United States. An Army Distinguished Service Medal Group To Colonel John Preston Terrell, Coast Artillery Corps

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".