Feb. 14, 1962 - General Henry Irving Hodes (pictured center in Korea in 1951), a combat commander in World War II and the Korean conflict, died today in San Antonio’s Brooke General Hospital at the age of 62. General Hodes earned a reputation for toughness during negotiations with the Chinese Communists during the truce arrangements marking the end of the Korean conflict. This was in keeping with his hard-hitting approach as a combat officer. In 1944, he was named a field commander, took command of the 112th Infantry Regiment and led it against the Germans through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. He was twice wounded during the European fighting and received the first of two Silver Star medals awarded to him. In 1950, he was in the thick of the fighting in Korea with the Seventh Infantry Division. He was made a major general in the field in 1951. General Hodes retired from the service on April 1, 1959, and has since lived in Texas. Among his decorations, besides the two Silver Stars, were the Distinguished Service Medal with cluster, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart with cluster.
