transferred to the 5th Infantry on December 16, 1897
and was promoted in that organization to 1st Lieutenant on March 2, 1899.

The following military history of Colonel Baltzell is taken from the Army Register
of 1920. It is complete only from 1902 through 1919.

Baltzell was given the temporary rank of Colonel in the Regular Army from the period of
February 6, 1918 to February 11, 1920. On July 1, 1920 he was promoted to Colonel of Infantry.

He was detailed to the Militia Bureau (National Guard Bureau) from August 31, 1922 to July 1, 1925.

He was also a Distinguished Graduate of the Infantry-Cavalry School in 1906,
and a Graduate of the Army Staff College in 1908, and a graduate of the Army War College in 1922.

The above article from the Aniston Star, stating that Baltzell spent his final assignment in command of the
22nd Infantry appears to be in error, as the Army Register carried him as a Colonel on active duty until
August 6, 1937, when he died at Marianna, Florida.

Colonel George F. Baltzell

as Commanding Officer 22nd Infantry

at Camp McClellan, Alabama 1926.

Photo from

The Cimitracam

The yearbook of the CMTC training program
at Camp McClellan, Alabama 1926

webmaster's collection

The citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Medal to George F. Baltzell: