Tampa Man Was First American Officer Wounded in World War I
In downtown Monticello, Kentucky, a statue stands as a solemn tribute to those who served in World War I, a conflict that claimed the lives of 320,000 Americans and wounded another 204,000 according to the Library of Congress. Among those who served was a man from Tampa, whose legacy is preserved not just in stone but in the memories of his family and the relics of history they hold dear.
At C.C. Marine, a boat repair and bait shop, hangs a military helmet perforated by a bullet. This helmet belonged to Allie L. Cone Sr., a Tampa native whose service in World War I made him the first U.S. officer wounded in the conflict. The helmet, alongside news clippings celebrating Cone’s heroism, is proudly displayed by his grandson, Allie Cone III.
Allie Cone Sr. embodied the spirit of duty and sacrifice from the moment the United States entered World War I, enlisting to serve his country within a week. His family, prominent pioneers of Tampa, bear his legacy with pride. “He just was one of those men who always wanted to do what was right,” reflects Allie Cone III, who, at 65, continues to honor his grandfather’s memory.
Allie L. Cone Sr. had a life marked by adventure and a deep sense of duty before the war. Born in Plant City in 1888, he was an athlete who played football for the East Florida Seminary, which later became part of the University of Florida. He then moved to Cuba, working as a civil engineer, where he was living when the war broke out in 1914. The war began as a confrontation between the Allied Powers—Russia, France, Japan, and England—and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary, eventually drawing in the United States in 1917.
Despite a lucrative career in Havana, Cone Sr. felt compelled to serve the moment he learned of America’s entry into the war. Overcoming initial rejections due to his height, Cone Sr. demonstrated determination and was the first to enlist in the Eleventh Engineers. His unit was promptly sent to France to support the British forces, marking the beginning of his military journey that would lead to heroism on the battlefield.
On November 30, 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, Cone Sr. sustained injuries while halting a German advance. His bravery was widely recognized, with headlines declaring him “the first officer to be wounded” and lauding his Cuban connections. Described as commanding a squad of engineers in what was supposed to be a non-combat role, Cone Sr.’s actions challenged the very notion of non-combatancy in warfare. “Lieutenant Cone was in command of a squad of engineers who were supposed to be a non-combative portion of the American army, but no one has ever been able to find any confirmation of that statement from the Germans, French or British,” reported one news article.
Despite sustaining a near-fatal injury, his determination saw him return to battle, later joining the tank corps, an innovative and fearless segment of the American military. After the war, Cone Sr. lived in Havana before eventually settling in Gainesville to run a hardware store until his death in 1955 at the age of 67. His story, echoing through the generations, remains a poignant reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the Great War.
Allie Cone III, although he never met his grandfather, grew up immersed in stories of his bravery and heroism. Through these tales and the tangible legacy of his grandfather’s bullet-punctured helmet, his respect and admiration for the man who dared to serve his country against all odds live on, a testament to the enduring spirit of those who fought in World War I.
In remembering Allie L. Cone Sr., we honor not just a single man’s valor but the collective courage of all those who served in one of history’s most devastating conflicts, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.
