John L. Hines

John Leonard Hines (May 21, 1868 – October 13, 1968) was an American soldier who served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1924 to 1926.

Biography
Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Hines graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry on June 12, 1891. His first assignment was to the 2nd Infantry Regiment. Hines served with the regiment in Nebraska and Montana from 1891 to 1898 where he married Harriet Schofield "Rita" Wherry, one of the daughters of Brigadier General William M. Wherry and Alice Grammer.

Hines served in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War. He was adjutant of the Mexican Punitive Expedition in 1916-17 under General John J. Pershing.

During World War I, Hines experienced a meteoric rise in rank as he was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel in May 1917, then to colonel (November 1917), brigadier general (April 1918), and, in August 1918, to temporary major general—four grades in 16 months. He assumed successively larger commands—from regiment to brigade, division, and finally, corps.

Hines commanded the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, from May to August 1918 during which Hines time he received the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest U.S. Army decoration for valor, for "extraordinary heroism in action near Berzy-le-Sec, France, July 21, 1918."

On August 16, 1918, Hines took command of 4th Division. Hines commanded the 4th ID during the American operations at St. Mihiel and in the Meuse-Argonne until October 11, 1918. Hines then took command of III Corps, leading it during the final engagements of the war and the occupation of Germany. He was promoted to permanent major general in March 1921.

His post-war commands included the 5th Division, the 2nd Division and the VIII Corps Area. In December 1922, he was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, and became Army Chief of Staff on September 14, 1924. His Army biography states that as Chief of Staff, he "stressed the need for balance in funding and personnel for all parts of the permanent establishment, pointed up the effects of strength deficiencies upon Army capability to meet the provisions of the National Defense Act of 1920, and urged action on housing and promotions to promote personnel retention."

On May 7, 1925 Hines dedicated the landing field at the Vancouver Barracks in Vancouver, Washington to the memory of Lieutenant Alexander Pearson, Jr. who was killed on September 2, 1924 in Fairfield, Ohio while flying the Curtiss R-8 in preparation for the upcoming Pulitzer Trophy Race.

In 1926, after completing his tour as Army Chief of Staff, Hines took command of the IX Corps Area in California, which he led until 1930. In 1930, Hines became commanding general of the Department of the Philippines. He retired in May 1932.

Hines died in Washington, DC, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center at age 100. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The only American generals to have celebrated their 100th birthdays are John L. Hines, James Van Fleet, and William Glascow.

Family and Legacy
On May 5, 2000, the United States Postal Service issued the Distinguished Soldiers stamps in which Hines was honored.

Hines' son, Col. John L. Hines, Jr. (1905–1986), served in World War II with the 6th Armored Division, commanding the division's Combat Command A from November 1944 to March 1945. He was twice decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross and was severely wounded outside Frankfurt, Germany when an 88mm antitank shell grazed his face.

Dates of rank

 * Second Lieutenant, USA - June 1891
 * First Lieutenant, USA - April 1898
 * Captain, USA - December 1900
 * Major, USA - May 1912
 * Lieutenant Colonel, USA - May 1917
 * Colonel, USA - October 1917
 * Brigadier General, National Army - April 1918
 * Major General, National Army - August 1918
 * Brigadier General, USA - November 1918
 * Major General, USA - March 1921
 * General, USA (retired) - June 1940

Awards and decorations

 * US-DSC-RIBBON.png Distinguished Service Cross
 * Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
 * Ord.St.Michele-Giorgio.png Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (UK)
 * Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg Commandeur Légion d'honneur (France)
 * Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with palm.jpg Croix de guerre (France)
 * Chevalier Ordre de Leopold.png Commander Order of Léopold (Belgium)
 * Cavaliere OCI BAR.svg Order of the Crown (Italy)
 * Medal of Solidarity, 1918 (Panama)