Hanford MacNider

Hanford “Jack” MacNider (October 2, 1889 – February 18, 1968) was a United States diplomat and highly decorated United States Army General, serving in both World War I and World War II. He was a Scottish Rite Freemason. He was the United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1925 to 1928.

Today MacNider is considered one of Iowa's greatest war heroes, the 158th RCT (Infantry) war time leader, and an effective politician during the inter-war years.

Early life

Hanford MacNider was born in Mason City, Iowa as the son of Charles H. MacNider, a prominent banker, and May Hanford. 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 United States 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 within American Expeditionary Force in France.

The story goes that military charges were laid against MacNider when one of his men disagreed with a Colonel. MacNider 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.