John B. Coulter participant of World War I
Lieutenant General John Breitling Coulter (April 27, 1891 – March 6, 1983) was a senior United States Army officer. Enjoying a distinguished 40-year military career, Coulter served during World War I, World War II and the Korean War.Early life and military career
Born on April 27, 1891, in San Antonio, Texas, he graduated from West Texas Military Academy in 1911, and in 1912 obtained a commission as a second lieutenant in the Cavalry Branch of the United States Army.
He initially served with the 14th Cavalry Regiment in Texas until 1916, including participation in the Pancho Villa Expedition. After the American entry into World War I he served on the Western Front, initially as aide-de-camp to Major General William Abram Mann, then commander of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. After returning to the United States for five months as adjutant of the 154th Brigade of the 77th Division, at Camp Meade, Maryland, he went back to France as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 508th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, an African-American unit.