John R. Hodge

John Reed Hodge

LTG John Reed Hodge
Born (1893-06-12)June 12, 1893
Golconda, Illinois
Died November 12, 1963(1963-11-12) (aged 70)
Washington, DC
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 19171953
Rank General
Commands held
Battles/wars

World War I

World War II

Korean War
Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal

General John Reed Hodge (June 12, 1893 November 12, 1963) was a general in the United States Army.

Early life and career

Born in Golconda, Illinois, Hodge attended Southern Illinois Teachers College and the University of Illinois. After completing U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Sheridan, he entered military service as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1917. He served in World War I in France and Luxembourg.

Between the wars

Remaining in the Army following the end of the war, he taught military science at Mississippi State University from 1921–1925 and graduated from the Infantry School in 1926. After a posting to Hawaii, he graduated from the Command and General Staff School, the Army War College, and the Air Corps Tactical School.

World War II

At the beginning of World War II, Hodge was part of the staff of VII Corps. Being appointed Brigadier General, he started his combat career as part of the staff of General Joseph Lawton Collins in the Guadalcanal campaign. He then participated in the Bougainville campaign in 1943–1944. He was promoted to Major General during the Philippines Campaign in 1944. In 1945, he served on Okinawa, and he was promoted to Lieutenant General in August, becoming the commander of the XXIV Corps of the U.S. Tenth Army.

Korean War

From 1945 to 1948, Hodge was the military governor of South Korea under the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK). He took his corps to Korea under orders of General MacArthur, landing at Incheon on 9 September 1945. He was the commanding officer receiving the surrender of all Japanese forces in Korea south of the 38th parallel.

Hodge then returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina to command V US Corps from 1948 to 1950. After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, he was named the Commanding General of the US Third Army, based in the United States of America, and not in Korea.

Hodge received a promotion to General on 5 July 1952 and his final assignment before retiring was as Chief of Army Field Services, 1952-1953. General Hodge retired from military service in June 30, 1953 and died in Washington, D.C. in 1963.

Decorations

Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit

Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star

World War I Victory Medal with 5 campaign stars
Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Arrowhead
Silver star
Silver star

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 silver campaign stars and arrowhead device
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal with “Japan” clasp
National Defense Service Medal
Arrowhead
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star

Korean Service Medal with 3 campaign stars and arrowhead device

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Alvan C. Gillem, Jr.
Commanding General of the Third United States Army
1 August 1950 - 7 May 1952
Succeeded by
William A. Beiderlinden

See also

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