Johnson Hagood (general)

Major General
Johnson Hagood

Official Portrait of Major General Johnson Hagood
Born June 16, 1873 (1873-06-16)
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Died December 22, 1948 (1948-12-23) (aged 75)
Chicago, Illinois
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1896–1936
Rank Major General
Commands held Third Army
Battles/wars
Awards
Relations James L. Holloway, Jr.
Johnson Hagood (uncle)[1]

Major General Johnson Hagood (June 16, 1873 – December 22, 1948) was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1896, was commissioned in the artillery, and served in France in World War I, where he created the Services of Supply. He retired in 1936 after publicly criticizing New Deal funding.

Early military career

During World War I

After World War I

Inventions

Among his inventions were the Hagood tripod mount, mortar deflection board, and other apparatus connected with sea-coast defense.

Political controversy

Toward the end of the career, Hagood was embroiled in political controversy when he criticized President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, saying their funding was "stage money". Soon after his comments became public on February 10, 1936, he was relieved from command of the Eighth Corps Area (headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, Texas). Hagood requested a meeting with Roosevelt to explain himself, and was granted three months leave. Hagood's friends in the U.S. Congress pressured Roosevelt to give him a new command, however, and less than half the leave had elapsed before he was given command of the Fifth Corps Area, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.[2] Just one day after assuming command May 1, he asked for and was granted immediate retirement. After one month of leave, he officially left the U.S. Army on May 31, 1936.[3]

Awards

Hagood's decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Commander of the Légion d'honneur (French), Commander Order of the Crown of Italy, Grand Officer Order of the Sacred Treasure (Japanese).[4]

Distinguished Service Medal Citation

Brigadier General Johnson Hagood, U.S. Army. (General Orders No. 12, War Department, 1919.) As Chief of Staff of the Services of Supply of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, his ability for organization, his energy, and his sound judgement were factors in the efficiency of this important branch. By his marked zeal and aggressiveness he greatly added to the successful administration of the Services of Supply.

Personal life

His homes were in Charleston, S.C., and San Antonio, Texas.[5]

Asked how to say his name, he told The Literary Digest: "The name, peculiar to the South, is pronounced in a southern way. During all the years of my boyhood in South Carolina, I never knew there was anything unusual about it, for I never heard it in any other way than as haig'-wood. The name was originally spelt Haguewood, and is still properly so pronounced."[6]

Death and legacy

He died December 22, 1948.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Memorial". Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Hagood restored; McCoy comes here", The New York Times. April 14, 1936. Page 1.
  3. ↑ "Hagood quits Army after a day's duty", The New York Times. May 5, 1936. Page 1.
  4. ↑ Davis, Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. p. 156. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  5. ↑ Davis, Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
  6. ↑ Funk, Charles Earle. What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.
  7. ↑ Davis, Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
Bibliography
Military offices
Preceded by
Edwin B. Winans		 Commanding General of the Third United States Army
4 October 1933 – 27 February 1936 		Succeeded by
Frank Parker
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