Background
Whelen, Townsend was born on March 6, 1877 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Doctor Alfred and Sarah Wurts (Smith) Whelen.
Whelen, Townsend was born on March 6, 1877 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Doctor Alfred and Sarah Wurts (Smith) Whelen.
Graduate Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, 1894.
Brigade General Edward B. Pratt, United States Army, March 18th, 1905 (deceased March 17th, 1956). One daughter, Violet. Sergeant, Company Doctorate, and sergeant major 1st Pennsylvania Infantry, May 11-August 25, 1898.
Second in command Lieutenant same regiment, August 26, 1898, and honorary mustered out.
Second in command Lieutenant infantry, regular army, October 28, 1902. First lieutenant, October 2, 1908.
Captain, July 1, 1916. Major of infantry, North.A., August 5, 1917.
Lieutenant colonel, July 30, 1918.
Major Ordnance Department, regular army, July 1, 1920. Promoted Lieutenant colonel, March 12, 1926, colonel, October 1, 1934. Retired from active service, August 31, 1935.
Vice president Parker-Whelen Company, Washington, District of Columbia.
Associate editor of Sports Afield. In exploration in British Columbia, 1901.
Inspector-instructor on duty with Division Military Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia, 1912-1915. Explorations in Panama, 1915, 16, 17.
Assigned duty General Staff, in charge infantry and small arms training, June 19, 1918.
Member National Board for Promotion Rifle Practice, 1918. Member Army Infantry National Rifle Team, 1903, 05, 06, 07, 09. Member National Rifle Association (director 1918, life).
Clubs: Army and Navy (Washington, District of Columbia), Camp Fire.
Married Mary Louise, daughter