View source for Hanford MacNider

{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox military person
| name          = Hanford MacNider
| image         = Hanford MacNider2.jpg
| caption       = MacNider in uniform, [[Wiktionary:circa|ca.]] 1945
| nickname      = "Jack"
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1889|10|2|df=y}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1968|2|18|1889|10|2|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Mason City, Iowa]], US
| death_place   = [[Sarasota, Florida]], US
| allegiance    = United States
| branch        = {{flag|United States Army}}
| rank          = [[File:Army-USA-OF-08.svg|30px]] [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]]
| battles       = [[Mexico–United States border|Mexican Border Service]]<br />[[World War I]]<br />[[World War II]]
| awards        = {{unbulleted list | {{nowrap|[[File:Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (3)}} | [[File:Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]] | [[File:Silver Star ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Silver Star|Silver Star Medal]] (3) | [[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Legion of Merit]] (2) | [[File:Bronze Star ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Bronze Star Medal]] (2) | [[File:Air_Medal_ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Air Medal]] | [[File:Purple Heart ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Purple Heart]] (2) | [[File:Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Legion of Honour|French Legion of Honor]] | [[File:Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with palm.jpg|border|23px]] [[Croix de Guerre|French Croix de Guerre]] | [[File:Croce di guerra al merito BAR.svg|border|23px]] [[War Merit Cross (Italy)|Italian Cross of War Merit]] | [[File:PHL Legion of Honor - Chief Commander BAR.png|border|23px]] [[Legion of Honour|Philippine Legion of Honor]] | ''[[#Awards and decorations|See more]]''}}
| module        = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
|ambassador_from = United States
|country = Canada
|term_start = August 29, 1930
|term_end = August 15, 1932
|predecessor = [[William Phillips (diplomat)|William Phillips]]
|successor = [[Warren Delano Robbins]]
|president = [[Herbert Hoover]]
|office1 = [[United States Assistant Secretary of War]]
|president1 = [[Calvin Coolidge]]
|term_start1 = October 16, 1925
|term_end1 = January 4, 1928
|predecessor1 = [[Dwight F. Davis]]
|successor1 = [[Charles Burton Robbins]]
|title2 = 4th National Commander of {{nowrap|[[American Legion|The American Legion]]}}
|term2 = 1921 – 1922
|predecessor2 = John G. Emery
|successor2 = [[Alvin M. Owsley]]}}
}}

[[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] '''Hanford MacNider''' (2 October 1889 – 18 February 1968) was a senior [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] of the [[United States Army]] who fought in both world wars. He also served as a [[diplomat]], the [[Assistant Secretary of War|Assistant Secretary of War of the United States]] from 1925 to 1928 and the National Commander of the [[American Legion]] from 1921 to 1922. He was also the [[United States Ambassador to Canada]].

== Early life ==
Hanford MacNider was born in [[Mason City, Iowa]] as the son of Charles H. MacNider, a prominent [[banker]], and May Hanford.<ref name="polgraveMacNider">{{cite web|url= http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/maclafferty-madar.html#RKB1DEU1P
|title=The Political Graveyard|publisher=MacNider, Hanford|access-date=2010-12-04}}</ref><ref>Charles H. MacNider (b. 1860) was the president of the First National Bank of Mason City. The [[MacNider Art Museum]] at Mason City, Iowa is named after him.[http://www.macniderart.org/faq.html#anchor387909] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004171913/http://www.macniderart.org/faq.html#anchor387909|date=October 4, 2009}}</ref> He attended [[Milton Academy]] (a [[boarding school]] in [[Massachusetts]]) and subsequently [[Harvard University]], where he graduated in 1911 before returning to [[Iowa]].

[[File:Hanford MacKider LCCN2014713480.jpg|thumb|left|MacNider, presumably sometime during World War I or during the [[interwar period]]]]


MacNider joined the [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] and served during the [[Pancho Villa Expedition]] during the [[Mexican Revolution]]. During [[World War I]], he served as a captain in the [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Division]] within [[American Expeditionary Forces]] in [[France]]. The story goes that military charges were laid against him when one of his men disagreed with a colonel. He then supposedly went [[AWOL]] to get to the front. When authorities finally caught up to him, he had already risen through the ranks to Lieutenant Colonel and won 14 medals, so charges were dropped. For extraordinary heroism in the battle, MacNider was decorated with two [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]], three [[Silver Star]]s, [[War Merit Cross (Italy)|Italian War Merit Cross]], [[Légion d'honneur|French Légion d'honneur]], and [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|French Croix de Guerre with Palm]].

== The American Legion ==
MacNider was Commander of the American Legion Department of Iowa, from 1920 to 1921, before being elevated to the office of National Commander, serving from 1921 to 1922.

== Political career ==
[[File:Swearing in of Asst. Sec. of War, Hanford MacNider 2.jpg|left|thumb|MacNider is sworn in as Assistant Secretary of War, 16 October 1925]]
[[President of the United States|President]] [[Calvin Coolidge]] appointed MacNider [[Assistant Secretary of War]] in 1925 where Major [[Dwight Eisenhower]] was his executive assistant.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Cabinet: Change|url=https://content.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,721349,00.html|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110151210/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0%2C8816%2C721349%2C00.html|archive-date=2017-11-10|url-status=live|date=October 26, 1925 |access-date=2010-06-15 |quote=MacNider. As one steps out an-other steps in. President Coolidge appointed Hanford MacNider, of Iowa, onetime Commander of The American Legion (1921-22), to succeed Mr. Davis as Assistant Secretary of War. He is even younger than his new superior, is only 36. Like Mr. Davis he is a Harvard man. He fought overseas, rose to a Lieutenant Colonelcy, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Said Mr. Davis: 'It is a splendid appointment'.}}</ref> He married Margaret McAuley in 1925. He was considered a possible [[Republican party (United States)|Republican]] [[candidate]] in the [[1928 United States presidential election]], but after the death of his father, MacNider returned to Iowa to handle the family's business affairs which thrived despite the [[Depression era|Depression]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

President [[Herbert Hoover]] appointed him as [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Canada|Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary (Canada)]] in 1930.<ref name="polgraveMacNider"/> In [[1932 United States presidential election|1932]], he resigned in an unsuccessful attempt to be made the Republican candidate for [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]].<ref name="polgraveMacNider"/> In [[1940 United States presidential election|1940]], he again failed to receive the Republican nomination for president and declined the vice presidential candidacy under [[Wendell Lewis Willkie]].<ref name="polgraveMacNider"/> He also turned down a [[United States Cabinet|cabinet position]] offered by President [[Dwight Eisenhower]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

== World War II ==
[[File:MacNider, Waldron, and Byers.jpg|thumb|right|Brigadier Generals Hanford MacNider, [[Albert W. Waldron]], and [[Clovis E. Byers]] recuperate in hospital in Australia after being wounded in the [[Battle of Buna-Gona]]]]

During World War II, he was wounded while commanding the [[Battle of Buna-Gona|Buna Task Force]] in [[New Guinea]]. After recovery, he was given the command of the [[Hispanic Americans in World War II#158th Infantry Regiment|158th Regimental Combat Team]] (the Bushmasters) at the [[Bicol Peninsula]].<ref>[http://ww2f.com/land-warfare-pacific/23282-158th-regimental-combat-team-rct-bushmasters.html “The Bushmasters: Arizona's Fighting Guardsmen”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611060451/http://www.ww2f.com/land-warfare-pacific/23282-158th-regimental-combat-team-rct-bushmasters.html |date=June 11, 2010 }}, ''World War II Forums'', April 13, 2008.</ref> His command of the 158th RCT in the Philippines was excellent and it was there that some of the toughest fighting of the war occurred.

A regimental legend contends that at one point men of the 3rd battalion became drunk from a cache of Japanese [[sake]], at which point MacNider, finding the men in poor conditions, downed a whole bottle in a single moment and decried the troops for being poor soldiers. MacNider earned the respect and love of the men of the 158th by his courage and great battlefield leadership, this has led to an almost mythical reputation in the regiment even today.

MacNider was eventually promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] in the United States Army, and then [[Major general (United States)|major general]] until his retirement in 1951.  After retirement, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] by an act of Congress on 7 August 1956.  He is one of only four individuals to be promoted to lieutenant general after retirement from the army.

== Death ==
On 18 February 1968, while on vacation in [[Sarasota, Florida]], he died at a hospital of [[pulmonary edema]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}  It has been said that he was interred in Mason City's Elmwood Saint Joseph Cemetery; the cemetery office has no record of his burial, and it is believed that he was cremated and his ashes scattered in an unknown location.<ref name="polgraveMacNider"/>

== Legacy ==
Today MacNider is considered one of Iowa's greatest war heroes, the [[158th Infantry Regiment (United States)|158th RCT]] (Infantry) wartime leader, and an effective politician during the inter-war years.  He is one of a very few individuals to be awarded three Distinguished Service Crosses.

== Military awards ==
Hanford MacNider received during his military career many decorations and awards for heroism and distinguished service. Here are official citations of the most important military decorations:

=== First Distinguished Service Cross citation ===
The official U.S. Army citation for his first Distinguished Service Cross reads:

:'''General Orders:''' War Department, General Orders No. 44 (1919)
:'''Action Date:''' 3–9 October 1918
:'''Name:''' Hanford MacNider
:'''Service:''' Army
:'''Rank:''' Captain
:'''Regiment:''' 9th Infantry Regiment
:'''Division:''' 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces
:'''Citation:''' ''The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Hanford MacNider, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Medeah Ferme, France, October 3–9, 1918. Captain MacNider voluntarily joined an attacking battalion on 3 October and accompanied it to its final objectives. During the second attack on the same day, he acted as a runner through heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. He visited the lines both night and day, where the fighting was most severe. When higher authority could not be reached, he assumed responsibilities, and gave the necessary orders to stabilize serious situations. When new and untried troops took up the attack, he joined their forward elements, determined the enemy points of resistance by personal reconnaissance, uncovered enemy machine-gun nests and supervised their destruction.''<ref name="militarytimes.com">{{Cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=15677|title = Hanford MacNider - Recipient -}}</ref>

=== Second Distinguished Service Cross citation ===
The official U.S. Army citation for his second Distinguished Service Cross reads:

:'''General Orders:''' War Department, General Orders No. 44 (1919)
:'''Action Date:''' 12 September 918
:'''Name:''' Hanford MacNider
:'''Service:''' Army
:'''Rank:''' Captain
:'''Regiment:''' 9th Infantry Regiment
:'''Division:''' 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces
:'''Citation:''' ''The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 9 July1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Hanford MacNider, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, A.E.F., near Remeriauville, France, 12 September 1918. On duty as regimental adjutant, while carrying instructions to the assaulting lines, Captain MacNider found the line unable to advance and being disorganized by a heavy machine-gun fire. Running forward in the face of the fire, this officer captured a German machine-gun, drove off the crew, reorganized the line on that flank, and thereby enabled the advance to continue.''<ref name="militarytimes.com"/>

=== Third Distinguished Service Cross citation ===
The official U.S. Army citation for his third Distinguished Service Cross reads:

:'''General Orders:''' Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 12 (1943)
:'''Name:''' Hanford MacNider
:'''Service:''' Army
:'''Rank:''' Brigadier General
:'''Regiment:''' Commanding officer
:'''Division:''' Buna Task Force
:'''Citation:''' ''Brigadier General Hanford MacNider, United States Army, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces during World War II. Brigadier General MacNider's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.''<ref name="militarytimes.com"/>

=== Distinguished Service Medal citation ===
The official U.S. Army citation for his Distinguished Service Medal reads:

:'''General Orders:''' War Department, General Orders No. 89 (13 August 1946)
:'''Action Date:''' October 1943 - October 1945
:'''Name:''' Hanford MacNider
:'''Service:''' Army
:'''Rank:''' Brigadier General
:'''Regiment:''' Commanding officer
:'''Division:''' Buna Task Force
:'''Citation:''' ''The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress 9 July 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Hanford MacNider (ASN: 0-108101), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during the period from October 1943 to October 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General MacNider reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/108238|title=Benjamin Davis - Recipient -|website=valor.militarytimes.com}}</ref>

== Ribbon bar ==
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General (Ret.) Hanford MacNider:

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Mexican Border Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|other_device=bss|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with palm.jpg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Croce di guerra al merito BAR.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=PHL Legion of Honor - Chief Commander BAR.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Phliber rib.svg|width=106}}
|-
|} 
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!1st Row
|colspan="5"|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] w/ two [[Oak Leaf Cluster|OLCs]]
|colspan="6"|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]]
|colspan="7"|[[Silver Star]] w/ two [[Oak Leaf Cluster|OLCs]]
|-
!2nd Row
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]] w/ [[Oak Leaf Cluster|OLC]]
|colspan="4"|[[Bronze Star Medal]] w/ [[Oak Leaf Cluster|OLC]]
|colspan="4"|[[Air Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[Purple Heart]] w/ [[Oak Leaf Cluster|OLC]]
|-
!3rd Row
|colspan="4"|[[Mexican Border Service Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] w/ five Battle Clasps
|colspan="4"|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
!4th Row
|colspan="4"|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] w/ [[Arrowhead Device]], one silver and one bronze Service Star
|colspan="4"|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[Army of Occupation Medal]]<br />w/ Japan Clasp
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Honour|French Legion of Honour]] {{lang|fr|Commandeur}} grade
|-
!5th Row
|colspan="4"|[[Croix de Guerre|French Croix de Guerre]] w/ Palm
|colspan="4"|[[War Merit Cross (Italy)|Italian Cross of War Merit]]
|colspan="4"|[[Philippine Legion of Honor]]
|colspan="4"|[[Philippine Liberation Medal]] w/ bronze Service Star
|-
|}

== See also ==
*[[List of people from Iowa]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
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*[http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/macnider.html Hanford MacNider] at Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade
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*[https://generals.dk/general/MacNider/Hanford/USA.html Generals of World War II]

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{{s-start}}
{{s-npo}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=John G. Emery}}
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{{succession box|title=[[List of United States Ambassadors to Canada|United States Ambassador to Canada]]|before=[[William Phillips (diplomat)|William Phillips]]|after=[[Nathan William MacChesney|Nathan MacChesney]]|years=1930 – 1932}}
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{{US Ambassadors to Canada}}
{{USSecArm}}
{{National Commanders of the American Legion}}
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{{Portalbar|1920s|Biography|Business|Iowa}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macnider, Hanford}}
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Canada]]
[[Category:American anti-war activists]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Iowa]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Coolidge administration personnel]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Hoover administration personnel]]
[[Category:Iowa Republicans]]
[[Category:Milton Academy alumni]]
[[Category:National commanders of the American Legion]]
[[Category:National Guard (United States) generals]]
[[Category:People from Mason City, Iowa]]
[[Category:Presidency of Calvin Coolidge]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Philippine Legion of Honor]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Recipients of the War Merit Cross (Italy)]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:United States Assistant Secretaries of War]]
[[Category:United States Army generals of World War II]]