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Contact Info
Home Town Anderson, AL
Last Address Anderson, AL
Date of Passing Nov 03, 1979
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
General Harris was born in Anderson, Alabama in 1909. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1931. General Harris had a distinguished thirty-four year military career, which included positions as Commanding General, Berlin Command 1955; Commanding General, I Corps (Group) Korea 1961; and Commanding General of the U.S. Seventh Army 1962. At retirement in 1965, General Harris was Commanding General of the U.S. Continental Army Command. From 1965-1970 General Harris served as President of the Citadel. He was the third consecutive officer of the grade of General to serve as President of The Citadel. He died in 1979.
General Hugh Pate Harris was born in Anderson, Alabama and graduated from Columbia Military Academy before entering the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1931. Early in his carrer he led in the development of the Army's Experimental Airborne/Air Transportability efforts. He held key staff positions in the fledgling Airborne Command. He served as Chief of Staff of the 13th Airborne Division in 1943.
Gen. Harris held every key position associated with the ongoing development of the Army's Airborne Command. He also advised and assisted the Canadian Army's Airborne efforts. In 1951 he was Chief of Staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He served as Regimental Commander during the war in Korea in 1953 with the 40th Infantry Division. Gen. Harris then became Deputy Chief of Staff, Eighth Army in Korea.
He took over the Berlin Command, U.S. Army, Europe. In 1956 General Harris took command of the 11th Airborne Division, Seventh U.S. Army, Europe. In April, 1960 General Harris became Commanding General, U.S. Army Infantry Center and Commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. The next year he assumed command of I Corps (Group) and then Commanding General, Seventh U.S. Army, Europe. He received his promotion to Four Stars in 1962.
General Harris has received more than 20 citations and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three Legion of Merit Awards, The Combat Infantry, Glider and Parachute Badges. He closed his military career as President of the Citadel, Charleston, S.C. in 1965.
Other Comments:
General Hugh Pate Harris was born in Anderson, Alabama and graduated from Columbia Military Academy before entering the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1931.
Early in his carrer he led in the development of the Army's Experimental Airborne/Air Transportability efforts. He held key staff positions in the fledgling Airborne Command. He served as Chief of Staff of the 13th Airborne Division in 1943.
Gen. Harris held every key position associated with the ongoing development of the Army's Airborne Command. He also advised and assisted the Canadian Army's Airborne efforts. In 1951 he was Chief of Staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Ft. Bragg, N.C. He served as Regimental Commander during the war in Korea in 1953 with the 40th Infantry Division. Gen. Harris then became Deputy Chief of Staff, Eighth Army in Korea.
He took over the Berlin Command, U.S. Army, Europe. In 1956 Gen. Harris took command of the 11th Airborne Division, Seventh U.S. Army, Europe. In April, 1960 Gen. Harris became Commanding General, U.S. Army Infantry Center and Commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, Ft. Benning, GA. The next year he assumed command of I Corps (Group) and then Commanding General, Seventh U.S. Army, Europe. He received his promotion to Four Stars in 1962 awarded by President John F. Kennedy.
Gen. Harris has received more than 20 citations and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three Legion of Merit Awards, The Combat Infantry, Glider and Parachute Badges. He closed his military career as President of the Citadel, Charleston, S.C. in 1964, relieving Gen. Mark Clark of WWII fame.
Korean War/Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
From Month/Year
May / 1952
To Month/Year
November / 1952
Description In May the enemy became bolder, increasing his probing attacks and patrols, intensifying his artillery fire, and aggressively interrupting U.N. patrols. In May 1952 an estimated total of 102,000 artillery and mortar rounds fell in Eighth Army positions.
As a result of increased Chinese ground action in the 45th Division sector, the division planned an operation to establish eleven patrol bases across its front. Operation COUNTER began on 6 June. By the 7th, ten of the eleven objectives had been taken. The last one (Hi11 191, eight miles west of Ch'orwon) was captured after a 48-hour battle on 14 June. The Chinese immediately launched counterattacks along the entire division front, climaxing their efforts on the night of 28-29 June with an unsuccessful 4-hour attack. The division sustained over 1,000 casualties during the month of June; Chinese losses were estimated at more than 5,000.
Throughout the first half of 1952, the U.N. forces waged a. war of containment. The frontline soldier, meanwhile, hoped that the armistice negotiators would soon reach an agreement.
As the Korean War went into its third year, in June 1952, the deadlock continued. July began with a series of small-scale attacks by both sides. Torrential rains restricted activity in the last week of July and through most of August. For some time the enemy had gradually increased the volume of mortar and artillery fire in support of his attacks, and in September fired a total of 45,000 rounds against the Eighth Army's front.
During the summer of 1952 the air war over Korea intensified. In addition to striking at supply centers, troop concentrations, power plants, factories, and rail and road networks, U.N. aircraft rendered valuable assistance to frontline troops by bombing, or searing with napalm, enemy bunkers, trenches, gun positions, and communications lines. On 29 August the largest U.N. air raid of the Korean War was carried out on P'yongyang, the North Korean capital. During the month of September alone the U.S. Fifth Air Force shot down 64 MIG-15's at a cost of seven Sabrejets.
A series of enemy attacks in October 1952 produced some of the heaviest fighting in more than a year. Most of it centered around two key heights, Hills 281 and 395, northwest of Ch'orwon. The attacks were opened on 6 October with the largest volume of mortar and artillery fire received by the Eighth Army during the war. By 15 October the disputed ground was held firmly by U.N. forces, and the enemy withdrew. Over 2,000 Chinese dead were counted on these two hills after the 10-day battle.
