Original Item. Only One Available. Courtney Hicks Hodges (5 January 1887 – 16 January 1966) was a senior officer in the United States Army who commanded the First U.S. Army in the Western European Campaign of World War II. Hodges was a "mustang" officer, rising from private to general. Born in Perry, Georgia, he initially enrolled at the United States Military Academy to become a commissioned officer, but was dismissed after failing geometry. Following this, he joined the U.S. Army in 1906 as an enlisted serviceman, becoming a non-commissioned officer, and later obtained a commission after passing an examination in 1909. As a young man, Hodges served under John J. Pershing in the Pancho Villa Expedition and took part in the first rescue mission in U.S. military aviation history when he helped save a stranded aviator. He was a battalion commander in France during World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.

This is a great framed signature and photograph of General Courtney Hicks Hodges. The frame measures 8¼ x 12¼” and is in good shape, with a retained hanging wire.

Ready to display.

In 1943, he was sent to England to serve under General Omar Bradley. Hodges was initially the deputy commander of the American First Army during the D-Day invasion and was appointed commander two months later. While in command of the First Army, which included 18 divisions, he commanded one of the largest forces under a single general in the European theater of World War II. The First Army liberated Paris, was the first Allied army to enter Germany, and cut Germany in two by advancing east to link up with Soviet forces advancing west.