John H. Hilldring

John Henry Hilldring
BornMarch 27, 1895
New Rochelle, New York, United States
DiedJanuary 20, 1974(1974-01-20) (aged 78)
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1917–1946
Rank Major General
Service number0-7420
Unit Infantry Branch
Commands84th Infantry Division
Civil Affairs Division
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)

Major General John Henry Hilldring (March 27, 1895 – January 20, 1974) was a senior United States Army officer who fought during both World War I and World War II and served as Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas from 1946 to 1947.

Biography

Hilldring was born in New Rochelle, New York on March 27, 1895.[1] He was of Swedish descent,[2] and was educated at Columbia University before transferring to the University of Connecticut, graduating in 1918.[3][4][5][6] He served in the United States Army during World War I, with the rank of first lieutenant, into the infantry.[1] He saw action on the Western Front and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.[1]

Hilldring went on to become a career officer in the Army.[2] In this capacity, he was posted in the Philippines.[7] In 1936, he was appointed to the General Staff of the United States Army.[2]

With the American entry into World War II, Hilldring became Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1942.[8] With the rank of major general, he became the Commanding General (CG) of the 84th Infantry Division later in 1942.[8] In 1943, he became the Chief of the Army's Civil Affairs Division.[8] In this capacity, he served as a U.S. delegate at the Potsdam Conference.[9] Hilldring retired from the Army in 1946.

On April 12, 1946, the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, nominated Hilldring to be Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas.[10] He was sworn in on April 17, 1946, and held office until August 31, 1947.[10]

In 1950, Hilldring became foreign-operations manager of General Aniline & Film, a Swiss chemical firm that was seized by the U.S. during World War II on suspicion of Nazi domination.[9] He was promoted to executive vice president in 1954, and became the company's president in 1955.[9]

Decorations

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Army Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 World War I Victory Medal with five Battle clasp
Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Works by John H. Hilldring

  • "What is Our Purpose in Germany?", The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (January 1948)
  • "The Common Market", The International Executive (Summer 1960)

References

  1. ^ a b c Hilldring's Distinguished Service Cross Citation
  2. ^ a b c Munzinger Profile of Hilldring
  3. ^ List of Winners of the University of Connecticut Distinguished Alumni Award Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Major General John Henry Hilldring". arsof-history.org. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  5. ^ Columbia College (Columbia University). Office of Alumni Affairs and Development; Columbia College (Columbia University) (1955). Columbia College today. Columbia University Libraries. New York, N.Y. : Columbia College, Office of Alumni Affairs and Development.
  6. ^ Columbia College (Columbia University). Office of Alumni Affairs and Development; Columbia College (Columbia University) (1997). Columbia College today. Columbia University Libraries. New York, N.Y. : Columbia College, Office of Alumni Affairs and Development.
  7. ^ Dale M. Hellegers, We the Japanese People: World War II and the Origins of the Japanese Constitution (Stanford University Press, 2001), p. 162
  8. ^ a b c Profile from Generals.dk
  9. ^ a b c "PERSONNEL: Changes of the Week, Feb. 7, 1955", Time, Feb. 7, 1955
  10. ^ a b Profile from the State Department Historian
Military offices
Preceded by
Newly activated organization
 Commanding General 84th Infantry Division
1942–1943 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by
New Office
 Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas
April 17, 1946 – August 31, 1947 		Succeeded by