Courtney Hicks Hodges

In the annals of military history, only rarely has someone earned the distinction of rising from the rank of private to full general. Born January 5, 1887, Courtney Hodges attended West Point during the early 1900s. After failing Mathematics at West Point, he returned home for three months before enlisting in the Army at Fort McPherson, Georgia. From this somewhat rocky start, Hodges’ military career spanned the globe, covering forty-four years and two world wars. Correcting an historical oversight, this biography tells the story of one of America’s most notable military men. An unpretentious, private man, Hodges was credited with capturing more ground than any other American in history. This work follows Hodges from his formative years in Perry, Georgia, through his extraordinary military career, which included service in the Philippines, Mexico, Europe and Japan. Special attention is given to Hodges’ role during World War II campaigns, where he commanded the First Army and was chosen by Douglas MacArthur to lead the attack against Japan. Emphasis is also placed on the ways in which Hodges’ career was intertwined with other military men of the time, including Omar Bradley and George Patton, a man who was essentially Hodges’ mirror image—personally and militarily.