William M. Hoge

William Morris Hoge (January 13, 1894 – 29 October 1979) was a General of the United States Army.

Early years
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.

World War II
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.

Later career
During the Korean War, 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 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 Popular Culture
In the 1969 film The Bridge at Remagen, the character of Brigadier General Shinner (played by E. G. Marshall) was based on Hoge.

Awards and Decorations
Hoge Barracks, the transient housing operation at Fort Leavenworth, is named in his honor.