Harry Foote Hodges was an American engineer and soldier. He took part in the Spanish-American War and World War I, and achieved the rank of major-general.
Background
Harry Foote Hodges was born on February 25, 1860 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. He was descended from William Hodges who came from England to New England about 1633. His parents were Edward Fuller and Anne Frances (Hammat) Hodges.
Education
Hodges received his preparatory education at the Boston Latin School and Adams Academy, Quincy, Massachussets, and entering the Military Academy at West Point, July 1, 1877, graduated four years later, fourth in his class.
Career
Assignment to the Corps of Engineers followed, with staff service at Willett's Point, and several years as assistant to Colonel O. M. Poe, who was then in charge of the canal at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He served as an assistant professor of civil and military engineering at West Point, 1888-1892, and thereafter supervised important engineering works on the Ohio, Missouri, and Upper Mississippi Rivers, becoming a captain of engineers, May 18, 1893. With the declaration of war against Spain, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel and later colonel of the 16t United States Volunteer Engineers, and during 1898-1899, was engaged in the construction and repair of roads, bridges, reservoirs, refrigerating plants, and defensive works in Porto Rico. Then he had charge of engineering projects on the upper Ohio River until May 1901, when he was designated chief engineer, Department of Cuba, under Major-General Leonard Wood.
From 1902 to 1907, he was assistant to the chief of engineers at Washington, and a member of many important boards and commissions. In September 1905, he was delegate to the Tenth International Navigation Congress, at Milan, Italy. In 1907 he became general purchasing officer for the Isthmian Canal Commission; and the following year was made a member of the commission and assistant chief engineer of the Panama Canal, in charge of the design of locks, dams, and regulating works. For this service his river-and-harbor experience, especially his work on the Poe lock at Sault Ste. Marie, had peculiarly fitted him. Colonel Goethals referred to him as "my right bower, " and stated that "the canal could not have been built without him. "
Hodges was engineer of maintenance of the canal in 1914-1915. The Panama period embraced his most important engineering achievements, and for his services he received the Thanks of Congress, March 4, 1915, and was advanced to the grade of brigadier-general. He commanded Fort Totten and the Middle-Atlantic Coast Artillery District, 1915-1917, and with the advent of the World War was appointed major-general, National Army, August 5, 1917.
He commanded and trained the 76th Division at Camp Devens, Massachussets, during the remainder of the year 1917; was an observer in France during the first half of 1918; and saw service with his division overseas, up to December 1918. On his return to the United States, he was in command of Camp Sevier, South Carolina, Camp Travis, Texas, and the North Pacific and 3rd Coast Artillery District.
On December 21, 1921, he was advanced to the grade of major-general, United States Army, and the day following was, at his own request, retired from active service. Thereafter, until his death, he made his home at Lake Forest, Illinois. The interment, with simple religious and military honors, was at Graceland Cemetery, Chicago.
Achievements
Connections
On December 8, 1887, Hodges married Alma L'Hommedieu Reynolds. His wife had died in 1926, and he was survived by a son and two daughters.