Hanford MacNider
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army

Hanford MacNider was born on 2 October 1889 in Mason City, IA. He was the son of Charles H. MacNider, a prominent banker, and May Hanford MacNider. He attended Milton Academy (a boarding school in Massachusetts) and subsequently Harvard University, where he graduated in 1911 before returning to Iowa.

MacNider joined the U.S. National Guard and served during the Pancho Villa Expedition during the Mexican Revolution. During World War I, he served in the American Expeditionary Force in France. He participated in founding of the American Legion, and was Commander of the Legion for the State of Iowa from 1920-21, before being elevated to National Commander.

President Calvin Coolidge appointed him Assistant Secretary of War in 1925. MacNider married Margaret McAuley in 1925. He was considered a possible Republican candidate in the U.S. presidential election in 1928 but, after the death of his father, MacNider returned to Iowa to handle the family's business affairs.

President Herbert Hoover appointed him U.S. Ambassador to Canada in 1930. In 1932, he resigned in an unsuccessful attempt to be made the Republican candidate for Vice President. In 1940, he again failed to receive the Republican nomination for President and declined the Vice Presidential candidacy under Wendell Lewis Willkie. He also turned down a cabinet position offered by President Dwight Eisenhower.

During World War II, he was wounded while commanding the Buna Task Force in New Guinea. After recovery, he was given the command of the 158th Regimental Combat Team (the Bushmasters) at the Bicol Peninsula.

MacNider was eventually promoted to Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, and then to Major General, until his retirement in 1951. (After retirement, he was promoted to Lieutenant General.)

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
Mexican Border Service Medal
World War I Victory Medal w/ Five Battle Clasps
Occupation of Germany World War I Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Silver and Bronze Stars and Arrowhead device
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star

Foreign Medals and Awards

Commander of the Legion of Honour
French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm
Croce al Merito di Guerra
Philippine Legion of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st of 3 Awards)

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.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 44 (1919)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (2nd of 3 Awards)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, 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.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 44 (1919)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation Synopsis (3rd of 3 Awards)

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.

General Orders: Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 12 (1943)

Death

Lieutenant General Hanford MacNider died on 18 February 1968, while on vacation in Sarasota, FL. He died at a hospital of pulmonary edema. Although it has been said that he was buried in Mason City's Elmwood Saint Joseph Cemetery, the cemetery office has no record of him. It is believed that he was cremated and his ashes scattered in an unknown location.