William M. Hoge

William M. Hoge

General William M. Hoge
Nickname(s) Bill
Born January 13, 1894
Boonville, Missouri
Died October 29, 1979 (aged 85)
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1916–1955
Rank General
Commands held U.S. Army, Europe
IX Corps
4th Armored Division
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Korean War
Awards Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal(3)
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Other work Chairman of the Board, Interlake Iron Corporation

William Morris Hoge (January 13, 1894 29 October 1979) was a General of the United States Army.

Early years

William M. Hoge grew up in Lexington, Missouri, where his father, William McGuffey Hoge, served as principal and superintendent at Wentworth Military Academy. After graduating from Wentworth in 1912, he received an appointment to West Point. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1916, then was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers and commanded a company of the 7th Engineers at Fort Leavenworth from 1917 to 1918. During World War I, Hoge received the Distinguished Service Cross personally from General John J. Pershing for heroic action under fire as a battalion commander in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During the interwar years, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and from the Command and General Staff School.

World War II

Hoge directed one of the great engineering feats of World War II, the construction of the 1,519-mile (2,450 km) ALCAN Highway in nine months. Later, in Europe, he commanded the Provisional Engineer Special Brigade Group in the assault on Omaha Beach. He then directed Combat Command B, 9th Armored Division, in its heroic actions in the Ardennes, and in its celebrated capture of the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen. By war's end, Hoge commanded the 4th Armored Division.

Later career

During the Korean War, at General Matthew Ridgway's request, Hoge commanded the IX Corps. General Hoge achieved his senior command in the Army as Commander in Chief, U.S. Army, Europe. Hoge was promoted to Major General in May 1945, Lieutenant General in June 1951 and General on October 23, 1953. He retired from active duty in January 1955 to his hometown of Lexington, Missouri, then turned to the private sector as Chairman of the Board of Interlake Steel. Hoge moved to his son's farm in Kansas in October 1975 and he died suddenly on October 29, 1979 at Munson Army Hospital, Fort Leavenworth.

In Popular Culture

In the 1969 film The Bridge at Remagen, the character of Brigadier General Shinner (played by E. G. Marshall) was based on Hoge.

Awards and Decorations

Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star

Arrowhead
Silver star

Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star

1st Row Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
2nd Row Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Air Medal
3rd Row Army Commendation Medal Purple Heart Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal with three Battle Clasps
4th Row Army of Occupation of Germany Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with silver service star and Arrowhead device
5th Row Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal
6th Row Korean Service Medal with four service stars Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom) Distinguished Service Order (United Kingdom) Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)
7th Row French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Commander of the Military Order of Italy Commander of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil)
8th Row Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 Order of Kutuzov, 1st Class (Soviet Union) Korean Order of Military Merit, 1st Class United Nations Korea Medal

Hoge Barracks, the transient housing operation at Fort Leavenworth, is named in his honor.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Charles L. Bolte
Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe
September 29, 1953 to February 1, 1955
Succeeded by
Anthony McAuliffe
Preceded by
Charles L. Bolte
Commanding General of the Seventh United States Army
April 1, 1953 to September 29, 1953
Succeeded by
Anthony McAuliffe