Once again the Class of 1893 of the U.S. Military Academy has to mourn the passing of an esteemed associate. The widow of Colonel William Cauldwell Rogers grieves for her beloved husband but is comforted by many happy memories of his devoted life. Colonel Rogers died December 5, 1952 at Lebanon Springs, New York, some time after a surgical operation which at first seemed to improve his trouble, but which, however, was too deep seated for his survival. His service as a West Point educated U.S. Army Officer has been long and honorably devoted to its highest ideals.
He was born April 7, 1870 in New York State and appointed therefrom to be a Cadet in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., June 16, 1888. Failing to pass the year end examination he was re-appointed June 15, 1889 and graduated on June 12, 1893 as a Second Lieutenant, Seventh U.S. Infantry.
After graduation leave he reported to his regiment’s headquarters at Fort Logan, Colorado, for garrison duty which continued until the Spanish War, in which he distinguished himself by gallantry with the same regiment as First Lieutenant in the Battle of El Caney and at the siege of Santiago, Cuba, July 1, 1898. For this he received a Silver Star decoration.
After the Cuban War Rogers was for sometime Assistant Adjutant General for the District of Alaska at Fort Egbert and then he was promoted to Captain, 27th Infantry, at Plattsburg Barracks, N.Y., where his new regiment embarked for the Philippines via the Atlantic Ocean, Suez Canal and standard routes. Here he participated gallantly in several notable battles with Filipino Insurgents until, overcome by hardship and exposure, he was sent to the General Hospital in San Francisco, California, late in 1903, but he had recovered well enough to command an Infantry Company at Fort Sheridan, IL by April 1904. Following this came arduous relief work in the San Francisco Fire and Earthquake disaster, April and May 1906. Soon after came orders to join the Army of Cuban Pacification, which continued until he was returned to the U.S. as sick in November 1908, reporting at Fort Sheridan, IL. Upon full recovery of health Captain Rogers was ordered to the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Army Service School until May 3, 1914, then Regimental Adjutant, 27th Infantry until promoted to Major, 20th Infantry, March 11, 1916. Soon after this he was briefly detailed to be instructor inspector of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. This completed, he had important work with the Officers Training Camp at San Francisco, California, April 28, 1917. On May 15, 1917, Rogers was made Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the newly organized 42nd Infantry at Fort Douglas, Utah, which he trained until he was Colonel of Infantry, National Army, August 16, 1917. He was afterwards on duty with the 79th Division Headquarters enroute to France for overseas combat duty against hostile German troops. As Commanding Officer of the 313th Infantry Regiment he engaged in severe fighting during 1918, including the famous Argonne drive and the fierce Meuse Heights operations, later returning to General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Force in Chaumont, France. This was followed by General Staff duty in the War Department, Washington, D.C. Lastly he was stationed at Governors Island, New York Harbor, and retired from active Army duty at his own request after thirty years’ service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Later Congressional legislation for the Army advanced him to Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired.
In all his Army Service, Colonel Rogers was a perfectionist in regard to his devotion to a conscientious and faithful performance of military duties. His superiors appreciated his cheerful performance of duties whether routine or dangerous. It was all the same to a gallant officer, mindful of and devoted to his high mission as a West Point officer in the U.S. Army.
During his West Point Cadet days he was a favorite with his Class of 1893 for his cheerful ways, which helped to make pleasant days in an arduous system of the survival of the fittest in strenuous military training.
His Civil History after retirement shows him to be a talented artist and a notable author and writer, especially in the Bible Exposition of the Gospel of St. John entitled “The Four Gems”. He was noted as an accomplished inventor of great ability. He was the Chess Champion of his community, which he honored in other ways by his civic wisdom and cooperation with worthy projects. So we may safely say that Colonel Rogers was very successful in his long series of professional achievements, and in his retirement as a contributor to worthwhile civilian life.
As his spirit has returned to God who gave it may his associates join in the prayer of his grieving loved ones left behind that some time in their ultimate destiny there will be a happy reunion of harmonious souls.
He leaves behind to mourn his passing a grieving widow, Mrs. Marion B. Rogers, of Lebanon Springs, New York; and a large family of devoted and married sons and a daughter—all scattered throughout the United States.
In his latter days his sensitive mind, always searching for the truth, received inspiration from the Spirit of Truth even as Jesus, our Saviour, received inspiration from the Almighty Father to whom he was later received after his earthly passion into Eternal Glory. Thus the Spirit of our beloved Rogers has gone to its celestial home.
—Arthur M. Edwards, a Classmate