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John R. Hodge

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John Reed Hodge
Born(1893-06-12)June 12, 1893
Golconda, Illinois
DiedNovember 12, 1963(1963-11-12) (aged 70)
Washington, D.C.
Allegiance United States
Service / branch U.S. Army
Years of service1917–1953
Rank General
Service number0-7285
UnitInfantry Branch
Commands
Battles / wars
AwardsArmy DSM (3)
Navy DSM
Legion of Merit
Air Medal
Purple Heart

General John Reed Hodge (June 12, 1893 – November 12, 1963) was an American military officer of the United States Army. From 1945 to 1948, Hodge commanded Operation Blacklist Forty as the American military governor of South Korea.

Early life and career

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Born in Golconda, Illinois, Hodge attended Southern Illinois Teachers College and the University of Illinois. After completing an officer indoctrination program at the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Sheridan, he received a direct commission in the Army as an infantry second lieutenant in 1917. He served in World War I in France and Luxembourg.[1]

Remaining in the Army following the end of the war, he taught military science at Mississippi State University from 1921 to 1925 and graduated from the Infantry School in 1926. After a posting to Hawaii, he graduated from the Command and General Staff School, from where he graduated in 1934, the Army War College, and the Air Corps Tactical School.[1]

World War II

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At the beginning of World War II, Hodge served as chief of staff of the VII Corps under the command of Major General Robert C. Richardson Jr., located in California as a part of the Western Defense Command. He was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general in June 1942 and transferred to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, where he succeeded Gilbert R. Cook as the assistant division commander (ADC) and deputy of Major General J. Lawton Collins.[1]

The 25th Division was sent overseas to Guadalcanal in November 1942. Hodge stayed with 25th Division until April 1943, when he was promoted to the rank of major general and transferred to the temporary command of the 43rd Infantry Division, where he relieved Major General John H. Hester, who was exhausted from combat.[2] Hodge commanded the 43rd Division during the combats in Northern Solomons and was decorated with the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service.

After three months of service with the 43rd Division, Hodge was given command of the "Americal" Infantry Division on the Fiji Islands. He subsequently commanded the division during the Bougainville campaign.[3]

Hodge was appointed commanding officer of the newly activated XXIV Corps in Hawaii and participated in the Battle of Leyte within Philippines Campaign and later in Battle of Okinawa. He received the Army Distinguished Service Medals for each of these campaigns. Hodge was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant general in June 1945.

Later career

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Army commanders in the United States and certain overseas commanders meet with Secretary of the Army Frank Pace and General J. Lawton Collins, Army Chief of Staff, in the Pentagon in routine sessions, June 5, 1952. Lieutenant General John R. Hodge is sat fourth from the right, between Secretary Pace (left) and Lieutenant General Henry Aurand (right).
The grave of General John R. Hodge at Arlington National Cemetery.

From 1945 to 1948, Hodge was the commanding general of United States Army Forces in Korea (USAFIK). He took his corps to Korea under orders of Douglas 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 refused to recognize the People's Republic of Korea and its People's Committees, and outlawed it on 12 December 1945.[4]

Hodge then returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to command V US Corps from 1948 to 1950.[5] After the retirement of Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Hodge was named the commanding general of the US Third Army.

Hodge was promoted to general on 5 July 1952. His final assignment was as Chief of Army Field Forces from 8 May 1952 until he retired from military service on June 30, 1953.

General Hodge died in Washington, D.C., in 1963, at the age of 70.[5]

Decorations

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Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Arrowhead
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
US Army Air Forces Aircraft Observer Badge
1st Row Army Distinguished Service Medal
with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
2nd Row Legion of Merit Air Medal Purple Heart World War I Victory Medal
with three battle clasps
3rd Row Army of Occupation of Germany Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
with four service stars
and Arrowhead device
4th Row World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Philippine Liberation Medal
with two stars

Dates of rank

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Insignia Rank Component Date
Second lieutenant Officers Reserve Corps August 15, 1917
Second lieutenant Regular Army October 26, 1917
First lieutenant Regular Army May 15, 1918
Captain National Army October 12, 1918
Captain Regular Army July 1, 1920
Major Regular Army August 1, 1935
Lieutenant colonel Regular Army August 18, 1940
Colonel Army of the United States December 17, 1941
Brigadier general Army of the United States June 23, 1942
Major general Army of the United States April 28, 1943
Lieutenant general Army of the United States June 6, 1945
Brigadier general Regular Army March 1, 1946
Major general Regular Army April 6, 1947
General Army of the United States July 5, 1952
General Regular Army, Retired June 30, 1953

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Taaffe 2013, p. 153.
  2. ^ Taaffe 2013, p. 44.
  3. ^ Taaffe 2013, pp. 153–154.
  4. ^ Buzo, Adrian (2002). The Making of Modern Korea. London: Routledge. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-415-23749-9.
  5. ^ a b Taaffe 2013, p. 335.

Bibliography

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Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General Americal Division
1943–1944
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General 43rd Infantry Division
July–August 1943
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Newly activated organization
Commanding General XXIV Corps
1944–1948
Succeeded by
Preceded by
??
Commanding General V Corps
1948–1950
Succeeded by
??
Preceded by Commanding General Third Army
1950–1952
Succeeded by