General John Reed Hodge (12 June 1893 – 12 November 1963) was an American military officer of the United States Army. Hodge commanded Operation Blacklist Forty in 1945. He served as the governor of the American military government in Korea from 1945 to 1948.
Early life and career 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.
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.
World War II 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.
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. 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.
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
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.
Hodge then returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to command V US Corps from 1948 to 1950. 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 30 June 1953.
General Hodge died in Washington, D.C., in 1963, at the age of 70.
Decorations
US Army Air Forces Aircraft Observer Badge1st RowArmy Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf ClustersNavy Distinguished Service Medal2nd RowLegion of MeritAir MedalPurple HeartWorld War I Victory Medal with three battle clasps3rd RowArmy of Occupation of Germany MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service stars and Arrowhead device4th RowWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation MedalNational Defense Service MedalPhilippine Liberation Medal with two stars
Dates of rank Insignia Rank Component Date Second lieutenant Officers Reserve Corps 15 August 1917 Second lieutenant Regular Army 26 October 1917 First lieutenant Regular Army 15 May 1918 Captain National Army 12 October 1918 Captain Regular Army 1 July 1920 Major Regular Army 1 August 1935 Lieutenant colonel Regular Army 18 August 1940 Colonel Army of the United States 17 December 1941 Brigadier general Army of the United States 23 June 1942 Major general Army of the United States 28 April 1943 Lieutenant general Army of the United States 6 June 1945 Brigadier general Regular Army 1 March 1946 Major general Regular Army 6 April 1947 General Army of the United States 5 July 1952 General Regular Army, Retired 30 June 1953
See also
History of South Korea Military history of the United States Jang Il-soon, who opposed Hodge's appointment to lead the United States Army Military Government in Korea
References
Bibliography
External links
Generals of World War II United States Army Officers 1939–1945