Background
Helmick, Eli Alva was born on September 27, 1863 in in Indiana. Son of Hiram T. and Matilda Ann Helmick.
Helmick, Eli Alva was born on September 27, 1863 in in Indiana. Son of Hiram T. and Matilda Ann Helmick.
Graduate United States Military Academy, 1888. Graduated from Army School of the Line, 1909. Army War College, 1910.
Doctor of Laws, Kansas State Agricultural College.
Appointed add. Second lieutenant 11th Infantry, June 11, 1888. Promoted through grades to brigadier general March 5, 1921. Duty in Idaho during Cœur d’Alene riots, September-November 1892.
At Chicago Exposition, 1893. Duty Hillsdale (Michigan) College, 1894-1896. Participated in expedition to Santiago de Cuba, 1898.
Commanded Fort Reno, Oklahoma, 1898-1899. Provost marshal and inspector rural guard of Cuba, 1900-1901. Commanded Puerto Princessa, P.I., 1901-1902.
Commanded prov. batln. against Moros, in Mindanao, 1902. Recruiting, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1903-1906. Commanded Fort Liscum, Alaska, 1906-1907.
On Mexican border, 1910-1911. Inspector general, 1911-1914. Commanding battalion 27th Infantry, 1914-1915.
Commanding troops, Donna, Texas, on Mexican patrol, 1915-1916. Duty Inspector General’s Department, as lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier general (temporary), September 9, 1916-August 8, 1918. Major general (temporary), August 26, 1918-September 30, 1919, commanding 8th Division, September-November, 1918, commanding Base Section 5, Service of Supplies, at Brest, France, November 23, 1918-August 24, 1919.
Detailed to General Staff and chief of staff, Central Department, August 22, 1919-May 10, 1921. Appointed Inspector general of the Army, rank of major general, November 7, 1921, reapptd. inspector general November 7, 1925. Retired September 27, 1927.
Married Elizabeth Allen Clarke, November 20, 1889. Children: Charles Gardiner, Florence (Mistress John Macaulay), George Randall.