Major General Harry Clay Hale, USA, was born in Knoxville IL, the son of T. Judson Hale and Sarah Payne Pierce.
Hale graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1883 as the youngest member of his class. While stationed in NY in 1886, he married Elizabeth E. Smith, daughter of William H. Smith and Elizabeth C. Brown.
Hale served in the 12th Infantry in South Dakota at the time of Sitting Bull's death and Wounded Knee. He was recommended to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on Cherry Creek where, by himself, he took custody of over two hundred Sioux supporters of Sitting Bull who were fleeing the reservation after his death. He did not receive the medal because the incident did not involve combat.
Hale was named as aide-de-camp to General Wesley Merritt in 1891. He served three tours in the Philippines and during one served as the commandant of Bilibid Prison. Elizabeth Hale died in 1906 while Harry was en route to the Philippines.
In 1916, Colonel Hale was given command of the 15th Inf. stationed in Tientsin, China. He was promoted to Brig. Gen in June 1917, returned to the US and took command of the 84th Division at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville KY, and took the Division to France in 1918 as a Major General. Near the close of the war Hale became commander of the 26th Division and returned with the division to the US in 1919.
Hale served as 6th Corps Area commander in Chicago until his retirement July 10, 1925. He had served in the Army for forty-three years. After retirement, he split his time between homes in Washington DC and Key West Florida. Harry Hale was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his wife.

Major General Harry Clay Hale, USA, was born in Knoxville IL, the son of T. Judson Hale and Sarah Payne Pierce.
Hale graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1883 as the youngest member of his class. While stationed in NY in 1886, he married Elizabeth E. Smith, daughter of William H. Smith and Elizabeth C. Brown.
Hale served in the 12th Infantry in South Dakota at the time of Sitting Bull's death and Wounded Knee. He was recommended to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on Cherry Creek where, by himself, he took custody of over two hundred Sioux supporters of Sitting Bull who were fleeing the reservation after his death. He did not receive the medal because the incident did not involve combat.
Hale was named as aide-de-camp to General Wesley Merritt in 1891. He served three tours in the Philippines and during one served as the commandant of Bilibid Prison. Elizabeth Hale died in 1906 while Harry was en route to the Philippines.
In 1916, Colonel Hale was given command of the 15th Inf. stationed in Tientsin, China. He was promoted to Brig. Gen in June 1917, returned to the US and took command of the 84th Division at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville KY, and took the Division to France in 1918 as a Major General. Near the close of the war Hale became commander of the 26th Division and returned with the division to the US in 1919.
Hale served as 6th Corps Area commander in Chicago until his retirement July 10, 1925. He had served in the Army for forty-three years. After retirement, he split his time between homes in Washington DC and Key West Florida. Harry Hale was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his wife.