Enoch Crowder

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Enoch Herbert Crowder (b. April 11, 1859- d. May 7, 1932) commonly referred to as General Crowder, was a United States Military officer who rose to the rank of Major General. Crowder is most noted for implementing and administering the United States Selective Service Act during World War I, an act which drafted thousands of American men into military service during World War I.

Crowder was born in Edinburg, Missouri, Missouri where he also attended Grand River College. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1881, and in 1884 received a license to practice law in 1884. He taught military tactics at the University of Missouri from 1885-1889, and later accepted a position as the Judge Advocate General of the Department of the Platte in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1895 he was promoted to Major, and from 1898-1901 while in the Philippines, he served as a judge advocate, and later served as secretary to the island governors, one who was Arthur MacArthur, Jr., father of Douglas MacArthur. He continued to serve in various military functions, specializing in military law. From 1906- 1909, while serving on the staff of the provisional governors in Cuba, he oversaw the Cuban elections in 1908, and later helped draft a body of laws for Cuba.

In 1911, he became a Brigadier General and for 12 years held the post of Judge Advocate General of the Army. During his tenure he led major revisions of U.S. military laws.

On April 2, 1917, the United States officially entered World War I. As Provost Marshal of the Army, Crowder led the drafting of the Selective Service Act which was passed by the U.S. Congress in May of 1917. General Crowder, as he became known, was also responsible for directing of the Selective Service, which during the war drafted all American men who were 18-30 years of age. In October of 1917, Crowder was promoted to Major General. In 1918, the offices of Secretary of War Newton Baker issued the "work or fight" order, and Crowder became in charge of executing the order which mandated that virtually every activity in the country support the war effort. On September 26, 1918, in response to newspaper reports of military camps being overcome by the Great Influenza Pandemic, Crowder cancelled the military draft calls for October.^[1]

Crowder retired from the Army in 1923, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba from 1923-1927. Crowder died in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 1932. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Missouri Boys State, a program sponsored by the American Legion, has a city named Crowder in his honor.