Gil Hodges
WWII uncovered: Gil Hodges: From the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Battle of Okinawa
On October 3, 1943 Gil Hodges made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 19 years old. Eleven Days later Hodges joined the US Marine Corps.
According to the official website of Gil Hodges: "In 1941, Hodges accepted a scholarship from St. Joseph’s College in Indiana and majored in physical education. While in school, he played baseball during the 1942 and 1943 seasons. It was around that time that Hodges was spotted by a part-time scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Stanley Feezle. He signed a contract but appeared with the team for only one game in the third base position. Having served as a member of the Marines ROTC program at St. Joseph’s, he had to give up playing baseball and soon went into battle at Tinian and Okinawa for the U.S. Navy."
Gil went through basic training at Camp Elliot in San Diego, and was promoted to Private First Class. Hodges was then assigned to Company A, Infantry Battalion, for eight weeks of training as a rifleman using the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR).
In February 1944, Hodges joined the 44th Replacement Battalion, awaiting deployment overseas. On March 5, 1944, he boarded the SS Santa Monica to join the 5th Amphibious Corps in Hawaii. In April 1944, Hodges joined the newly formed 16th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion, and a transport ship took him to the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where the battalion would train. During his training in Hawaii Hodges continued to play baseball and even originated a battalion team. Playing for sport only - Hodges would soon ship out to the South Pacific.
On December 22, 1944, the Battalion left Hawaii for the Island of Tinian. In April 1945, now Sergeant Hodges, landed with the assault wave at Okinawa and was assigned to his Battalion 's Operations and Intelligence Section as asistant to Colonel Merchant. Hodges would be honored with the Bronze Star for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa where he would remain until October of 1945.
Sergeant Gil Hodges was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps on February 3, 1946 at the age of 22 years old.
"After the war Gil returned to the Dodgers and switched from third base to first, a position which gave him more confidence and a greater chance to prove himself to his teammates and the public. By 1949, he was heralded as one of the League’s finest first basemen."
"Throughout the 1950s, Hodges’ career gained further momentum. He hit at least 30 home runs a season for five consecutive years, from 1950 to 1954. During these years, he hit 40 or more home runs a season twice. Also, he had more RBIs (1001) during the 1950s than any other player in the league. In addition, he was an eight-time all-star from 1949-1955 and 1957."
"After 14 years in Brooklyn, Hodges and the team moved to the west coast to begin playing in Los Angeles. He would remain there for three seasons, until 1961. At that time, he started to contemplate retirement due to chronic knee pain. When the Mets showed interest in the expansion draft, he agreed to keep playing, since he would be back in his home state of New York."
"The years of 1962 and 1963 were Hodges’ last years as a player. He hit his last home run in 1962, bringing his career total to 370 which, at the time, was the National League record for home runs by a right handed hitter. In 1963, owners of the Dodgers negotiated a deal with an expansion club, the Washington Senators, for him to become their new manager. Thus, Hodges’ career playing baseball came to a close, but his career as a coach was only the beginning." (Source for biography dictated from The Official Gil Hodges website)
On April 2, 1972 - during Spring Training in West Palm Beach Florida - Gil passed away resultant of a massive heart attack. He was 47 years old. On July 24, 2022, Hodges will be posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum via the Golden Days Era Committee.
Sergeant Gil Hodges lies in rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn New York. Lest We Forget.
#ww2uncovered #honorourveterans #WWIIveteran #WorldWarII #gilhodges #worldwar2 #greatestgeneration #dodgers #baseball #brooklyndodgers #WWII #pacifictheater #lestweforget #ww2
WWII uncovered©️ Original description and photos sourced by The official Gil Hodges website, Major League Baseball Archive, Baseball Hall of Fame and Naval History and Heritage Command
Gil Hodges
WWII uncovered: Gil Hodges: From the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Battle of Okinawa
On October 3, 1943 Gil Hodges made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 19 years old. Eleven Days later Hodges joined the US Marine Corps.
According to the official website of Gil Hodges: "In 1941, Hodges accepted a scholarship from St. Joseph’s College in Indiana and majored in physical education. While in school, he played baseball during the 1942 and 1943 seasons. It was around that time that Hodges was spotted by a part-time scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Stanley Feezle. He signed a contract but appeared with the team for only one game in the third base position. Having served as a member of the Marines ROTC program at St. Joseph’s, he had to give up playing baseball and soon went into battle at Tinian and Okinawa for the U.S. Navy."
Gil went through basic training at Camp Elliot in San Diego, and was promoted to Private First Class. Hodges was then assigned to Company A, Infantry Battalion, for eight weeks of training as a rifleman using the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR).
In February 1944, Hodges joined the 44th Replacement Battalion, awaiting deployment overseas. On March 5, 1944, he boarded the SS Santa Monica to join the 5th Amphibious Corps in Hawaii. In April 1944, Hodges joined the newly formed 16th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion, and a transport ship took him to the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where the battalion would train. During his training in Hawaii Hodges continued to play baseball and even originated a battalion team. Playing for sport only - Hodges would soon ship out to the South Pacific.
On December 22, 1944, the Battalion left Hawaii for the Island of Tinian. In April 1945, now Sergeant Hodges, landed with the assault wave at Okinawa and was assigned to his Battalion 's Operations and Intelligence Section as asistant to Colonel Merchant. Hodges would be honored with the Bronze Star for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa where he would remain until October of 1945.
Sergeant Gil Hodges was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps on February 3, 1946 at the age of 22 years old.
"After the war Gil returned to the Dodgers and switched from third base to first, a position which gave him more confidence and a greater chance to prove himself to his teammates and the public. By 1949, he was heralded as one of the League’s finest first basemen."
"Throughout the 1950s, Hodges’ career gained further momentum. He hit at least 30 home runs a season for five consecutive years, from 1950 to 1954. During these years, he hit 40 or more home runs a season twice. Also, he had more RBIs (1001) during the 1950s than any other player in the league. In addition, he was an eight-time all-star from 1949-1955 and 1957."
"After 14 years in Brooklyn, Hodges and the team moved to the west coast to begin playing in Los Angeles. He would remain there for three seasons, until 1961. At that time, he started to contemplate retirement due to chronic knee pain. When the Mets showed interest in the expansion draft, he agreed to keep playing, since he would be back in his home state of New York."
"The years of 1962 and 1963 were Hodges’ last years as a player. He hit his last home run in 1962, bringing his career total to 370 which, at the time, was the National League record for home runs by a right handed hitter. In 1963, owners of the Dodgers negotiated a deal with an expansion club, the Washington Senators, for him to become their new manager. Thus, Hodges’ career playing baseball came to a close, but his career as a coach was only the beginning." (Source for biography dictated from The Official Gil Hodges website)
On April 2, 1972 - during Spring Training in West Palm Beach Florida - Gil passed away resultant of a massive heart attack. He was 47 years old. On July 24, 2022, Hodges will be posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum via the Golden Days Era Committee.
Sergeant Gil Hodges lies in rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn New York. Lest We Forget.
#ww2uncovered #honorourveterans #WWIIveteran #WorldWarII #gilhodges #worldwar2 #greatestgeneration #dodgers #baseball #brooklyndodgers #WWII #pacifictheater #lestweforget #ww2
WWII uncovered©️ Original description and photos sourced by The official Gil Hodges website, Major League Baseball Archive, Baseball Hall of Fame and Naval History and Heritage Command