Lucius Roy Holbrook (April 30, 1875 – October 19, 1952) was a major general who commanded the United States Army's Philippine Department from 1936 to 1938.
Early life and family history
Holbrook was born in Arkansaw, Wisconsin. He was a son of Willard Francis and Mary (Ames) Holbrook. His father was born at Wrentham, Massachusetts, on April 27, 1827, and died September 17, 1886. Holbrook's mother, Mary Ames, was born November 19, 1840, at West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and died on July 12, 1889.
Holbrook graduated from high school in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1892. He entered the United States Military Academy on June 15, 1892, and graduated on June 12, 1896, as a second lieutenant of Cavalry.
His brother, Willard was an army officer who attained the rank of major general. His nephew, Willard Ames Holbrook Jr., also pursued an army career and retired as a brigadier general.
Military career
Holbrook served with the 4th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Walla Walla, Washington, until December 22, 1896, and at Boise Barracks, Fort Sherman and Wardner, Idaho, until May 1899. During his time at Boise, he met Henrietta Coffin, (January 7, 1877 – March 28, 1965), the daughter of Frank R. Coffin, a merchant and banker and Charlotte Irene (Quivey) Coffin. The couple were married on June 7, 1899, at the Presidio of San Francisco in California and were the parents of three sons.
On June 24, 1889, Holbrook was posted to the Philippine Islands and during the Philippine–American War, he participated in the Northern Campaign, fighting in battles at Arayat, Cabiao, San Isidro, Santa Rosa, and Talavera. He then served with General Theodore Schwan's Southern Expedition from January 3 to February 18, 1900, and was at the Battles of Muntinlupa and Biñan, Carmona and Silan, Tiaong, Candaleria and Tayabas. Promoted to first lieutenant on January 23, 1900, later in the year he was posted to Troop H, 6th Cavalry Regiment, which was stationed at Boise Barracks in Idaho, until February 11, 1901.
Holbrook returned to the Philippines in March 1901 and served with Troop B, 15th Cavalry Regiment and Troop I, 4th Cavalry Regiment, based at Manila, until July 1, 1901, and at Fort Riley, Kansas, until August 7, 1902. He was promoted to captain on July 15, 1902. He was then assigned to Camp Stotsenburg, in the Philippines, until June 14, 1903. He returned to the US and served at Fort Logan, Colorado, and Fort Huachuca, Arizona, until August 28, 1904.
Holbrook was a distinguished graduate of the Infantry-Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on July 2, 1905, and then attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College until July 25, 1906. Holbrook was the umpire for maneuvers at Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming (later Fort Francis E. Warren) until September 16, 1906. He then joined the 5th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Wingate, New Mexico, until October 24, 1907.
Holbrook was assigned to the Commissary Department where he commanded the first training school for army bakers and cooks until March 9, 1911. During this time, he wrote the army's first cooking manuals. He was assisted in this endeavor by Color Sergeant, later Major Patrick Dunne. These works include: Handling the Straight Army Ration and Baking Bread. A Practical Manual for Army Cooks, Mess Stewards, and Post Bakers, in Field or in Garrison and on the March; for Company Officers, Post Treasurers and Mess Officers of Troops Aboard Army Transports with Patrick Dunne (1905) The Army Baker: A Manual Prepared for the Use of Students of the Training School for Bakers and Cooks (1910) The Mess Sergeant's Handbook with Patrick Dunne (1916) The Mess Officer's Assistant
Holbrook then served as Assistant to the Chief Commissary, Maneuver Division, San Antonio, Texas, until July 21, 1911, and at Fort Riley until September 20, 1911. He was then ordered to Paris, France, where he attended the Ecole de L'Intendance (the French Army School of Supply) until December 15, 1912.
Holbrook was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, until April 4, 1916, and was then a quartermaster at Fort Riley, until July 1916. In 1916, he served with General John J. Pershing's Mexican Expeditionary Forces, as commander of the bakeries. This was the first use of the army field oven, which he had invented. He was promoted to major on July 1, 1916.