William M. Hoge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| William M. Hoge | |
|---|---|
| January 13, 1894 – October 29, 1979 (aged 85) | |
 General William M. Hoge |
|
| Place of birth | Boonville, Missouri |
| Place of death | Fort Leavenworth, Kansas |
| 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 Air Medal Purple Heart |
| 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.
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.
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 at Remagen. By war's end, Hoge commanded the 4th Armored Division.
During the Korean conflict, 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 in September 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 29 October 1979 at Munson Army Hospital, Fort Leavenworth.
[edit] External links
- Army.mil: William M. Hoge
- USACE biography
- William M. Hoge USACE interview
- Hoge, William Morris, General(1894 – 1979)
- The History of Wentworth
- Recommendations presented to Eisenhower as to General Hoge
- CGSC Hall of Fame
- Arlington Cememtery, William Hoge and wife Nettie Fredendall
| Preceded by Charles L. Bolte |
Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe 29 September 1953 to 1 February 1955 |
Succeeded by Anthony McAuliffe |
| Preceded by Charles L. Bolte |
Commanding General of the Seventh United States Army 1 April 1953 to 29 September 1953 |
Succeeded by Anthony McAuliffe |
