Charles McKinley Saltzman
Major General, U.S. Army

Charles McKinley Saltzman was born on 18 October 1871 in Panora, IA.

While a young man, Saltzman worked for an absent wire operator at a railroad station, and then as a telegrapher for railroads and the western union. This interest would manifest itself during his military career, which started when he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1896 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

His initial assignments were with the cavalry at western posts that included Fort Apache and Fort Reno; this led to his assignment with the First Calvary in Cuba, during which he earned two Silver Stars for gallantry in action at Las Guasimas and Santiago. He was assigned as a Signal Officer on the staff of Major General Leonard Wood; participating in several campaigns against the Moro insurgents in the Philippines. While assigned to the Electrical Division in the District of Columbia, he became the U.S. delegate to the International Radio Conference in London in 1912 and a member of the Interdepartmental Board on Radio Telegraphy through October 1913. He was the Signal Officer with the U.S. Troops in Panama, installing radio, telephone and telegraph system.

In May 1918, he was attached to the Division of Military Aeronautics (Air Service). He was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his work during WWI. He was appointed the Chief Signal Officer in 1924, an office he held until his retirement in 1928. He conceived the amateur radio network and, by 1926 had established over 2,000 stations.

After his retirement, he was appointed to the Federal Radio Commission and served as its Chairman until his resignation in 1932.

Death and Burial

Major General Charles McKinley Saltzman died on 25 November 1942 in Washington, DC. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.