1st LT David William Hodges
185th Infantry
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David W. Hodges was born on January 23, 1921 in Utica, New York. His parents were David William Hodges Sr. (b. 1888) and Hazel Irene Champlin (1892–1960). In additional to David, they had two other children: Eleanor Ruth Hodges (1914-1919) and Robert Cecil Hodges (1919-2014).
In 1925, when David was 4 years old, his parents separated. David’s mother raised him and his brother, Robert C. Hodges, who was one year older than David. According to the 1925 New York State Census the family moved in with David’s maternal grandparents, Art C. and Ella T. Champlin, who lived in the small, rural village of Laurens in Otsego County, New York. In 1928, David’s mother married Ferdinand D. Ehrmann and according to the 1930 U.S. Census the family was residing in Otego Township, Otsego County, New York. The 1940 U.S. Census shows that David resided in Oneonta, New York in both1935 and 1940. He had completed high school.
Hodges’ New York National Guard Service Card
Based on his New York National Guard Service Card, David enlisted on March 6, 1939 in the Nation Guard, Company G, 10th Infantry for a three year period. On October 21 1940, with a World War looming, the 76th U.S. Congress retracted Section 61 of the National Defense Act to allow State Military Forces to be federalized. In that same year, New York Army National Guard units were rapidly inducted into federal service. In 1941 David went with Company G of Oneonta to Ft. McClellan, Alabama. He held the rank of sergeant and his service number was 20270296. From Ft. McClellan he was first sent to Hawaii and then to Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia where he received his commission as a second lieutenant. He was next transferred to Ft. Org, California and became part of the 104th “Timber Wolf” Division. In January, 1944, he requested overseas duty and was assigned to New Britain where he remained until January 1945. New Britain is one of several islands situated directly off the northeast coast of New Guinea and was initially controlled by the Japanese giving them, potentially, access to Australia. Allied Forces eventually took command of the island.
Luzon Island (left) and the Philippines
In January 1945, David Hodges, as a member of the 185th Infantry unit, was sent to the Philippines to participate in the Battle of Luzon. Before World War II, the Philippines was a U.S. territory obtained after the Spanish-American War and was viewed to be of great strategic importance due to its location with respect to China and Indochina, both areas that were already conquered by Japan. Because of this situation the United States had stationed 135,000 troops and 227 aircraft in the Philippines by October 1941, two months before U.S. entered the war. Most of this military force was placed on Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines and the home of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. Luzon was captured by Japan in 1942. The U.S. and its Allies retook Luzon in March 1945, after 192,000 to 217,000 Japanese troops died, mainly from starvation and disease, and 8,000 American military personnel were killed. David was killed while fighting in action on February 11, 1945 during the Battle of Luzon. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was 24 years old.
If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com.
Sources
New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 02; Assembly District: 01; City: Otsego; County: Otsego; Page: 11
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/20342651:2704
Year: 1930; Census Place: Otego, Otsego, New York; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0041; FHL microfilm: 2341371
Year: 1940; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02717; Page: 62A; Enumeration District: 39-43
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