Hobart R. Gay

In November 1944 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), the citation for which reads: 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 Major General [then Brigadier General] Hobart Raymond Gay (ASN: 0-7323), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Headquarters, 3d Army, in action against enemy forces on 11 November 1944.During this period, although faced by overwhelming numerical superiority, General Gay so skillfully led his Division that the enemy's advance was slowed and ultimately halted along the Naktong River Line.His continuous presence at the front under enemy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire with total disregard for his own personal safety was an inspiration to his men during the critical period of the United Nations buildup.General Gay joined the task force formed to exploit the success, placing his quarter-ton vehicle behind the two leading tanks, taking part in numerous firefights.His aggressive leadership, courage under fire, and personal heroism, enable the task force to continue its rapid advance and prevented the enemy from organizing a defensive position which would have nullified the breakthrough.[10]His 1st Cavalry Division then played a crucial, albeit costly, role in the successful last-ditch defense of the Pusan Perimeter, and joined in the breakout of U.S. and South Korean units headed north in September in conjunction with the landing of U.S. forces at Inchon.Two weeks later, his 8th Cavalry Regiment was hit hard by newly arriving Chinese Communist forces at Unsan, north of Pyongyang, with one battalion left trapped when Gay's rescue efforts were ordered halted by his superior, I Corps commander Major General Frank W. Milburn.He moved to Fort Hood in Texas when the III Corps was reassigned there.Over three days in late July 1950, the division's 7th Cavalry Regiment and U.S. warplanes killed a large number of South Korean refugees at No Gun Ri, an event first confirmed by The Associated Press in 1999[13] and later acknowledged in a U.S. Army investigation.[15] On July 26, the day the No Gun Ri killings began, Gay told rear-echelon reporters he was sure most refugees fleeing south were North Korean infiltrators.
General George S. Patton and members of his Third Army staff, 1945. Sat to Patton's right is his chief of staff, Brigadier General Hobart R. Gay.
Major General Hobart R. Gay, CG, 1st Cavalry Division, congratulates Second Lieutenant Raymond A. Whelan after awarding him the Silver Star for meritorious services in Korea, August 25, 1950.
Rockport, IllinoisEl Paso, TexasFort Bliss National CemeteryUnited StatesUnited States ArmyLieutenant GeneralService numberCavalry BranchQuartermaster CorpsFifteenth Army1st Armored DivisionMilitary District of Washington1st Cavalry DivisionVI CorpsIII CorpsFifth ArmyWorld War IWorld War IIKorean WarDistinguished Service CrossArmy Distinguished Service MedalSilver StarLegion of MeritBronze StarAlma materKnox CollegeNew Mexico Military InstituteGeneralGeorge S. PattonAmerican entry into World War IRegular ArmycavalryRobert A. HeinleinArmy of the United StatesCasablancaI Armored CorpsSicily campaignU.S. Seventh ArmyU.S. Third ArmyHugh Joseph GaffeyNormandy landingsend of World War II in EuropeU.S. Fifteenth ArmyU.S. 1st Armored DivisionSecond Constabulary Brigadeoak leaf clusterPusan PerimeterInchon38th ParallelPyongyang8th Cavalry RegimentFrank W. MilburnCamp AtterburyFort MacArthurFort Hood7th Cavalry RegimentNo Gun RiAssociated PressU.S. Fifth ArmyChicago, IllinoisPresidentDwight D. EisenhowerFort BlissAir MedalArmy Commendation MedalArmy Meritorious Unit CommendationWorld War I Victory MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign MedalArrowhead devicecampaign starWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation MedalNational Defense Service MedalKorean Service MedalDistinguished Service OrderLegion of HonourFrench Croix de guerreOrder of the Patriotic War First ClassOrder of the White LionCzechoslovakian War CrossRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationUnited Nations Korea MedalKorean War Service MedalPattonMichael StrongtelefilmThe Last Days of PattonMurray HamiltonFind a Grave