Tank-O-Rama: Home Base by Buffalo1 ()
Photography • Military • posted on Jun 13, 2015
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Description
There are more tank photos to come, but it is appropriate to say a word about "Cantigny" (can-teen-ee) in Wheaton, Illinois west of Chicago. The 500 acre estate was founded as "Red Oaks" by The Chicago Tribune's publisher and Chicago Mayor Joseph Medill in the 1880s. It passed to his grandson Robert R. McCormick along with the Tribune.
McCormick served in the Illinois National Guard's 1st Cavalry Regiment on the Mexican border during the U.S. Army's punitive campaign in Mexico against Pancho Villa in 1916-17. During World War I he commanded the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division - "The Big Red One." Colonel McCorimick and his battalion fought at the Battle of Cantigny, France from 28 to 31 May 1918. This attack by the 1st Infantry Division proved the American troops could fight the Germans and allayed French and British fears about the green Americans. McCormick and his men fought on with the 1st Division at Saint Mihiel and the Meuse Argonne Campaign.
When he returned home he renamed the family estate "Cantigny" in honor of the first U.S. Army victory of World War I. He established a trust so that after his death in 1955 the estate would become a public park. It is the home of the 1st Infantry Division Museum and is a recommended spot for military history buffs to visit when in Chicagoland. Cantigny also has some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. (Unfortunately my visit in early spring saw very few flowers in bloom.) There is a 27 hole golf course and the McCormick Mansion Museum which is pictured.
Robert R. McCormick is a fascinating man and as with any "captain of industry" he is a bundle of contradictions. On the one hand he was a crusading newspaperman/politician who fought political corruption and organized crime in Illinois, a thankless task to be sure. He championed freedom of the press and established WGN (World's Greatest Newspaper) Radio. On the other hand he was an egotistical ultraconservative who damned unions, and FDR's "New Deal" as communism. He was an isolationist who opposed the League of Nations, America's support of Britain in 1940-41, and the United Nations. The New York Times said that he was an "aristocrat" in the best sense of the word. Colonel Robert R. MCCormick was buried at Cantigny in his World War I uniform, which still fit after nearly 40 years.
Image Comments (7)
Cyve () 3:05PM | Sat, 13 June 2015
Beautiful place and very great shot !!!
jocko500 () 8:08PM | Sat, 13 June 2015
wonderful looking place.
ontar1 () 7:09AM | Sun, 14 June 2015
Great looking building!
CleonXXI () 9:22AM | Sun, 14 June 2015
Great photo and fascinating story!
flavia49 () 7:38PM | Sun, 14 June 2015
fabulous picture
debbielove () 6:30AM | Wed, 17 June 2015
Great shot, great info.. All you need to know.. I read about McCormick, during the Battle Of France and Britain and his views as you mentioned above in a book I read recently, 'Finest Hour', highly recommended mate! you got it spot on, maybe WW1 scared him more than he let on.. Rob
junge1 () 8:56PM | Sat, 26 December 2015
Great photo and superb historical information. I learned something new!
