Elvin Ralph Heiberg

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Elvin Ragnvald Heiberg I
Heiberg circa 1917
Governor of Cotabato
Personal details
Born(1873-04-12)April 12, 1873
Minnesota
DiedMarch 2, 1917(1917-03-02) (aged 43)
Udine, Italy
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1896–1917
Rank Major
Battles/warsSpanish-American War
Philippine-American War
World War I

Major Elvin Ragnvald Heiberg I (April 12, 1873 – March 2, 1917), served as the governor of Cotabato on Mindanao island in the Philippines. He was killed in action during World War I.[1][2]

Biography[edit]

He was born on April 12, 1873, in Minnesota to John Peter Heiberg (1829-1908) and Marie Dorethe Gronn (1846-1929).

Heiberg was appointed to the United States Military Academy from Wisconsin in 1892 and graduated 40th in his class, in 1896.[2] Commissioned as a cavalry officer, he served in Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War. He then participated in the China Relief Expedition and served in the Philippine–American War.[3]

Heiberg died on March 2, 1917, at the Austro-Italian front during World War I when his horse was frightened and reared. He fell off his horse and his head hit a rock.[1] His remains were returned to the United States and interred at the West Point Cemetery on May 19, 1920.[4]

The story attached to his wife's journal letters says that he was accidentally killed while "demonstrating a dismount-at-full-gallop from a horse to a gathering of nobility and diplomats. In America, horses are trained to stop when the rider is making a dismount at full gallop. In Europe, horses are trained to keep galloping on when the rider makes a dismount. Major Heiberg was not aware of that important difference in training, and he made the demonstration on a horse trained in Europe. Therefore, he was trampled by the horse when he made the dismount and did not survive his injuries. A tragic ending for a very noble officer and gentleman."[5]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "American Attache Killed At The Front. Major Heiberg Thrown From Horse While on Observation Duty Along Italian Lines" (PDF). The New York Times. March 4, 1917. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  2. ^ a b George Washington Cullum and Edward Singleton Holden (1920). "Elvin Ralph Heiberg". Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy. p. 764.
  3. ^ "Class of 1896—Register of Graduates". Official Register of the Officers and Cadets. United States Military Academy. 1971. p. 300. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  4. ^ "Heiberg, Elvin Ragnvald". Army Cemeteries Explorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  5. ^ www.familysearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/K2V6-1GS. Retrieved 2023-09-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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