M. M. Eberts, Post No.1
315 E. Capitol Ave. Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
Phone: (501) 372-2608 legionpost1@sbcglobal.net
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Melchior McEwen Eberts
August 5, 1889 - May 15, 1917
Melchior McEwen Eberts was born August 5, 1889 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the son of H.F.H. Eberts, a well known Little Rock broker.
From 1906 to 1908 he attended St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. St. Andrew’s is one of Canada’s oldest and largest all-boys boarding and day schools. It has one of the most beautiful campuses of any school in North America, and emphasizes the development of the all-round boy.
Eberts received a senatorial appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and reported for duty March 1, 1910. In 1912 he was turned back for deficiency in Mathematics; however, this minor setback placed him in the graduating class of 1915, which is now known as “The Class Upon Which the Stars Fell”. 59 of the 164 members of this class went on to become Generals; names such as Bradley, Eisenhower, Van Fleet and McNarney to name a few.
Eberts, nicknamed "Ike", is recorded in the 1915 yearbook "Howitzer" as a Clean Sleeve (being without rank) and a Sharpshooter. He is described as having a love of motorboats and the look of grim determination. Says Eberts, "Five years of West Point is enough to take the joy out of any man."
Eberts was graduated from West Point on June 12th, 1915 and promoted in the Army to 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. He served at Plattsburg, NY, on temporary duty at Maneuver Camp from September 11th to October 2nd, 1915, and at Fort Ontario, NY until May 9th, 1916. Eberts was then assigned to Eagle Pass, TX, where he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Infantry on July 1st, 1916.
On August 24th, 1916, Eberts was assigned to San Diego, CA as a student officer at Signal Corps Aviation School. He attended there until assigned to the newly formed 1st Aero Squadron at Columbus, NM, on May 14th, 1917. This squadron began operations with General Pershing's Mexican Punitive Expedition and consisted of 8 Curtiss JN-3 aircraft.
On May 15th, 1917, Eberts was promoted to Captain and departed Columbus that same day on a flight to El Paso, TX, where he was to give an exhibition before delegates to the convention of the Texas Bankers Association. Shortly after take-off Ebert's plane hit an air pocket, a result of the high altitude and dryness of the region, and plunged 1,500 feet to the earth killing Captain Eberts and injuring one other.
Captain Eberts' body was taken by funeral car back to West Point for burial.
CAPTAIN
MELCHIOR M. EBERTS U.S.A.
MILITARY AVIATOR
CLASS OF 1915 U.S.M.A.
DIED MAY 15, 1917
AGED 27 YEARS
“GOD LOVE HIM”
Ralph Sims kneeling beside the Eberts headstone which is located in the West Point Cemetery.
Ralph is a past Commander, M. M. Eberts Post No. 1, The American Legion, Department of Arkansas.
