The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-09
LIEUT.. HUGH A. DRUM
Youngest Officer In the Regular Army
of the United States. ~,

vi Inc UHltCO SldtSSs
Lieutenant Hugh A. Drum was born
at. Fort Brady, Mich, on Sept. 10, 1879,
from which statement it is easy to figure
out that the young officer will not be Fl
until September next, says the Wash
ington Post. .-.....
Captain John Drum, the father of
Lieutenant Hugh, was killed while lead
ing his company in Cuba, July I, 1888.
Previous to his death Captain Drum
had been in the service of the United
States government for upward of 80
years; he had been volunteer captain
throughout the war of the rebellion,
and from that time until the day of his
death was continuously in the service OF
his country, in one capacity or another.
Previous to our war with Spain Captain
Drum had been detailed as military in
structor at St. Francis Xavier college,
New York city.
| At the time Captain Drum was in
structor in St. Francis Xavier, his son
Hugh was student there, and served
four years there under the teachings Of
his father. Lieutenant Hugh was born
and almost brought UP within the sound
of the bugle call He took to the
military life as naturally and easily as
the proverbial duck is said to take to
water. In college Hugh was as bright
as new double eagle, and at the end
of his last year in the college battalion,
by competitive examination, he was one
of the three that received a certificate.
from the war department for proficiency
in military matters.
Then came the war with Spain and
both father and son resigned from the
college and offered their services to the.
country. Both were accepted, young
Hugh going into the real school Of life
as a foot soldier, as he had formerly
done in college. His patriotism and
devotion had attracted no attention. He.
was lost in the rank and file.
Then came brave Captain Drums
| death. 1t seems that President McKin-
| ley has the gracious habit of writing a
| letter of coincidence to the widows of
Grand Army men. Conforming to
this custom, he wrote to Mrs. Drum,
at the same time asking her if she had
son who was eligible for appointment
| in the regular army. This correspond
ence brought about the appointment of
| Hugh as lieutenant of the Twelfth in
| fantry, then serving in the Philippines.
Here was Lieutenant Drums oppor-
tunity; here a chance to demonstrate
the value of his fathers rigid discipline
and careful trainings. That he made
| the most of this opportunity is mani
tested by the fact that in the short time
he has been in the Philippines he has
been promoted, his name being in the
last list that the president sent to the
senate for promotions, and Hugh is
now first lieutenant of the Twelfth in
fantry. In one respect Lieutenant
Drum has been exceedingly fortunate,
and that is that his health has been uni
formly good; and in his regiment, which
is now stationed at Luzon. he has been
acting and ranking as captain for the
past three months: this, from the fact
that about 50 per cent of the officers OF
his regiment are untitled for duty on
account of sickness.
1t is not customary to confer COM
missions in the regular army on boys
under 81. The exception in this regard
in Lieutenant Drums favor was made:
as tribute of the respect the head Of
the army felt for the long and faithful
services of Captain John Drum. So
now Lieutenant Hugh is the youngest
officer in the regular army of the United
States, ranking over $50 second lieuten
ants and a vast number of first lieuten-.
ants.
~