United States. An Army Distinguished Service Medal Group to Colonel John Preston Terrell, Coast Artillery Corps
A First War Army Distinguished Service Medal Group, to Colonel John Preston Terrell, Coast Artillery Corps ; Army Distinguished Service Medal: bronze gilt with blue enamels, number impressed "1296" on the edge, 38 mm, original ribbon with brooch pinback, extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, marked "D.S.M." on the lid, lined in white cloth on the inside lid and ion the medal bed, light scuffing on the lid, the fabric covering on the bottom undulated, case very fine. Accompanied by a Photograph of Colonel Terrell as a Cadet in Uniform (black and white, faded to a sepia-toned look, matte finish, inscribed in pencil "John R. Terrell No. 4095 - '02" on the reverse, 184 mm (w) x 241 mm (h), glue residue on the reverse from previous board mounting, with matted presentation folder); nine documents: Commission Document Promoting Terrell to Second Lieutenant with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army (stating that Terrell was appointed to the rank of Second Lieutenant effective June 12, 1902, dated June 13, 1902 at Washington, D.C., signed by Secretary of War, Elihu Root and President Theodore Roosevelt, blue paper embossed seal of the United States of America War Office at the lower left, engraved and printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, U.S. Treasury Department, printed in black ink on moisture-resistant parchment, 374 mm (w) x 477 (h)); Commission Document Promoting Terrell to First Lieutenant with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army (stating that Terrell was appointed to the rank of First Lieutenant effective January 25, 1907, dated December 26, 1907 at Washington, D.C., signed by Secretary of War, William Howard Taft (later U.S. President) and President Theodore Roosevelt, blue paper embossed seal of the United States of America War Office at the lower left, engraved and printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, U.S. Treasury Department, printed in black ink on moisture-resistant parchment, 386 mm (w) x 483 mm (h)); Commission Document Promoting Terrell to First Lieutenant with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army (stating that Terrell was appointed to the rank of First Lieutenant effective January 25, 1907, dated May 2, 1907 at Washington, D.C., signed by Secretary of War, William Howard Taft (later U.S. President) and President Theodore Roosevelt, blue paper embossed seal of the United States of America War Office at the base, printed in black ink on a thick off-white paper stock, 408 mm (w) x 535 mm (h)); Commission Document Promoting Terrell to Captain with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army (stating that Terrell was appointed to the rank of Colonel effective April 12, 1911, dated May 26, 1911 at Washington, D.C., signed by the Acting Secretary of War, Robert Shawoliosn and President William Howard Taft, blue paper embossed seal of the United States of America War Office at the lower left, engraved and printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, U.S. Treasury Department, printed in black ink on moisture-resistant parchment, 386 mm (w) x 487 mm (h)).
Commission Document Confirming Terrell's Retirement (to be placed on the Retirement List in the rank of Colonel effective October 1, 1930, dated October 1, 1930 and recorded at Washington, D.C. on December 22, 1932, signed by Major General Charles H. Bridges, The Adjutant General and the Secretary of War, Patrick J. Hurley, embossed seal of the United States of America War Office, printed in black ink on a thick off-white paper stock, 293 mm (w) x 367 mm (h), lightly soiled); United States Military Academy Graduation Diploma (issued to Cadet John P. Terrell of the State of New York, for completing the required courses in the Arts, Sciences and Literature at West Point, thereby recommending him for promotion in the Army of the United States, dated June 12, 1902, signed by one Colonel, two Captains, one Lieutenant and seven Professors, with an additional signature of "W.C. Rivers" in the left margin, embossed seal of the United States Military Academy at the lower left, printed in black ink on moisture-resistant parchment, 419 mm (w) x 548 mm (h), lightly soiled, undulated); United States Military Academy Bachelor of Science Degree Certificate (issued to "John Preston Terrell of the Class of 1902 the Degree of Bachelor of Science", dated July 8, 1937 at the United States Military Academy, signed by the Secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Thurston Hughes A.G.D. and Superintendent and Commandant, Major General W.D. Connor, United States Army, embossed insignia and seal of the USMA, printed in black ink on an off-white paper stock, 350 mm (w) x 275 mm (h)); Coast Artillery School, Coast Artillery Corps, United States Army, Diploma 1910 (issued to First Lieutenant John P. Terrell for completing the Regular Course in Military Art and Science at the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe Virginia, dated July 1, 1910, signed by three Majors, printed in black ink on moisture-resistant parchment, 396 mm (w) x 495 (h)); Coast Artillery School, Coast Artillery Corps, United States Army, Diploma 1911 (issued to Captain John P. Lieutenant Terrell for completing the Advanced Course in Military Art and Science at the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe Virginia, dated July 12, 1911, signed by two Lieutenant Colonels and a Major, printed in black ink on moisture-resistant parchment, 403 mm (w) x 490 mm (h)); and Department of the Army Official Statement of Service (masthead printed in navy blue ink, personalized information in typewritten text, authored by Major General William E. Bergin, The Adjutant General, embossed seal of the Office of the Adjutant General, on an off-white paper stock, 203 mm (w) x 267 mm (h)); along with three addressed mailing tubes and a large addressed envelope from the War Department at West Point.
Footnote: John Preston Terrell was born on April 17, 1880 in Yonkers, Westchester County, New York. He was appointed a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point on June 18, 1898, at the age of 18. After four years at West Point, he graduated from the USMA on June 11, 1902, which was followed by his appointment as a Second Lieutenant with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army on June 12th, assigned the service number 01 701. Although he is acknowledged as having been a veteran of the Spanish American War on his grave marker, the documentation does not support this, as he was attending West Point during this period, nor does it mention it on his Department of the Army Official Statement of Service. Terrell was promoted to First Lieutenant with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army on January 25, 1907 and to Captain with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army on April 12, 1911.
Captain Terrell was sent overseas to serve with the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He was promoted to Major with the Coast Artillery Corps, National Army on August 5, 1917 and accepted on August 29th, then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel with the Coast Artillery Corps, National Army on May 17, 1918 and accepted on June 5th. Colonel John Preston Terrell, G-4 Company, Second Army Corps was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, for actions during the First World War (likely while still in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel), his citation stating: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Coast Artillery Corps) John Preston Terrell, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Assistant G-4, and later as G-4, 2d Army Corps, from July 1918 to January 1919, Colonel Terrell displayed exceptional ability in the administration of that division of the Corps staff. During the operations which broke the Hindenburg line between Cambrai and St. Quentin his great energy and able handling of matters of supply and transportation for the organizations of the Corps contributed in a marked degree to the success of the operations. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 56 (1922)". He was officially promoted to Colonel with the Coast Artillery Corps, United States Army on November 10, 1918 and accepted on November 14th. Terrell was honorably discharged from his commission as Colonel with the Coast Artillery Corps, United States Army "only" on January 15, 1920. He was promoted to Major with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army on July 1, 1920, then to promoted to Lieutenant Colonel with the Coast Artillery Corps, Regular Army on February 21, 1925. John Preston Terrell retired with the rank of Colonel, Regular Army on September 30, 1930 and was placed on the Retired List on October 1, 1932, having completed thirty years of active duty as a commissioned officer (June 12, 1902 to September 30, 1932). John Preston Terrell, Class of 1902, returned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree on July 8, 1937, "in recognition of his proficiency in all the branches of the Arts and Sciences and of Literature taught at the Academy". Colonel John Preston Terrell died on February 13, 1965 in Fresno, Fresno County, California, at the age of 84. He is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, Plot 2D, 946. His grave marker is engraved "JOHN PRESTON TERRELL / NEW YORK / COLONEL / US ARMY RET / SP AM WAR / WORLD WAR I / APRIL 17 1880 / FEBRUARY 13 1965 / DSM".
