John R. Hodge

John Reed Hodge
LTG John Reed Hodge
Born	(1893-06-12)June 12, 1893 Golconda, Illinois
Died	Washington, DC
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1917–1953
Rank	General
Commands held	43rd Infantry Division XXIV Corps V Corps US 3rd Army
Battles/wars	World War I Western Front World War II Guadalcanal Campaign Bougainville Campaign Philippines Campaign 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
	World War I Victory Medal with 5 campaign stars
	Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	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
	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

• List of Korea-related topics
• History of South Korea
• Military history of the United States