Longtime FWD employee honored in museum display

Col. Short headed Million Mile Battalion of Model B’s
By: 
Grace Kirchner
Correspondent

CLINTONVILLE — One of the driving forces behind the FWD Company’s military presence during both World Wars is being commemorated at the FWD Seagrave Museum. Family members of Col. Thompson Short recently visited the Clintonville museum to view the wall display that outlines the colonel’s contributions during his 28 years of service to the company.

Two of Short’s daughters — Sandra Core and Sara Bertrand, of Louisiana, were in Clintonville for the 40th anniversary of the Clintonville Fireman’s Festival in August. They toured the museum and viewed the display honoring their late father, and they were joined by Core’s sons, Keith and Brad Core.

The display was created by Barbara Koster, coordinator of the museum. Short’s granddaughter, Dr. Sandra Duhe, and her husband, Brad, of Dallas, donated and outfitted the mannequin that stands near the display and sports an authentic World War I enlisted solder’s uniform.

Short received his degree in mechanical and electrical engineering in 1911 from Kentucky University, where he got his first taste of military training from West Point officers. After graduation, he attended three years of law school at night. In 1916, Short reported to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, as major of infantry and took a battalion to the Mexican border in search of Pancho Villa under the command of Gen. Pershing.

In 1917, he entered World War I and was in command of the Motor Battalion of the 113th Ammunition Train. In 1918, Short convoyed two such trains from Clintonville to the Raritan Arsenal in New Jersey. Each train carried 160 FWD Model B trucks. On both convoys, the major delivered every FWD to its destination. The total mileage of all the trucks in the major’s battalion during the war was 1.3 million miles and was known as the Million Mile Battalion.

“He drove a swarm of B’s from coast to coast and never lost a B,” said Sandra Core. “That showed the quality of the trucks, and FWD deserves the credit, which has spilled over into Seagrave.”

While later serving in France, Short saved the life of one of his men who was pinned underneath three railroad cars following a train wreck. As a result, Short was decorated with the Meritorious Conduct medal.

In January 1920, Short joined the FWD organization as a dealer in Lexington, Kentucky. In the following years, the dealership sold bodies, hoists and various other FWD improvements in reconditioning 63 of the Army Model B’s that had been allotted to county highway departments in Kentucky from the federal agriculture department.

Many Model B’s were bought at auction, reconditioned and placed into service all over the state. Short also traveled to 38 other states and convinced many officials to recondition Model B’s, hundreds of which were reconditioned and returned to service.

In September 1923, Short started a 10-year post as manager of the FWD branch at Kansas City, Missouri. In 1927, as a lieutenant colonel with the Coast Artillery Reserves, he made it easier for guns to be loaded onto trucks by inventing the Short Winch. Short later gave the winch patent to the War Department without charge.

In 1932, he was promoted to colonel in Coast Artillery Reserves. One of his most outstanding services to the country after the war was the changing over of the 128th Field Artillery, Missouri National Guard, from horses to motorization.

In July 1933, Short was transferred to Washington, D.C., to take over the work as the FWD representative to all governmental departments. According to Core, her father gained the confidence and respect of President Harry Truman and Army and government officials by studying their problems and cooperating with them in their transportation needs.

After a long business relationship and personal friendship with Walter Olen, company president, Short resigned from the FWD Company in 1948. While he planned to move to Dallas with his family, Short passed away March 4, 1949.

“He was a man dedicated to God, his country and family. He believed anyone with the will and hard work could pull themselves up by their bootstraps and succeed,” Core said.

“Daddy has always been my hero and the wind beneath my wings. Seeing his legacy live on in the FWD/Seagrave Museum fulfills my lifelong desire and lifts our spirits. Clintonville and the people of this historic town are dear to our hearts, and we are most grateful to those who have made this great honor possible.”