Harry Gantz

Captain Harry Gantz (born in Deadwood, South Dakota on September 4, 1887; died August 11, 1949 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia), served as a second lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary from 1907 to 1911, then as a second lieutenant in company C of the 23rd Infantry from 1912 to 1915. In October 1914, Gantz transferred from the 23rd Infantry to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, and became a pioneer aviator during the Pancho Villa Expedition, making him an early bird of aviation.

Gantz was also a wealthy orange rancher and the owner of the 140 acre El Dorado Ranch, in Fullerton, California.

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Harry was the son of Fred M. Gantz, a dentist, and Molly Christie. He attended Kemper Military School in Booneville, Mo., from which he was graduated with the class of '07. Then he went to the Philippines, as a second lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary. After three years he came home in 1911, and joined the regular U.S. Army as second lieutenant in company C of the 23rd Infantry. In 1914 Harry was made first lieutenant in aviation. In October 1914, Gantz transferred from the 23rd Infantry to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal corps, and became a pioneer aviator. During 1915 he flew with the 1st Aero Squadron during the Mexican Expedition against Pancho Villa. In 1916 he was promoted to captain. In the fall of 1916 he resigned and went to live on his California ranch.
At Santa Barbara, on September 1, 1915, Captain Gantz was married to Miss Beatrice Wooster Miller, a child of Charles Wooster Miller (owner of Phoenix Horseshoe Co.) and Gertrude Benchley Miller. They were owners of the 140 acre El Dorado Ranch at Fullerton, CA. Captain Gantz, who was fond of polo, horses and dogs, along with his gifted wife, built a beautiful home of pure Spanish design which is, like his ranch, one of the real show places of Orange County. To this union one son, Harry Peter Gantz was born August 19, 1919 in Orange County. Beatrice divorced Harry prior to 1925.
Harry's second wife was the famous silent film director Lois Weber. At the end of January 1925, Lois Weber announced her engagement to Captain Gantz. On June 15, the Los Angeles Times reported Gantz had obtained a license to marry Lois Weber. On June 30, 1926, a justice of the peace married the couple in a ceremony at Enchanted Hill, the home of screenwriter Frances Marion in Santa Ana, California. Lois and Harry were separated by 1930 and divorced in 1935.
Harry enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 20, 1941. He was assigned to the Headquarters, Air Service Command that was formed in October, 1941. He received an honorable discharge on April 10, 1943 at the rank of Lt. Colonel.
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Australia Death Index, 1787-1985
Name: Harry Gantz
Death Date: 11 Aug 1949
Death Place: Queensland
Father's Name: Frank (sic actually Fred) Mother's Name: Mollie Registration Year: 1949 Registration Place: Queensland Registration number: 002866 Page Number: 781

Cairns Post, Friday 12 August 1949, page 5 American Dies in Cairns Former Air Corps Colonel
Colonel Harry Gantz, U.S. Army Corps (retired), died in Cairns yesterday at the age of 61 years. Colonel and Mrs. Gantz of Deadwood City, South Dakota, were spending a prolonged holiday in Cairns and were planning to sail for New Zealand after the winter.
Colonel Gantz, who was at Los Angeles before coming to Australia, had been in Queensland since May this year. He was keenly interested in philately and had often spoken highly in praise of Cairns - a city to which he was very much attracted.
Arrangement for cremation have been made, and Colonel Gantz's ashes are to be sent back to his native country.