George H. Weems

George Hatton Weems (September 27, 1891 – February 25, 1957) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of Brigadier General. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he was decorated with Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest decoration of the United States Military for bravery, during the World War I.

Following the War, he remained in the Army and rose to the general's rank during World War II. Weems served as Assistant Commandant of the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning in Georgia for the duration of the World War II and after the surrender of Nazi Germany, he was a U.S. Military Representative on Allied Control Commission for Hungary.

Early career Weems was born on September 27, 1891, in Southside, Tennessee, to Joseph and Bessie Rye Weems and had seven siblings. His father died in 1896 and mother in 1903, so George went to live to Waverly, Tennessee, to his older sister Violetta. Following a graduation from the Waverly High School, Weems studied at the Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee, before received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in May 1913. During his time at the Academy, he was active in football and wrestling squads and reached the rank of Cadet Captain.

World War II Weems returned to the United States shortly before the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor and assumed command of 22nd Infantry Regiment now at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon the United States entry into World War II, he was transferred to the staff of Army Infantry School at Fort Benning in February 1942 and assumed duty as Assistant Commandant of the School under Major general Leven C. Allen.

Postwar service Weems was sent to Hungary in August 1946 and succeeded Major general William S. Key as U.S. Military representative on the Military Control Commission, which was established to control the defeated Axis country. He remained in that commission until April 1947, when he was reverted to the peacetime rank of Colonel and appointed Provost Marshal, U.S. European Command in Germany. For his service on the Military Control Commission in Hungary, Weems was decorated with Army Distinguished Service Medal.

In July 1949, Weems returned to the United States and was appointed Chief of the Georgia Military District. He retired from active duty on September 30, 1951, after 34 years of commissioned service.