Evening star., 1932-09-20
EN.STEPHANG|VEN
medal BY HOOVER
D. c. Guard Chief Paid High
Tribute for 45 Years
of Service.

MAJ. NCAls TAAltOn ObcplldI, CCHl-
mander of the militia Of the District of
Columbia and one of the leading cit
izens of the Capital, had the honor to-
day of receiving from the hands of
President Hoover o medal authorized by
Congress. awarded to him in recosni-
tion OF As years continuous service in
the military establishment of the United
States.
The ceremony. a simple and brief
ore was held in the rear grounds of
the White House. Grouped about the
President and Gen. Stephen were the
Secretary. the Assistant Secretary of
war. high ranking generals OF the
Army. and the ranking officers of the
District National Guard.
Ccmmends Service.
After the reading CT the citation by
Col. Ulio, one of the White House mill
tary aides, President Hoover pinned the
medal on Gen. Stephan's coat, saying,
as he did so:
i consider 1t great honor to confer
this medal upon you. / congratulate
you upon your long, faithful and val
liable service as a soldier"
Gen. Stephan in reply thanked the
President and said how he appreciated
the honor and how deeply he was
touched at this distinction. He said
that this vas the highlight of his long
military career, and that his only re-
gret wss that he Gli not have As more
years of fervice TO give his country's
military establishment.
Besides Secretary of War Hurley and
Assistant Secretary Payne there were
in the group attending the ceremonies
MAJ. Gen. MoSely. acting chief OF staff
OF the Army; Maj. Gen George z.
Leach, chief of the Militia Bureau OF
the War Department, and the follow
ing officers of the National Guard:
Col. Oehman, Lieut.. Col Nevitt, Majs
Allen, Burns. Morgan. Grayson. Green
law and Roy. and Capt. Bernsdorf.
Started Career in 1887.
The military career of Anton Stephan
began in 1887 when. as boy of l6, he
enlisted in the Ordway Rifles. paying
81 q week for the privilege, and. clad
in a cast-of Civil War uniform, drilled
with q broonlstick
His first field training was obtained
at Port Warrington, Nd, and he re-
ceiyed corpOr2l's warrant a short
time later Within year he had be-
come a sergeant. He was named COM
mander of the District National Guard
in April, 1920, and his appointment as
commander of the 29th Division. COM
posed of units from Maryland. Virginia.
the District and Pennsylvania, came
three years later.
Gen Stephan saw service on the
Mexican border and during the World
War. He IVES in charge Of the train
ing CT approximately 500 600 soldiers
for combat duty during the World War
Not only has Gen. Stephan been an
outstanding military figure in the his
tory of the District of Columbia, he also
is active in its business and civic life. He
is a law graduate of Georgetown Uni
yersity and has served as mead Of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation, the KiwaniS Club and the City
Club and has been active in the work
of numerous other organizations, lncluo-
ing the Community Chest.
Tonight military Washington. headed
by the Secretary of War, will pay its
respects TO Gen. Step5an. at a testi-
monial banquet given by his officers
in the Mayf1ower Hotel
The dinner will be given by officers Of
the staff of the District Of Columbia
National Guard. the l2lst Engineers
and the 260th Coast Artillery. A special
Gen. Stephan fl ON his officers
Col. John w. Oehman. l2lst Engi-
neers, ranking District Guard officer
under Gen. Stephan, will act as toast
master. The presentation speaker will
be Mai. Gen. Paul B. Malone, COM
msnding general Of the Sd Corps Area,
Baltimore. Gen. Malone is Gen. Ste
phan's next higher commander in af-
fairs relating to the 29th Division and
was Gen. Stephan's commander during
part Of his service in France during
the World War
Hurley Will SpeaS.
Special speakers will be Secretary Of
War Hurley, Maj Gen. George E. Leach,
chief of the Militia Bureau, and Maj.
Gen. Herbert B Crosby. representing the
Board of District Commissioners
Guests of honor. in addition to the
speakers. will be Frederick H. Payne,
Assistant Secretary of War; Mai. Gen
George " H. Moseley, acting chief OF
staff Dr. Luther H. Reichelderfer
president of the Board of District Com
missioners and colonel in the Medical
Corps Reserve: Maj. John c. Gotwais
District Engineer Commissioner; Brig
Gen. Perry l.. Miles, commanding the
18th Brigade: Brig Gen. S. Gardiner
Waller, adjutant general, Virginia Ma
tional Guard Brig. Gen. Milton A
Reckord, adjutant general, Maryland
National Guard; Brig. Gen. James C.
McLanahan, commanding the 54th
Field Artillery Brigade. Maryland Ma
tional Guard; Col. Charles M Bundel
chief cf staff, Sd Corps Area Col. John
A. Cutchins. chief o. staff. 29th Di-
vision; Capt. Walter Vernon. u. S. ~,
aide to the President; Col William H
Waldron, executive officer of the Militia
Bureau; Col. Fred f. Brown, officer
in charge of National Guard affairs
Sd Corps Area; Lieut.. Col. Campbell
Hodges, U. s. A., aide to the President;
Lieut.. Col. Joseph j. S;aley, command
ing 9th Reserve Marine Brigade: Maj
Richard L. La Garde, U. S. A.. retired;
Lieut.. Col. c. Fred Cook, National
Guard, retired; Lieut.. Col w. A. Nc
Cathran, U. S. A.. retired; Lieut.. Col
James A. Ulio, Adjutant Generals De-
partment; Lieut.. Col Harry Coope
u. 8. A.. retired; Mai. Edward H
Grove. National Guard, retired, and