George Price Hays - Misplaced Pages

United States Army general (1892–1978) For other people named George Hays, see George Hays (disambiguation).

George Price Hays

Born	(1892-09-27)September 27, 1892 Chefoo, Shandong, Qing China (now Yantai, Shandong, China)
Died	August 7, 1978(1978-08-07) (aged 85) Pinehurst, North Carolina
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1917–1953
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Field Artillery Branch
Commands	Sixth United States Army 4th Infantry Division 10th Mountain Division
Battles / wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal

Lieutenant General George Price Hays (September 27, 1892 – August 7, 1978) was a United States Army general who served during World War I and World War II. He earned the Medal of Honor as a young artillery officer during the Second Battle of the Marne in World War I. During World War II, he commanded the 10th Mountain Division in the last few months of the Italian Campaign.

Military career

Hays was born on September 27, 1892, in China, where his parents worked as Presbyterian missionaries. He was raised in El Reno, Oklahoma, and attended Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) before leaving school to enlist for World War I. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1917, and by July 14, 1918, was a first lieutenant serving in France with the 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Division. On that day, during the Second Battle of the Marne near Greves Farm, his unit came under a heavy German artillery barrage and the communication lines were destroyed. Despite the intense fire, Hays rode on horseback between his unit, the command post, and two French batteries for the rest of that day and the next. Although he was severely wounded and had seven horses shot out from under him, his efforts contributed to the halt of the German advance. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor the next year, in 1919.

World War II

Remaining in the army during the interwar period, Hays, who was promoted to lieutenant colonel on August 18, 1940, commanded the 99th Field Artillery (Pack) from 1940 to 1941; among his subordinates was Captain William Orlando Darby, who went on to found the U.S. Army Rangers.

After the United States' entry into World War II, Hays, promoted to the temporary rank of colonel on December 24, 1941, participated in the Battle of Monte Cassino in early 1944. He commanded the 2nd Infantry Division's artillery on Omaha Beach during the Normandy landings in June of that year.

In late November 1944, after returning to the U.S., Hays, promoted to temporary major general on January 3, 1945, assumed command of the 10th Mountain Division when its CG, Major General Lloyd E. Jones, fell ill. After training, the division arrived in Italy in January and fought throughout the spring offensive. On April 24, 1945, Colonel William Darby was assigned as Hays' Assistant Division Commander, but was killed in action six days later.

After the end of the war in Europe, Hays became High Commissioner for the US Occupation Zone in Germany from 1949, and assumed command of the occupation forces or U.S. Forces Austria (USFA) in April 1952, in Salzburg. He retired from the military in 1953, having reached the rank of lieutenant general.

Awards and honors

	Medal of Honor
	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Silver Star with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star Medal
	Purple Heart
	World War I Victory Medal with silver campaign star
	Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and silver campaign star
	World War II Victory Medal
	Army of Occupation Medal with 'Germany' clasp
	National Defense Service Medal
	Knight of the Legion of Honour (France)
	Croix de guerre (France)
	War Merit Cross (Italy)
	Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom)

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, United States Army, 10th Field Artillery, 3d Division.
Place and date: Near Greves Farm, France, 14 – July 15, 1918.
Entered service at: Okarche, Oklahoma.
Born: September 27, 1892, China.
General Orders No.34. War Department, 1919.

Citation:

At the very outset of the unprecedented artillery bombardment by the enemy, his line of communication was destroyed beyond repair. Despite the hazard attached to the mission of runner, he immediately set out to establish contact with the neighboring post of command and further establish liaison with 2 French batteries, visiting their position so frequently that he was mainly responsible for the accurate fire therefrom. While thus engaged, 7 horses were shot under him and he was severely wounded. His activity under most severe fire was an important factor in checking the advance of the enemy.

References

^ "Medal of Honor recipients – World War I". United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on 2008-10-18. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
^ Shelton, Peter (2003). Climb to Conquer: The Untold Story of World War II's 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops. New York: Simon and Schuster. pp. 114–115. ISBN 978-0-7432-2606-6.
^ "Biography of Lieutenant General George Price Hays (1892−1978), USA". generals.dk.
^ Zabecki, David T. (2008). American Artillery and the Medal of Honor (4 ed.). Bennington, Vermont: Merriam Press. pp. 180–181. ISBN 978-1-4357-5541-3.
^ Brooks, Thomas R. (2003). The War North of Rome: June 1944– May 1945. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-0-306-81256-9.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

External links

Generals of World War II

Military offices
Preceded byLloyd E. Jones	Commanding General 10th Mountain Division 1944–1945	Succeeded byPost deactivated
Preceded byHarold W. Blakeley	Commanding General 4th Infantry Division 1945–1946	Succeeded byJens A. Doe
Preceded byJoseph Stilwell	Commanding General Sixth United States Army 1946–1947	Succeeded byMark W. Clark

Categories: