| The Oak Falls
After more than fifty
years of service under two flags, Sgt. John F. Mullins of the 165th (old 69th) Infantry
N.Y.N.G. has passed from the ken of men.
Leaving Ireland when but a boy he joined the famous 40th Lancashire English Foot Regiment
as a drummer. In the ten years of service that followed he served through many
campaigns. He was bugler for that great soldier, Lord Roberts. His ability
with small arms made him the crack sharpshooter in a regiment whose renown for
marksmanship was noted throughout the British Empire. His services included
Aldershot, Thibet, India proper, the frontiers or "hills", Burma and Dum-Dum.
Tiring after many severe campaigns he came to America and enlisted with the 69th, February
9, 1893. For many years he qualified as a Distinguished Marksman. Active
service in this regiment included the Spanish-American War and the Mexican Border, 1916.
Age alone prevented further service during the World War, although he
repeatedly endeavored to obtain an active assignment.
He was for thirty-six years a soldier of the 69th, twenty-eight of which he was Armorer of
the Regiment. His duties frequently brought him before the Armory Board and
prominent City and State officials. They were so well performed and his character
was such that Sgt. Mullins became and was for many years the ideal type of the
Irish-American citizen soldier.
His native wit, generosity and good nature endeared him to all. The services
rendered under Cols. Smith, Duffy, Conley, Reed, Phelan and Costigan were exemplary.
His strong. honest character was a bulwark for some and for others the oak in
whose shade the weary might rest and obtain comfort and help. Bearing the burdens of
many, assisting, helping this staunch and upright Oak, dauntless to the last, has at last
been felled by the hand of his Maker.
So the Oak fell and leaves a void not to be filled except by the grief of countless
friends. It may truly be said of him:
"The elements were so
mixed in him
That Nature might stand up
And say to all the world,
This was a man."
June 1928
Sergeant Mullins Borne to Rest
The 69th Mourns Its Lost Sergeant
Here is a general view of
the 69th Regiment escorting body of
Sergeant Mullins on caisson after services
in St. Stephen's Church, E. 28th St.
Daily Mirror May 16, 1928
Military Honors for Veteran
of 165th Regiment
Funeral procession for
Sergeant John F. Mullins in front of St. Stephen's Church,
Twenty-eighth Street and Third Avenue.
New York Herald Tribune May 16, 1928
~~~~~~~~~
Sergeant John F. Mullins
Buried With Military Pomp
Procession of 3,000 Honors 165th Regiment
Veteran
Sergeant John F.
Mullins, a soldier for fifty-four of his sixty-five years, was buried with full military
honors yesterday in Calvary Cemetery by the 165th Regiment. Funeral services were
held at St. Stephen's Church, on Twenty-eighth Street, between Lexington and Third
Avenues, with Father Francis P. Duffy, regimental chaplain, presiding. Mass was sung
by the Police Glee Club.
Sergeant Mullins, who
died last Friday at the 165th Regiment Armory, was with that organization for the last
forty years, enlisting when the Regiment was known as the "Fighting 69th."
Prior to that enlistment he had served fourteen years with the British Army in India
and Arabia. Sergeant Mullins, who was Drum Major of the 165th, was an
outstanding rifleman and one of the best buglers in the army.
The procession was
composed of the entire 165th Regiment and the regimental band, veterans of the Rainbow
Division, veterans of the 69th Regiment, Spanish War veterans, representatives from every
armory in the state of New York, a caisson and escort from the 104th Field Artillery,
representatives of Governor Smith's staff and representatives of the Armory Board.
There were about 3,000 in the procession.
Three sons, Captain
Fergus P. Mullins, 165th Regiment; John J. Mullins, a sergeant in the same regiment;
Lawrence Mullins, a policeman; and five daughters, Mrs. Helen Collins, Mrs. Thomas
Weppler, Mrs. John Clifford, Mrs. John Winters and Miss Margaret Mullins, survive.
69th Unveils Tablet to
Former Drum Major
On Monday, November
25th, the 165 Infantry (69th N.Y.) unveiled a bronze table in memory of Sergeant John F.
Mullins, who was its Drum Major for more than twenty years. He was a member of
the regiment for more than forty years, and served with the British army in India and Arabia
prior to his arrival in this country. He was well known and universally loved
wherever the regiment went. He served in the Spanish American War, the Border
Campaign and was a member of the regimental rifle team more than thirty years. He
was armorer from 1900 to 1927, when he was appointed superintendent, which position he
held up to the time of his death, which occurred Friday, May 11, 1928, and at his funeral,
which was held on Tuesday, May 15th, the entire regiment turned out together with the
Veterans Corps of the regiment, Spanish War Veterans, Rainbow Division Veterans,
representatives from every armory in the State, from the Armory Board, and the Governor
and Mayor sent representatives. The body was carried on a caisson and escorted by
the 104th Field Artillery.
Three sons, Captain
Fergus P. Mullins, Sergeant John J. Mullins and Lawrence Mullins, a member of the New York
Police Department, and his five daughters, Mrs. Helen Collins, Mrs. Thomas Weppler, Mrs.
John Clifford, Mrs. John Winters and Miss Margaret Mullins, survive.
The ceremony of the
unveiling was held on the drill floor, the regiment assembled and the covering flag drawn
away by Johnny Winters, five-year-old grandson of Sergeant Mullins. Lieutenant
George Ashe, 165th Infantry, A.E.F., who was the master of ceremonies, thanked the
subscribers for their generosity and introduced Colonel William J. Costigan, who spoke,
eulogizing Sergeant Mullins and recalling many incidents which made the Sergeant beloved
by all those who came in contact with him either in military or civic affairs.
Reverend Francis P. Duffy, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chaplain of the 165th, attended by four
alter boys, blessed the tablet and addressed the regiment and their guests. He
spoke in the highest terms of the great manly and soldierly qualities of Sergeant John F.
Mullins. He quoted the words of the 165th Regiment poet, Joyce Kilmer, which are on
the tablet and written to the time of Taps:
Farewell!
Farewell!
Comrade true, born anew, peace to you!
Your soul shall be where the heroes are
and your memory shine like the Morning Star
Brave and dear, shield us here.
Farewell!
At the conclusion
Taps was blown by four buglers stationed at each corner of the armory.
New York National Guardsman January
1930 |
