John Leonard Hines

Early life and military career

Hines was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to Irish parents, Edward and Mary. Having won a competitive examination for a congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, Hines, "who had a hard time maintaining passing grades but persevered", graduated 48th in his class of 65 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry of the United States Army on 12 June 1891. While he was there he took an interest in athletics, becoming a member of one of the first football teams at West Point.

His first assignment upon his graduation was to the 2nd Infantry Regiment at Fort Omaha, Nebraska. Hines served with the regiment in Nebraska and later at Fort Harrison, 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 with the 25th Infantry Regiment in Cuba during the Spanish–American War and in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War. In 1898 he was elected as a Veteran Companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

He was adjutant of the Mexican Punitive Expedition in 1916–17 under Brigadier General John J. Pershing.

World War I

During World War I, Hines rose rapidly 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—advancing four grades in just sixteen months. He assumed successively larger commands—from regiment to brigade, division, and finally, corps.

Hines, one of the first officers to go to France with John J. Pershing, then a major general, who had been appointed to command the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), was placed in command of the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division in October 1917. He "put his green regiment and its inexperienced officers through rigorous training" during the winter of 1917–1918. This later paid off well "as demonstrated by the regiment's stellar performance" at the Battle of Cantigny in May 1918, "the first offensive by U.S. forces in France".

Hines commanded the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, from May to August, commanding it at the Battle of Soissons "and the occupation of the Saizerais sector", earning him high praise from his division commander, Major General Charles P. Summerall. It was for these actions which earned for himself the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), the second-highest decoration for valor in the United States Armed Forces, with the medal's citation reading:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 9 July 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General John Leonard Hines, Sr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while Commanding the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Berzy-le-Sec, France, 21 July 1918. At a critical time during the battle southwest of Soissons, when liaison had been broken between the 16th Infantry and 26th Infantry, and repeated efforts to reestablish it had failed, General Hines, then in command of the 1st Infantry Brigade, personally went through terrific artillery fire to the front lines of the 16th Infantry, located its left flank, and, walking in front of the lines, encouraged the troops by his example of fearlessness and disregard of danger. He then succeeded in finding the right forward elements of the 26th Infantry and directed the linking up of the two regiments, thereby enabling the operations to be pushed forward successfully.

On 16 August, Hines, promoted to major general, assumed command of the 4th Division of the AEF. He commanded the division during the AEF's first major operation at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel the following month and in the first few weeks of the huge Meuse–Argonne offensive which followed.

Post war

Hines was promoted to permanent major general in March 1921. His post-war commands included the 5th Division, the 2nd Division and the Eighth Corps Area.

In December 1922, Hines was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, and became Chief of Staff of the United States Army on 14 September 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 7 May 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 Ninth Corps Area in California, which he led until 1930. In 1930, Hines became commanding general of the Philippine Department.

Retirement

Hines retired in May 1932. He was promoted to the rank of full (4 star) general on the retired list by a Special Act of Congress on 15 June 1940.

Hines died in Washington, D.C., at Walter Reed Army Medical Center at age 100. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Family and legacy

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

Hines' son, Colonel 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 88 mm antitank shell grazed his face.

Dates of rank

Note that the date indicated is the date of rank. In some cases, the promotion was accepted at a later date.