General Courtney Hicks Hodges | |
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Commander - First Army, ca. 1945 | |
Four Star General Officer Flag |
Contents
Information
Basic Information | |
Born | 05 January 1887 |
place of birth | Perry, Houston County, Georgia |
Died | 15 January 1966 (aged 79) |
Place of death | Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas |
Cause of death | Myocardial infarction (heart attack) |
Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Spouse | Mildred Lee Buchner (m. 23 Jun 1928 - 15 Jan 1966; his death) |
Nickname | Court, High Gun Hodges |
Personal Information | |
Nationality | European American |
Sex | Male |
Hair Color | Brown (gray with age) |
Eye Color | Blue |
Height | 175 cm (5 foot 9 inches) |
Religion | Methodist Church |
Military Info | |
Allegiance | 40px United States of America |
Branch | 40px United States Army |
Years/service | USMA: 16 June 1904 - 17 June 1905; Regular Army: 05 November 1906 - 31 January 1949 (43 years, 2 months, 29 days) |
Service # | Officer - 2686 |
Career Summary
Command or Organization | Unit Insignia |
Begin Date | End Date | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Civilian | |||||
Student — Perry High School | 1900 | 1903 | Perry, Georgia | ||
Student — North Georgia Agricultural College | 1903 | 1904 | Dahlonega, Georgia | ||
Cadet, 16 June 1904 | |||||
Cadet — United States Military Academy | 16 June 1904 | 17 June 1905 | West Point, New York | ||
Private - Sergeant, Infantry, 05 November 1906 | |||||
Company "L"; ? Battalion; 17th Infantry | 05 November 1906 | 12 November 1909 | Fort McPherson, Georgia | ||
20px Second Lieutenant, Infantry, 13 November 1909 | |||||
13th Infantry | 13 November 1909 | 01 September 1914 | Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort William McKinley, Philippines | ||
26th Infantry | 23 September 1914 | 13 October 1914 | Texas City, Texas | ||
6th Infantry | 13 October 1914 | 15 March 1916 | El Paso, Texas | ||
6th Infantry; Mexican Expedition | 15 March 1916 | — | Mexico (various) | ||
8px First Lieutenant, Infantry, 01 July 1916 | |||||
6th Infantry; Mexican Expedition | — | 08 January 1917 | see above | ||
6th Infantry | 08 January 1917 | 15 May 1917 | El Paso, Texas | ||
21px Captain, Infantry, 15 May 1917 | |||||
51st Infantry | 17 May 1917 | 24 August 1917 | Chickamauga, Georgia | ||
6th Infantry | 24 August 1917 | 08 July 1918 | |||
22px Major, Infantry, 07 June 1918 | |||||
Commanding Officer — 3rd Battalion, 6th Infantry; 10th Infantry Brigade; 5th Division | 08 July 1918 | — | France | ||
22px Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry, 31 October 1918 | |||||
Commanding Officer — 3rd Battalion, 6th Infantry; 10th Infantry Brigade; 5th Division | — | 11 August 1918 | see above | ||
Commanding Officer — 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry; 10th Infantry Brigade; 5th Division | [[File: | 11 August 1918 | 09 November 1918 | ||
6th Infantry; 10th Infantry Brigade; 5th Division | 01 December 1918 | 03 July 1918 | Germany; Luxembourg | ||
22px Major, Infantry, 01 July 1920 | |||||
Student Officer — Field Artillery School, Battery Commander's Course | 1919 | 1920 | Fort Sill, Oklahoma | ||
◌ Tactics Instructor — United States Military Academy ◌ Commander — First Battalion; Corps of Cadets ◌ Tactical Officer — Company "L"; Corps of Cadets |
14 December 1920 | 01 September 1924 | West Point, New York | ||
Student Officer — Command and General Staff School | 08 September 1924 | 19 June 1925 | Fort Leavenworth, Kansas | ||
Instructor — Infantry School | 00 June 1925 | 00 June 1926 | Fort Benning, Georgia | ||
Infantry Tactics Instructor — Air Corps Tactical School | 00 June 1926 | 00 August 1929 | Langley Field, Virginia | ||
Executive Officer — Fort Douglas | 00 August 1929 | 00 November 1929 | Fort Douglas, Utah | ||
Member — Infantry Board | 00 November 1929 | 15 August 1933 | Fort Benning, Georgia | ||
Student Officer — Army War College | 18 August 1933 | 26 June 1934 | Washington Barracks | ||
Executive Officer — Headquarters, 7th Infantry; 5th Infantry Brigade; 3rd Division | [[File: | 26 June 1934 | — | Vancouver Barracks, Washington | |
22px Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry, 01 October 1934 (temp. General Staff Corps, 03 May 1936 - 19 May 1938) | |||||
Executive Officer — Headquarters, 7th Infantry; 5th Infantry Brigade; 3rd Division | [[File: | — | 00 May 1936 | see above | |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 — Headquarters, Philippine Division | [[File: | 03 May 1936 | Unknown | Fort William McKinley, Philippines | |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 — Headquarters, Philippine Department | [[File: | Unknown | 19 May 1938 | ||
◌ Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School ◌ Member — Infantry Board |
00 July 1938 | — | Fort Benning, Georgia | ||
27px Colonel, Infantry, 01 October 1938 | |||||
◌ Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School ◌ Member — Infantry Board |
— | — | see above | ||
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◌ Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School ◌ Member — Infantry Board |
— | 07 October 1940 | see above | ||
◌ 9th Commandant of the Infantry School ◌ President — Infantry Board |
07 October 1940 | 03 March 1941 | |||
Assistant Chief of Infantry | 00 March 1941 | 01 May 1941 | Washington, D.C. | ||
Interim Chief of Infantry | 01 May 1941 | 31 May 1941 | |||
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6th Chief of Infantry | 31 May 1941 | 09 March 1942 | Washington, D.C. | ||
Commanding General — Headquarters, Replacement and School Command | 09 March 1942 | 00 May 1942 | Birmingham, Alabama | ||
Commanding General — Headquarters, X Corps | [[File: | 16 May 1942 | 02 February 1943 | Sherman, Texas | |
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◌ Commanding General — Headquarters, Third Army ◌ Commanding General — Headquarters, Southern Defense Command |
[[File: | 16 February 1943 | 00 December 1943 | Fort Sam Houston, Texas | |
Commanding General — Headquarters, Third Army | 00 December 1943 | 25 January 1944 | |||
Deputy Commanding General — Headquarters, First Army | [[File: | 00 March 1944 | 31 July 1944 | Bristol, England; France; Belgium | |
Commanding General — Headquarters, First Army | 01 August 1944 | — | Belgium; Germany | ||
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Commanding General — Headquarters, First Army | [[File: | — | 12 June 1946 | Germany; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Jay, New York | |
◌ Commanding General — Headquarters, First Army ◌ Commanding General — Headquarters, First Army Area |
[[File: | 12 June 1946 | 31 January 1949 | Fort Jay, New York | |
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Military Adviser to Sir Owen Dixon, United Nations mediator in the Kashmir dispute | 16 June 1950 | 23 August 1950 | Kashmir | ||
Vice Chairman of the Texas United States Defense Fund Committee | 16 August 1951 | Unknown | Dallas, Texas |
Dates of Rank
Grade | Rank Insignia | Name | Branch | Appointment | Age | Service | Date of Rank | Accepted | Years Spent in Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cadet | 16 Jun 1904 - 17 Jun 1905 | 17 | Regular Army | 16 Jun 1904 | 16 Jun 1904 | 1 year | |||
E-3 | Private | ![]() |
05 Nov 1906 | 19 | 05 Nov 1906 | 05 Nov 1906 | - | ||
E-4 | Corporal | 01 Feb 1907 | 20 | 01 Feb 1907 | 01 Feb 1907 | - | |||
E-5 | Sergeant | 12 Jul 1907 | 20 | 12 Jul 1907 | 12 Jul 1907 | 2 years | |||
O-1 | 2nd Lieutenant | 13 Nov 1909 | 22 | 13 Nov 1909 | 13 Nov 1909 | 3 years | |||
O-2 | 1st Lieutenant | 01 Jul 1916 | 29 | 01 Jul 1916 | 01 Jul 1916 | - | |||
O-3 | Captain | 15 May 1917 | 30 | 15 May 1917 | 15 May 1917 | 3 years | |||
O-4 | Major | 07 Jun 1918 - 31 Oct 1918 | 31 | National Army | 07 Jun 1918 | 02 Sep 1918 | - | ||
O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | 31 Oct 1918 - 13 Feb 1920 | 31 | 31 Oct 1918 | 17 Nov 1918 | 1 year | |||
O-4 | Major | 01 Jul 1920 | 33 | Regular Army | 01 Jul 1920 | 01 Jul 1920 | 14 years | ||
O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | 01 Oct 1934 | 47 | 01 Oct 1934 | 01 Oct 1934 | 4 years | |||
O-6 | Colonel | 01 Oct 1938 | 51 | 01 Oct 1938 | 01 Oct 1938 | 1 years | |||
O-7 | Brigadier General | 02 Apr 1940 | 53 | 02 Apr 1940 | 02 Apr 1940 | 4 years | |||
O-8 | Major General (Chief of Infantry) |
31 May 1941 - 30 May 1945 | 54 | 31 May 1941 | 31 May 1941 | 3 years | |||
O-9 | Lieutenant General (temporary) |
16 Feb 1943 - 26 Mar 1944 | 56 | 16 Feb 1943 | 16 Feb 1943 | 1 year | |||
O-9 | Lieutenant General | 08 Feb 1943 - 15 Apr 1945 | 56 | Army of the United States | 08 Feb 1943 | 08 Feb 1943 | 2 years | ||
O-10 | General | 15 Apr 1945 - 01 Feb 1949 | 58 | 15 Apr 1945 | 26 Apr 1945 | 3 years | |||
O-8 | Major General | 22 Jun 1946 | 57 | Regular Army | 02 Oct 1944 | 02 Oct 1944 | 2 years | ||
Retired, Operation of Law | 31 Jan 1949 | 62 | |||||||
O-10 | General | 01 Feb 1949 | 62 | Retired | 15 Apr 1945 | 01 Feb 1949 | 16 years |
- United States Army - Cadet USMA : 16 June 1904 - 17 June 1905 (01 year, 01 day)
- United States Army - Enlistment - Infantry : 05 November 1906 - 20 November 1909 (03 years, 15 days)
- United States Army - Commission - Infantry : 20 November 1909 - 02 May 1940 (30 years, 05 months, 12 days)
- United States Army - Commission - General Staff Corps (temp.) : 03 May 1936 - 19 May 1938 (02 years, 16 days)
- United States Army - Commission - General Officer : 02 May 1940 - 31 January 1949 (08 years, 08 months, 29 days)
- National Army - Commission - Infantry : 17 June 1918 - 13 February 1920 (01 year, 07 months, 27 days)
- Army of the United States - Commission - General Officer : 08 February 1943 - 31 January 1949 (05 years, 11 months, 23 days)
Total = 43 year(s), 02 month(s), 29 day(s)
Awards and Decorations
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Battles/Wars Participation
Mexican Expedition (15 Mar 1916 - 08 Jan 1917)
World War I (06 Apr 1917 - 11 Nov 1918)
- European Theatre
- Hundred Days Offensive
- Lorraine 1918 ☆
- Anould Sector
- Saint-Dié Sector
- Villers-en-Haye Sector
- Battle of Saint-Mihiel ☆ (Silver Star Medal)
- Meuse-Argonne Offensive ☆ (Distinguished Service Cross)
- Lorraine 1918 ☆
- Hundred Days Offensive
Aftermath of World War I (01 Dec 1918 - 03 Jul 1919)
- Occupation of Trieve, Germany (12.01.1918 - 03.09.1919)
- Occupation of Luxembourg (03.09.1919 - 07.03.1919)
World War II (08 Dec 1941 - 02 Sep 1945)
- European Theater of Operations
- West European Campaign
- Invasion on Normandy ☆ △
- Operation Overlord / Battle of Normandy ☆
- Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine ☆
- Battle of Aachen (Bronze Star Medal)
- Battle of Hürtgen Forest
- Operation Queen
- Battle of the Bulge ☆
- Western Allied invasion of Germany ☆
- Japan Campaign
- Operation Downfall / Invasion of Japan (canceled)
- West European Campaign
☆ = Awarded service star for participation.
△ = Arrowhead device
Foreign and Overseas Service
- 00 Oct 1911 - 1914 : Philippines
- 15 Mar 1916 - 08 Jan 1917 : Mexico
- 00 Apr 1917 - 1918 : Lorraine, France
- 01 Dec 1918 - 09 Mar 1919 : Trieve, Germany
- 09 Mar 1919 - 03 Jul 1919 : Luxembourg
- 03 May 1936 - 19 May 1938 : Philippines
- 25 Oct 1943 - 23 Nov 1943 : Sicily, Italy
- 29 Oct 1943 - 06 Jun 1944 : England
- 06 Jun 1944 - 24 May 1945 : France/Belgium/Germany
- 32 May 1945 - 08 Sep 1945: Pacific Ocean/Manila, Philippines
Quotes / Reflections
General Omar N. Bradley said that upon meeting Hodges at the Point, he was "an August figure like Marshall and a man I admired almost equally."
General Omar N. Bradley: called Hodges "my idea of a quintessential 'Georgian gentleman' and the most modest man I had ever met. A crack shot from childhood, he was then - and for years after - the Army's star in the national rifle matches."
General Omar N. Bradley: "I had implicit faith in his judgement, in his skill and restraint."
General Omar N. Bradley: "Out of all my Army commanders, he required the least supervision."
General Omar N. Bradley: ...Hodges is "essentially a military technician whose faultless techniques and tactical knowledge made him one of the most skilled craftsman of my entire command...a general's general." (said to Montgomery when he wanted Hodges replaced)
General Dwight D. Eisenhower: ..Hodges was "the quiet reticent type, and doesn't appear as aggressive as he really is. Unless he becomes exhausted, he will always wage a good fight."
General Dwight D. Eisenhower: ...that "Hodges is exactly the same class of man as Bradley, in practically every respect. Wonderful shot, great hunter, quiet, self-effacing...with a thorough understanding of ground fighting."
Ambassador Charles Lucet to Hodges wife, Mildred, on the passing of Hodges "I am deeply saddened by the shocking news of the passing of general Hodges. The unforgettable pages written by your husband in the history of the two world wars will always remind the French people that he was a remarkable symbol of the solidarity and warm feelings between our nations. We shall forever remember him with gratefulness and sorrow. Please accept in your bereavement the expression of my most sincere sympathy."
Senator Strom Thurmond (3.9.1961): "I seriously doubt if very many people in the United States know that Hodges’ First Army had under its command more divisions (18) than had ever been under the immediate command of a single army commander before or since. The First Army was the first army in Europe in more than name: The First was the first to arrive on the beaches of Normandy; the first to break out of Normandy, the first to get to Paris, the first to arrive in Germany, the first to cross the Rhine, and the first to meet up with the Russians."
Notes/Trivia
- His grandfather, James Hodges, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
- A distinguished Marksman, he often participating in competitions and hunts.
- Was a member and later captain of the United States Infantry Rifle Team.
- A noted history buff, Hodges was particularly knowledgeable in the American Civil War.
- He was the first non-graduate and first dropout to teach at the United States Military Academy.
- Hodges was in a small group of high ranking WWII generals to have had actual experience commanding troops in combat.
(Having commanded a Battalion & Regiment during WWI) - Representative Elijah B. Lewis, of Georgia's 3rd District, appointed Hodges to the USMA
- Hodges has a noticeable scar of his right jaw, which he received from a kick by a horse in his childhood.
- A member of the Phi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
- Throughout WWII, he sacked ten division commanders (Donald A. Stroh); and two corps commanders (Charles H. Corlett, John Millikin).
- Hodges refused two Purple Heart citations for being gassed during WWI (referring to the injuries as being 'sissy').
- As Chief of Infantry, Hodges promoted the adoption of the Bazooka, M-1 Carbine, M1 Helmet, the use of Airborne troops, and the Officer Candidate School
- General Courtney Hodges Blvd, Perry, Georgia is names after him.
- Hodges graduated from the Command & General Staff College in 94th place out of 258.
- He logged in 250 hours in flight as an observer while stationed at the Air Corps Tactical School.
- His wife, Mildred, was a descendent of General Robert E. Lee, who was among Hodges heroes.
- Hodges ate typical southern "soul food", would have a drink after dinner, and smoked Chesterfield cigarettes.
- His ancestors moved to North America from England in or around 1750.
- Served as an honorary pallbearer for Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., along with Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton, and Collins.
- Hodges was scheduled to board a flight that crashed 17 July 1950, that killed Canadian Brigadier Harry H. Angle, but decided too cancel.
- List of Hodge's aide-de-camps: Major Kenneth C. Strother (1940-41); Major William C. Sylvan (1944-45); Lieutenant Colonel John D. Crowley, Jr. (1946-48);
Family
Name | Relation | Lifespan | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Immediate Family | |||||||
Mildred L. Buchner | Wife | 1895 - 1991 | |||||
John H. Hodges | Father | 09/20/1851 - 03/11/1926 | |||||
Katherine V. Norwood | Mother | 07/04/1857 - 11/01/1947 | |||||
Norwood R. Hodges | Brother | 11/25/1879 - 12/04/1882 | |||||
Mary Hendrix; Thomas L. Hendrix |
Sister; Husband |
05/24/1881 - 05/15/1966 | |||||
Kate Houser; Samuel P. Houser |
Sister; Husband |
02/05/1883 - 1/09/1964; 2/27/1864 - 09/19/1940 |
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John L. Hodges; Ruby C. Hodges |
Brother; Wife |
1/21/1890 - 11/13/1964; 7/28/1900 - 02/23/1993 |
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Ernest S. Hodges | Brother | 09/11/1888 - 12/21/1892 | |||||
Samuel N. Hodges; Marion W. Hodges; Samuel N. Hodges |
Brother; Wife; Son |
01/21/1890 - 12/19/1975 | |||||
Samuel N. Hodges, Jr. | |||||||
Ethel J. Hodges | Sister | 09/25/1896-02/17/1988 | |||||
Therisa D. Hodges | Sister | 03/27/1892-10/02/1970 | |||||
Edna D. Mason | Sister | ||||||
Extended Family | |||||||
Fred S. Hodges | Pat. Uncle | ||||||
Mrs. O. G. Conner | Pat. Aunt | ||||||
James H. Hodges | Pat. Grandfather | c. 1823 - 1885 | Pvt, CSA | ||||
Mary A. Rice | Pat. Grandmother | ||||||
John Hodges | Pat. Great-Grandfather | 1795 - 1845 | |||||
Sarah Hicks | Pat. Great-Grandmother |
Gallery
Courtney H. Hodges (Image Gallery)
References
- Normandy to Victory: The War Diary of General Courtney H. Hodges and the First United States Army (William C. Sylvan)
- Courtney Hicks Hodges: From Private to Four-star General in the United States Army (Stephan T. Wishnevsky)
- Courtney Hodges: Modest Star of World War II (G. Patrick Murray)
- A Command Post at War: First Army Headquarters in Europe, 1943-1945 (David W. Hogan, Jr.)
- Eisenhower's Lieutenants: The Campaign of France and Germany 1944-1945 (Russell R. Weigley)
- The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the United States Army
- Official Registers for the United States Army, 1908 - 1966 (Office, the Adjutant General)
- Courtney H. Hodges papers, Eisenhower Library
- http://generals.dk/general/Hodges/Courtney_Hicks/USA.html
- http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/chhodges.htm
- http://www.3ad.com/history/courtney.hodges/index.htm
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWhodgesC.htm
- Pages with broken file links
- United States Army Officers
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Army Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star
- Bronze Star Medal
- Order of the Liberator General San Martin
- Order of Leopold
- Cross of War (Belgium)
- Order of the Bath
- National Order of the Legion of Honour
- Cross of War (France)
- Order of the Oak Crown
- Order of Suvorov