John T. Axton

{{Infobox military person

| width_style = person

| name = John T. Axton

| image = Col. John T. Axton, Chief of Chaplains, U.S.A., 11-2-21 LCCN2016845775 (cropped 8x10).jpg

| caption = Axton in 1921

| birth_name = John Thomas Axton

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1870|07|28}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|1934|07|20|1870|07|28}}

| placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery

| birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

| death_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.

| allegiance =

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1902–1928

| rank = Colonel

| commands = U.S. Army Chaplain Corps

| battles = World War I

| awards = Distinguished Service Medal

| alma_mater = Middlebury College (DD)

}}

John Thomas Axton (July 28, 1870 – July 20, 1934) was a colonel in the United States Army who served as the first chief of chaplains from 1920 to 1928.{{Cite book |url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/root/appB.htm |title=PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, 1900-1963 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1983 |first=James E. |last=Hewes |access-date=2010-07-09 |archive-date=2017-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123130338/http://www.history.army.mil/books/root/appB.htm |url-status=dead }}

Early life and education

John Thomas Axton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 28, 1870. He attended Salt Lake public schools. Then, he attended Middlebury College in Vermont where he graduated with a Doctor of Divinity in 1919.{{cite book|title=Who Was Who in American History - the Military|date=1975|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|location=Chicago|isbn=0837932017|page=20}}

Career

Axton served as general secretary for the YMCA from 1893 to 1902.

Axton was appointed a chaplain with the United States Army in 1902.

Awards

File:ANCExplorer John T. Axton grave.jpg

Axton received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his services during World War I.{{cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=17211|title=Valor awards for John T. Axton|publisher=}}