Evening star., 1926-11-05
OLDEST MARINE"
. SEEKING PENSION
Sergt. HaIIowelI Has Served
80 Years UnofficiaIIy Since
Retirement.

Eergt Henry B. Hallowell. 81 years
old, wearing 16 four-year service
stripes on his special white uniform
and reputed to he the oldest active ex
marine. is in Washington laying the
groundwork for d campaign all his
own.
Having served, as he says, nigt
onto 80 years voluntarily and unoffi
Cially IN recruiting work for the
United States Marine Corps. following
a chcckered career through the Civi
War and the Spanish American War
he plans to appeal to Congress for a
pension Of 500 a month as recon
penEe for his volunteer services
Seret Hallowell came here from
Philadelphia, where he appeard at the
ssesquicentennial Exposition as an lex
hibit" for the marines. While there
from June until last week, he acted
Al a guide and shook hands with a
host OF new friends he claims mum.
bered at least 10000.
Objects to "Too Old" Stigma.
1--WE been a Marine All my life and
! would still be officially on the rolls
II Congress hadn't passed law that
kicked me out for being too DID," the
veteran says.
Being too old" is n sore spot with
him. AS q protest against his forced
honorable discharge from the service
lie has spent the last % wears roam
ing from one city TO another lending
"a hand at recruiting work at Marine
POSTS.
When the war came in 1917, a new
hope dawned and. though II years
old. he Immediately applied for active
duty aboard ship. Again he was re-
fected as being beyond the age limit,
hut he persisted and finally was made
q civilian Marine" at the Indian
Head Proving Grounds where he VAS
foreman OF a paint shop.
Serg' Hallowell has a dozen scars
30 bear testimony to his service IN the
Civil and Spanish Wars.
''In the fret battle Of Bull Run In
F61 the 2sth Pennsylvania Regiment,
which had Joined after deserting
ship TO be with my father. got one
look at Stonewall Jackson and then
started 20 run clear to New York" he
asserts Somehow l got cornered by
three Rebs and Just after l had
knocked one out with the butt of my
gun and was after the other with
bayonet, some whelp got me from the
rear and cracked my skull with his
musket."
Father Was Killed.
Though wounded, Halloweli recov-
cred, but his father was mortally
wounded.
The veteran enlisted at the outset
Of the Civil War in the Marine Corps,
which at that time, he says, was made
ND Of but 100 men. commanded by
one colonel and six ma jors. Hallowell
served first with the United States
uoet IN the Mediterranean
On returning To New York. Sergt.
1Tallowell SAYS he deserted ship u
zee some real fighting" and went to
philadelphia, where he joined the 2stl
fennsylvanianS with his father. FOR
that breach of military discipline nt
WAS court martialed, but was rescued
from any punishment other than be
fng busted" from d sergeant.
Again Served on Ships.
Again aboard ship, he sa" duty
Nth battleships pursuing hlockad"
5Yuning ships aud on one occasion
,.;.s prt in charge Of u prize Stu.,
auaded with silks ard quinIne |dlue'
a. $3.50. .0o0. which he took into Ne"
York.
Besides being a Marine. as he tig,
slres. for the past IS years. Sergt
flaiIoweli Is a. homesteader and
father. Following the Civil War he
took up ranching in Kansas, married
and raised 10 children.
When he gets q decision on his
claim for a special pension, Sergt.
1laIlowell expects to 50 to San DIEGO,
tlif