MAJOR GENERAL DENNIS E. NOLAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/12/1931 - HFSID 320156

DENNIS E. NOLAN
A letter from the Intelligence Officer to General Cornelius Vanderbilt III, agreeing to be a guest at a charity event of his, saying he is "very glad to lend my name to your committee which is working to raise funds for the needy veterans of the World War in New York"
Typed letter signed: "D E Nolan", in black ink, 1 page, 6x7¼. August 12, 1931. Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. In full: "My dear General Vanderbilt: I have just received your letter asking me to serve as an honorary patron of the Eleventh Annual Victory Ball to be given by the American Legion, New York County, and you may be sure that it will give me very great pleasure to assist you and the members of your committee in furthering the success of this very worthy charity. I am very glad to lend my name to your committee which is working to raise funds for the needy veterans of the World War in New York County. With very cordial good wishes to you, I am Very sincerely yours". Dennis Nolan (1872-1956) was General Pershing's Chief Intelligence Officer during World War I. He made use of agents operating behind enemy lines and was able to build nets that monitored the movement of German troop trains across the bridges that crossed the Rhine River. Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III (1873-1942), great grandson of family patriarch Cornelius Vanderbilt, was estranged from his parents (who disapproved of his marriage) and thus inherited only a modest share of the family fortune. Trained as a mechanical engineer, he acquired 30 patents for devices improve rail transportation. A member of the New York National Guard for 33 years, Vanderbilt rose to the rank of brigadier general and command of the 25th Infantry Brigade in France during World War I. An avid yachtsman, he successfully defended the America's Cup in 1903. Ink stamp. Paper clip crease on top margin. Normal mailing fold. Light surface creases. Otherwise, fine condition.