9 2 1 – 1 9 2 5 ▁and ▁graduated ▁from ▁the ▁Infantry ▁School ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 6 . ▁After ▁a ▁posting ▁to ▁Hawai i , ▁he ▁graduated ▁from ▁the ▁Command ▁and ▁General ▁Staff ▁School , ▁the ▁Army ▁War ▁College , ▁and ▁the ▁Air ▁Corps ▁T act ical ▁School . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁H odge ▁served ▁as ▁chief ▁of ▁staff ▁of ▁the ▁VII ▁Corps ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Major ▁General ▁Robert ▁C . ▁Richard son ▁Jr ., ▁located ▁in ▁California ▁as ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Western ▁Def ense ▁Command . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁temporary ▁rank ▁of ▁brig ad ier ▁general ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁and ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 5 th ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁in ▁Hawai i , ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁assistant ▁division ▁commander ▁and ▁deput y ▁of ▁Major ▁General ▁Joseph ▁Law ton ▁Collins . ▁ ▁The ▁ 2 5 th ▁Division ▁was ▁sent ▁over se as ▁to ▁Gu adal can al ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁H odge ▁stayed ▁with ▁ 2 5 th ▁Division ▁until ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁major ▁general ▁and ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁temporary ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 4 3 rd ▁Infantry ▁Division , ▁where ▁he ▁rel ieved ▁Major ▁General ▁John ▁H . ▁H ester , ▁who ▁was ▁exha usted ▁from ▁combat . ▁H odge ▁commanded ▁the ▁ 4 3 rd ▁Division ▁during ▁the ▁comb ats ▁in