Halstead Dorey was born on February 7, 1874, in
St. Louis,
Missouri, the son of William A. Dorey and Georgiana B. Banks. Following the graduation from the
Shattuck Military Academy in
Faribault, Minnesota, Dorey received an appointment to the
United States Military Academy at
West Point, New York, in May 1893, where he excelled and was made cadet captain and battalion commander. Among his classmates were several other future generals:
Thomas Q. Ashburn,
Harry G. Bishop,
Albert J. Bowley,
Charles H. Bridges,
Sherwood A. Cheney,
Edgar T. Collins,
Edgar T. Conley,
William D. Connor,
Harley B. Ferguson,
Harold B. Fiske,
Frank Ross McCoy,
Andrew Moses, and
Charles DuVal Roberts. and Halstead Dorey at a
New York Yankees game in 1917 He graduated with
Bachelor of Science degree in June 1897 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry. Dorey was subsequently assigned to the
23rd Infantry Regiment at
Fort Brown,
Texas, and remained there until he was transferred to the
4th Infantry Regiment. Dorey sailed with the regiment to
Cuba in April 1898 during the
Spanish–American War and took part in the
Battle of El Caney and
Siege of Santiago in July that year. He later took part in the
Philippine–American War and served as 4th Infantry Regiment's
aide-de-camp in the combat operations against
Moros at
Zamboanga and
Manila. Captain Dorey commanded the battalion of
Philippine Scouts at
Mindanao and was appointed aide-de-camp to Major General
Leonard Wood, who served as the governor of
Moro Province, a stronghold of the Muslim rebellion. Dorey was decorated with his first
Silver Star for his bravery in the Philippines. Following the
United States' entry into World War I in April 1917, Dorey was appointed aide-de-camp to his former superior and now commanding general of
Camp Funston,
Kansas, Major General Leonard Wood. Wood was responsible for the training of nearly 40,000 men and appointed Dorey as commanding officer of the
Citizens' Military Training Camp, the first businessmen's training camp at
Plattsburgh, New York. He later received temporary promotion to colonel and embarked for
France in early 1918. Dorey assumed duty as commanding officer of the
4th Infantry Regiment and led it for the duration of the war. Dorey led his regiment during the defensive actions of
Aisne,
Château-Thierry,
Second Battle of the Marne, and in the
Third Battle of the Aisne,
Saint-Mihiel,
Meuse-Argonne offensives. He distinguished himself in the fighting north of
Montfaucon on October 15, 1918, when during 12 days of continuous fighting against stubborn resistance, his regiment suffered heavy casualties. Colonel Dorey, himself suffering from a painful wound, went forward from his command post through a heavy enemy barrage to the front line, where he reorganized his forces and directed the attacking units for two days, until he was again severely wounded. His conspicuous bravery inspired his troops to the successful assault of a strongly fortified ravine and woods which were of vital importance and resulted in the capture of numerous prisoners and much material. He remained in command of the regiment until October 20, 1918, when he was ordered to the rear for treatment. For his service with the 4th Infantry Regiment, Dorey received
Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest
military award for gallantry in combat, and
Army Distinguished Service Medal. He was also made an officer of the
Legion of Honour and was awarded the
Croix de guerre with Palm by the government of
France. Dorey was ordered to
Hawaii in June 1934 and commanded the
Hawaiian Division until December 1935, with additional duty as temporary commanding general of the
Hawaiian Department until March 1935. General Dorey retired from active duty on February 29, 1936, and settled at
Fort Sam Houston,
Texas. ==Decorations and medals==