Clement Alexander Finley Flagler (August 17, 1867 – May 7, 1922) was a United States Army Major General who was noteworthy as regimental, brigade and division commander in World War I.
The son of Daniel Webster Flagler and grandson of Clement Alexander Finley, Clement Flagler graduated from Iowa's Griswold College in 1885 and the United States Military Academy in 1889. Commissioned as an Engineer officer, Flagler served on the West Point faculty and then carried out a series of Engineer assignments, with a specialty in rivers and harbors construction. He took part in the Spanish–American War and the Pancho Villa Expedition, and was a graduate of the Army War College.
During World War I, Flagler became a temporary major general and commanded the 7th Engineer Regiment, 5th Infantry Division Artillery, III Corps Artillery, and the 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division. He was a recipient of both the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre in recognition of his wartime achievements.
After the war, Flagler reverted to his permanent rank of colonel, and resumed his career as an Engineer officer. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.
Early life
He was born Clement Alexander Finley Flagler in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Brigadier General Daniel Webster Flagler, for whom Fort Flagler, Washington was named.
The younger Flagler was named for his maternal grandfather, Army Surgeon General Clement Alexander Finley. Known as Clement Flagler, Clement A.F. Flagler, and C.A.F Flagler, he grew up in Iowa while his father commanded the Rock Island Arsenal.
In 1885 he received a bachelor of science degree from Griswold College. He then accepted appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, after being recommended by Congressman Jerry Murphy. He graduated in 1889, and Flagler's high class ranking (3 of 29) enabled him to obtain a sought after position in the Army's Engineer branch. Among his fellow graduates included several men who would become general officers, such as Charles Dudley Rhodes, William S. Graves, Eben Eveleth Winslow, Frank Daniel Webster, Walter Augustus Bethel, Winthrop S. Wood, Chester Harding, William L. Kenly, Joseph D. Leitch, Edward McGlachlin Jr., George LeRoy Irwin, William Wright Harts, William G. Haan, Charles Crawford and William Lassiter. Charles Young was another distinguished graduate, becoming the first African American to attain the rank of colonel.
While at West Point Flagler was nicknamed "Sioux" as a testament to his dark eyes, hair, and complexion, his having been raised in Iowa, and his self-professed Native American heritage, and his classmates used it with him for the rest of his life.
Start of military career
Assigned as an Engineer officer, Flagler served as instructor in civil and military engineering at West Point, and as engineer officer at Chickamauga, Georgia.
Spanish–American War
During the Spanish–American War Flagler was temporarily promoted to major and assigned as engineer officer on the staff of the U.S. Army commander in Puerto Rico.
Post–Spanish–American War
Following the Spanish–American War Flagler continued to carry out Engineer assignments, including serving as officer in charge of the federal lighthouse district based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a posting as chief engineering officer for the Army's Department of the East. Flagler also played a role in choosing the route for enlarging the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal.
In 1914 Flagler graduated from the Army War College.
After his War College graduation Flagler served as engineer officer for the District of Columbia Engineer District.
Pancho Villa Expedition
During Mexican border skirmishes of 1914–1916, Flagler served on General Funston's staff in the Vera Cruz Expedition.
World War I
Shortly after the American entry into World War I, in April 1917, Flagler was, on May 15, promoted to the rank of colonel. Two months later, when a new regiment of engineers, the 7th, was being raised, he was assigned to command the new regiment. In December of that year the 7th Engineers was assigned to the 5th Division, then in its early stages of creation and commanded by Major General John E. McMahon. Flagler left his regiment soon afterwards, to take command of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, also part of the 5th Division, and having under its command the 19th, 20th, and 21st Field Artillery Regiments. At the time the brigade was stationed at Camp Stanley, Leon Springs, Texas.