Campbell B. Hodges

Campbell Blackshear Hodges (27 March 1881 – 23 November 1944) was a United States Army major general. He commanded the 5th Infantry Division from October 1939 to May 1940, the 5th Corps Area from June 1940 to October 1940 and VII Corps (Tactical) from October 1940 to June 1941. After retirement from the Army, he served as president of Louisiana State University from 1941 to 1944.

Early life and education Born on the Elm Grove Plantation along the Red River in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, Hodges studied at Mount Lebanon College and the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute before entering the United States Military Academy in 1899. He graduated in June 1903 and was commissioned as an infantry officer.

Military career Hodges served in the Philippines with the 4th Infantry from October 1903 to June 1905 and with the 4th Infantry and the 30th Infantry from April 1907 to September 1909. After returning to the United States, he briefly served with the 5th Infantry before rejoining the 4th Infantry and briefly commanding a company from July to August 1910.

Hodges returned to the 4th Infantry in March 1913, serving at Galveston, Texas and Vera Cruz, Mexico and commanding a company from August 1914 to April 1915. He served as a temporary lieutenant colonel with the 1st Infantry, Louisiana National Guard at San Benito, Texas from June to September 1916.

In March 1920, Hodges reverted to his permanent rank of captain before being promoted to major in July of that year. He served as military attaché in Spain and Portugal from May 1923 to January 1926. In April 1926, he was assigned as the commandant of cadets at the Military Academy. Hodges was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 23 April 1927. On 1 October 1934, he was promoted to colonel and given command of Fort Davis.

Later life Hodges assumed the presidency of Louisiana State University on 1 July 1941 and served until 1944. Not long afterwards, he died of an intracerebral hemorrhage at LaGarde General Hospital in New Orleans. Hodges was buried at the West Point Cemetery on 27 November 1944.

Legacy In 1949, Campbell B. Hodges Hall was built at Louisiana State University in his honor.