Background
William M. Hoge grew up in Lexington, Missouri, where his father, William McGuffey Hoge, served as principal and superintendent at Wentworth Military Academy.
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William Morris
Edit ProfileEducation
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 the interwar years, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and from the Command and General Staff School.
Career
After graduating from Wentworth in 1912, he received an appointment to West Point. Hoge directed one of the great engineering feats of, 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. During the Korean War, at General Matthew Ridgway"s request, Hoge commanded the IX Corps.
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 the 1969 film The Bridge at Remagen, the character of Brigadier General Shinner (played by East G Marshall) was based on Hoge.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
October 29, 1979 (aged 85) -
Nationality
United States