Hobart R. Gay

Infobox Military Person
name=Hobart Raymond Gay
born= birth date|1894|5|16
died= death date and age|1983|8|19|1894|5|16
placeofbirth=Rockport, Illinois
placeofdeath=


caption=Lieutenant General Hobart R. Gay
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=1917-1955
rank=Lieutenant General
commands=U.S. Fifteenth Army U.S. 1st Armored Division Military District of Washington 1st Cavalry Division (United States) U.S. VI Corps U.S. III Corps U.S. Fifth Army Anti-aircraft and Guided Missile Center
unit=
battles=World War II Korean War
awards=Distinguished Service Cross (2) Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Silver Star (3) Bronze Star (2)
laterwork= Superintendent of the New Mexico Military Institute
Lieutenant General Hobart Raymond Gay (May 16, 1894, Rockport, Illinois - August 19, 1983, El Paso, Texas) was a United States Army general, who was first commissioned into the Army Reserve as a 2nd Lieutenant following his graduation from Knox College in 1917.

Early military career

On October 26 1917, Gay was commissioned into the Regular Army. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant October 26 1917, and captain July, 1920. In his early career he was a cavalry officer. He transferred to the Quartermaster Corps June 11 1934 and was promoted to major August 1 1935. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel August 18 1940 and colonel December 24 1941.

World War II

General Gay was awarded the Silver Star in December 1942 for gallantry in action on November 8 1942 at Casablanca. He was chief of staff of the I Armored Corps in North Africa at the time. He was promoted to Brigadier General June 24 1943. In the Sicily campaign he was assigned to the U.S. Seventh Army as chief of staff. Later he became chief of staff, Third Army, under General George S. Patton, in February 1944. When Patton took command of the U.S. Fifteenth Army, Gay was again his chief of staff. He and Patton went pheasant hunting on December 9 1945. Patton and Gay were seated in the back seat of the staff car, enroute to the hunting lodge. There was a traffic accident, during which Patton sustained spinal injuries which later cost his life. General Gay was uninjured.

Post World War II Europe

After Patton's death, Gay assumed command of Fifteenth Army in January 1946 for a period of one month. He then became commander of the U.S. 1st Armored Division until its return to the United States later in 1946. He then assumed command of the Second Constabulary Brigade. He served in Europe until 1947, when he returned to the United States.

Korean War

Gay returned to the United States and commanded the Military District of Washington until September 1949. During his command of the district, General John J. Pershing died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on 15 July 1948. In accordance with tradition, Gen. Gay coordinated arrangements for Pershing's funeral ceremonies as the representative of the U.S. President [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/johnjose.htm] .

He took command of the 1st Cavalry Division (United States) in Osaka, Japan. He brought the 1st Cavalry to Korea, where it was in action on July 19 1950. There is some controversy about an incident between July 26 - 29, 1950 at the bridge at No Gun Ri. General Gay believed most persons crossing the bridge were "North Korean guerrillas" and ordered the bridge blown. Some South Korean refugees were killed when the bridge was blown although the reported figures vary widely. All U.S. personnel interviewed since the incident agree the act was not a deliberate atrocity. [http://tspweb02.tsp.utexas.edu/webarchive/11-22-00/2000112203_s02_Ex-GIs.html] [http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2000/investigative-reporting/works/AP7.html]

Gay was appointed deputy commander of the U.S. Fourth Army in February, 1951. In July 1952 he was appointed commander of U.S. VI Corps at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and in April, 1953 made commanding general of U.S. III Corps at Fort MacArthur, California. He moved to Fort Hood in Texas when the III Corps was reassigned there.

Post Korean War

In September 1954 General Gay was made commander of U.S. Fifth Army in Chicago, Illinois. He was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 1954 for promotion to Lieutenant General (temporary).

Hobart R. Gay’s career in the U.S. Army ended in 1955 as the Commanding General, Anti-aircraft and Guided Missile Center, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Retirement

Following retirement, Gay became superintendent of the New Mexico Military Institute.

He died in El Paso, Texas and was interred at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery. [http://www.interment.net/data/us/tx/elpaso/ftblinat/ftbliss_gatgi.htm]

Awards and decorations

*Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
*Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
*Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
*Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters
*Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
*Air Medal
*Army Commendation Ribbon
*American Defense Service Medal
*European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
*American Campaign Medal
*World War II Victory Medal
*Army of Occupation Medal
*National Defense Service Medal
*Korean Service Medal
*Distinguished Service Order
*Chevalier Légion d'honneur
*Officier Légion d' honneur
*Croix de guerre
*Order of the White Lion Class II
*Czechoslovakian War Cross
*United Nations Service Medal

Media Portrayal

*In the 1986 telefilm "The Last Days of Patton", General Gay was portrayed by Murray Hamilton.

External links

* [http://www.indianamilitary.org/Camp%20Atterbury/Post%20Commanders/Gay.htm Hobart R. Gay at Military History of Indiana]

ee also

*List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze Star

References

*Who's Who in America, 1966 - 1967, Vol. 34. Chicago:Marquis Who's Who, p. 759.