Middlesex Township near Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Corporal John D. LaWall
Sixteen Months in the Philippines
— Served: 1899-1901 —
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
1. Corporal John D. LaWall Marker
At the age of fifteen John D. LaWall enlisted in the 27th U.S. Volunteer Infantry. He returned home in 1901 and wrote a brief summary of his service during the Philippine Insurrection.
There is a time in the life of nearly every boy when he is obsessed with the desire to become a soldier. Some boys delight to read of great battles, they are never so happy as when they are in the possession of fire-arms, and they regard the Fourth of July as the holiday of holidays. They are thus cultivating, unconsciously, their warlike propensities; so when they have an opportunity later on in their lives practically to demonstrate their tastes, they sometimes take advantage of it by enlisting. But nothing takes the romantic ideas out of a boy’s head so thoroughly as eating moldy bacon and hardtack, and nothing dampens his enthusiasm for the glamour and glitter of war so much as lying all night in the heavy rain fighting mosquitoes.
In 1968 the Military History Institute of the Army Heritage and Education Center initiated the Spanish-American War Veteran Survey Project. Corporal John D. LaWall was the first to fill out a survey packet.
Since then, the Veteran Survey Project has gathered information from American soldiers from every conflict of the 20th century.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Spanish-American. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.
Location. 40° 12.433′ N, 77° 9.61′ W. Marker is near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in Middlesex Township. Marker can be reached from Army Heritage Drive. One of two markers at the head of the path leading to the main entrance of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Juno Beach (a few steps from this marker); Sword Beach (a few steps from this marker); Utah Beach (a few steps from this marker); Gold Beach (a few steps from this marker); Ranger and Airborne Operations (a few steps from this marker); Omaha Beach (a few steps from this marker); Operation Overlord (a few steps from this marker); Private First Class Willard Dominick (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carlisle.
Also see . . . Philippine–American War. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 14, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 11, 2012
2. Marker location
The DeWall and Shughart waysides, near a Civil War era 3" Ordinance rifle.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
