Pratt, H. C. (Henry Conger), 1882-1966

Henry Conger Pratt (b. 1882, Fort Stanton, N.M.-d. Apr. 1, 1966), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1904 and was commissioned in the Cavalry, Regular Army. He served in the Philippines from 1905 to 1907 and after a number of assignments in the U.S., served with the 4th Cavalry in Hawaii and performed duty with the aviation section of the Signal Corps there. He was assigned temporary duty in connection with aviation with the American Expeditionary Forces in France in 1918. In the 1920s, he became chief, Training and War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of the Air Corps; commanding officer, 9th Observation Group; then returned to Hawaii as Department Air Officer. During the years of World War II, General Pratt served as commander, Trinidad Sector; base commander, Caribbean Defense Command; and commanding general of the Puerto Rican Department. Near the end of his military career, he was named commanding general, Southern Defense Command and, later, commanding general, Western Defense Command. He retired in 1946.