Colt Model 1908 .380 Auto General Officer’s Pistol, Issued to Brigadier General Terrence John Tully

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FOR SALE: $7,500

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General Terrence John Tully:

Terence John Tully, whom we all knew as Terry, was born 12 January 1900, in Old Point Comfort, Virginia. His paternal ancestors came to the United States from Ireland in 1860. His father, Charles F. Tully, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the United States Army at the early age of fifteen, as a bugler at Fort Assiniboine, Montana Territory; pursued an Army musical career, being leader of the Army Band at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, when Terry was born; and retired in 1918 as leader of the 8th United States Infantry Band, after thirty years’ service. Subsequently, he was professor of Music at the New York Military Academy, Cornwall, New York, from 1926 to 1936. Terry’s mother was Annie L. Kennedy Tully, who was bom in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States with her parents in 1876.

Terry’s pre-Military Academy schools were somewhat governed by his father’s duty stations, and were the West Queen Anne Grade School in Seattle, Washington, and the Gonzaga High School in Spokane, Washington. The military environment of Terry’s early life inspired him to prepare for competitive examination for the Military Academy at Columbian Preparatory School (Schads) in Washington, DC, and he won an appointment to the Academy, entering 14 June 1918 as a member of the class that became the Class of 1920.

The Army atmosphere in which Terry grew up had a deep-seated influence on Terry, and on his thinking and actions; his interest was in the Army, and his objective was to be an Army officer. That outlook, along with serious application to academic studies and to the military subjects, and a natural jovial personality, stood him in good stead as a cadet—with his classmates, the tactical officers and the professors—and culminated in graduation on 15 June 1920.

In the process of enlarging the Regular Army after World War I, and assimilating officers with wartime service, Congress decreed that the Class of 1920 would be carried as graduated cadets with pay of second lieutenants through 1 July; accordingly, Terry, as were all of his classmates, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry on 2 July 1920, and subsequently promoted to first lieutenant as of the same date. Conforming to the then policy, Terry’s first duty assignment was as a student, Basic Course, The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. Following graduation in 1921, the next two years duty was at the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, and at Fort Douglas, Utah, with the 21st, 53d, and 38th Infantry Regiments. From 1923 to 1926, Terry was assigned to the 31st Infantry in the Philippine Islands, and for the next four years he served with the 13th Infantry at Forts Andrews and Strong, Massachusetts, and Fort Adams, Rhode Island.

Starting with a detail in the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, in 1930, and attending The Signal School there, 1934-1935, Terry began a rewarding 24-year career as an officer of the United States Army Signal Corps. When World War II started, Terry, by then a lieutenant colonel, had been Signal Officer at Fort Lewis, Washington, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, including attendance at The Command and General Staff School there, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was the Signal Officer for the 4th Infantry Division.

In May 1942 Colonel Tully became the Signal Officer of the II Army Corps, participating in the preparation for, and in the North African Landings, and the Tunisian Campaign, serving as Signal Officer in turn for Generals Fredendal), George Patton and Omar Bradley. After the conclusion of the Tunisian operation, Terry was assigned as Signal Officer, United States Services of Supply in North Africa at Oran, and then Deputy Chief Signal Officer, Allied Forces at Algiers.

He was promoted to brigadier general in February 1944, and became the Chief Signal Officer, American Forces, Mediterranean, and Deputy Chief Signal Officer, Allied Forces, Mediterranean.

Returning to the United States in September 1944, Terry became Chief of the Signal Corps Distribution Service in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Washington, D.C. In June 1945 he was assigned as Commanding General of the Signal Corps Training Center, Camp Crowder, Missouri. From March 1946 to November 1948, Terry commanded the Alaskan Communication System. For the next four years, Terry was involved in the establishment of the Communications System for the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers, Europe (SHAPE) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the titles of Acting Chief Signal Officer, SHAPE, and Chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Military Communications Committee, in Paris. In November 1952 Terry was given command of the Signal Corps Training Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia. He was the Commanding General of the Training Center and Fort Gordon until August 1954 when he was retired from active duty. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit of the United States; the Legion of Honor (grade of Chevalier), and the Croix de Guerre with Palm, of France; and the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

For the two years following retirement from the Army, Terry was first Communications Advisor to the Hoover Commission, Washington, D.C., and then Chief Civil Defense Planner for the State of North Carolina, Raleigh. From 1957 to 1965 he was with Radio Corporation of America, first as Communications Engineer, Atlantic Missile Range, at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, followed by Manager, Administrative Controls and Systems, Radio Corporation of America, at Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Terry was active in the affairs of the Class of 1920. He was a member of the Class Governing Committee and was the architect of the Souvenir Programs for our 50th and 55th Reunions in 1970 and 1975.

During his station at Fort Douglas, Utah, in 1923, Margaret E. Cunter, of Salt Lake City, and Terry, were joined in holy matrimony. They had four children—Mary Anne, who died in 1924; Patricia Anne, now the wife of Dr. T. Crandall Alford, of Washington, D.C.; Margot Jean, who resides in Far Hills, New Jersey; and Terence J. Jr., who died in 1945. Margaret died in 1966, in Washington, D.C. In 1969, Josephine Baughman McLachlen and Terry were joined in marriage in Washington, D.C. Terry is survived by his widow, Jo; daughter Pat and her husband, Crandall; daughter Margot; a stepson, Archibald Malcolm McLachlen, Jr.; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

We of 1920 join his bereaved family and his host of friends in solemnly intoning:

“The march of another soldier is ended,

His battles are fought. His victories gained, And he lies down to rest awhile Awaiting the last bugle call.”

—Charles Holle, Classmate

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Promotions

1941-12-24	Lieutenant-Colonel (Army of the United States)
1942-06-24	Colonel (Army of the United States)
1943-07-02	Lieutenant-Colonel
1944-02-23	Brigadier-General (Army of the United States)
1946-02-14	Termination of rank Brigadier-General (Army of the United States)
1948-03-11	Colonel

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Service

1940-06-21	–	1942-05-22	Signal Officer, 4th Division
1942-05-23	–	1943-05-XX	Signal Officer II Corps
1943-05-XX	–	1943-07-XX	Signal Officer, Services of Supply, North Africa Theater of Operations
1943-07-XX	–	1944-09-XX	Chief Signal Officer, Mediterranean Theater of Operations
1944-10-XX	–	1945-06-XX	Chief of Procurement & Distribution Division, Office of the Signal Officer
1945-06-XX	–	1945-11-XX	Commanding General Army Service Forces Training Center, Camp Crowder, Montana
1945-12-XX	–	1946-02-XX	Attached to the Office of the Chief Signal Officer
1946-03-XX	–	1946-06-XX	Member of the Joint Alaskan Survey Board
1946-06-XX	–	1948-10-14	Commanding Officer Alaska Communication System
1948-11-XX	–	1949-11-XX	Deputy President of the Signal Corps Board
1949-12-XX	–		Signal Communication Adviser, Joint American Military Advisory Group to United Kingdom
1954-XX-XX			Retired

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LSB#: 150331JJ02

Make: Colt

Model: 1908 General Officer’s Pistol

Serial Number: 137422

Year of Manufacture: 1944

Caliber: .380 A.C.P. (9mm Kurz)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. / PATENTED APR.20, 1897. DEC.22, 1903.”, and at the rear with a Rampant Colt logo. The left side of the frame is marked “137422”, found again on the underside of the slide. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE .380 HAMMERLESS”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and the left rear with “X”. The right front is marked “65”. The right side of the frame is marked “U.S. PROPERTY”. The left side of the frame has a crossed-cannons ordnance mark.

Barrel Length: 3 3/4”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade fixed to the top of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed into the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with nickel plated Rampant Colt medallions near the tops of the grips. The right grip panel has a patch of about 8-9 smoothed checkers at the bottom front and there are light handling marks. The other checkers are well-defined. There are no chips or cracks.. The grips are in about Fine-Plus overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 92% of its metal finish. The balance is in scattered light freckling and light marks on the slide, a few spots of ligh pinprick erosion on the right slide flat toward the front, infrequent and very light scattered freckling on the frame and very light operational wear on the trigger and grip safety. The slide serrations, safety knurling and grip screw head are sharp. The markings are clear, though the ordnance mark is shallow. Overall, this handgun rates in about Very Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and the slide is tight to the frame. It has a grip safety and a manual safety but does not have a magazine disconnect. The safety can be used to lock the slide back. We did not fire this handgun. As with all firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a Department of the Army portrait photograph of Brigadier General Tully take in Italy, March 1944, a Colt Factory Letter authenticating this pistol as being sold to the United States Government and shpped to Springfield Armory, a notarized letter from Terence John Tully Alford, Bridgadier General Tully’s grandson, swearing and attesting that this pistol was issued to and possessed by General Tully until his passing in 1978 and being in possession of his family from then until sold in 2010, photocopy of a War Department history of Terence John Tully, a photocopy of Page 24 “U.S. General Officer Pistols”, Williams & Brunner listing this serial number as being issued to General Tully, some additional printouts summarizing his service and awards and a brown leather General Officer’s belt and holster with gold gilt buckle. The documents and photograph are in Excellent condition. The belt has infrequent broken stitches with wear on its edges and some light scuffs in its faces, in about Very Good condition. The buckle shows light wear at some edges and from being buckled, in about Very Good-plus condition. The holster has some missing stitching at the base of the belt loop and use-wear, in about Good-Very Good condition. Also included is one blued 7-round magazine which shows very light operational wear, in about Fine-Excellent condition.

Our Assessment: Starting with a detail in the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, in 1930, and attending The Signal School there, 1934-1935, Terry began a rewarding 24-year career as an officer of the United States Army Signal Corps. When World War II started, Terry, by then a lieutenant colonel, had been Signal Officer at Fort Lewis, Washington, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, including attendance at The Command and General Staff School there, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was the Signal Officer for the 4th Infantry Division. In May 1942 Colonel Tully became the Signal Officer of the II Army Corps, participating in the preparation for, and in the North African Landings, and the Tunisian Campaign, serving as Signal Officer in turn for Generals Fredendal, George Patton and Omar Bradley. After the conclusion of the Tunisian operation, Terry was assigned as Signal Officer, United States Services of Supply in North Africa at Oran, and then Deputy Chief Signal Officer, Allied Forces at Algiers. He was promoted to brigadier general in February 1944, and became the Chief Signal Officer, American Forces, Mediterranean, and Deputy Chief Signal Officer, Allied Forces, Mediterranean. Serving with the likes of Patton and Bradley, his skill as a Signals officer contributed to the success of several operations in the Mediterranean Theatre, ensuring good communications allowing for proper command and control. Returning to the United States in September 1944, Terry became Chief of the Signal Corps Distribution Service in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Washington, D.C. In June 1945 he was assigned as Commanding General of the Signal Corps Training Center, Camp Crowder, Missouri. From March 1946 to November 1948, Terry commanded the Alaskan Communication System. For the next four years, Terry was involved in the establishment of the Communications System for the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers, Europe (SHAPE) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the titles of Acting Chief Signal Officer, SHAPE, and Chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Military Communications Committee, in Paris. In November 1952 Terry was given command of the Signal Corps Training Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia. He was the Commanding General of the Training Center and Fort Gordon until August 1954 when he was retired from active duty. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit of the United States; the Legion of Honor (grade of Chevalier), and the Croix de Guerre with Palm, of France; and the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Complete with its belt, buckle and holster as well as documentation from the Department of the Army, Colt and historians this is the dream of a Colt, Military Pistol, or US Militaria collector, sure to take a prized place in any collection. A pistol which likely went to North Africa and Italy in 1943-1944 as well as information about the man who carried it, this is truly a piece of history.

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