Helmick, Eli A. (Eli Alva), 1863-1945

Eli Alva Helmick (1863-1945) was born in Quaker Point, Indiana. His father, Hiram T. Helmick, was a farmer and a self-taught country doctor. After Helmick's parents died of malaria in the later 1870s, he attended Kansas State Agricultural College (1880-1884) and graduated from West Point in 1888.

While stationed at Fort Spokane, Washington, Helmick commanded a detachment of Indian scouts and participated in the Wounded Knee Campaign (1890-1891). After serving guard duty at the World's Columbian Exposition (1893) he was sent to Santiago, Cuba, and became inspector of the Rural Guard (1899). Transferred to the Philippines in 1901, Helmick participated in the campaign led by Gen. John Pershing against the Moro Indians.

Helmick served at Fort Lieum, Alaska (1906-1907), and then attended School of the Line in Kansas (1907-1909). He completed his training at the Army War College and was promoted to major. From 1911 to 1914, he served in the Inspector General's office in Chicago. He commanded the 27th Infantry on border patrol in Mexico (1914) and resumed duty in the Inspector General's office in 1916. Helmick arrived in France in 1918 as commander of the 5th Division. After the war, he was appointed Inspector General, a position he held until retirement in 1927.