Hester, Hugh B. (Hugh Bryan), 1895-1983

Brig. General Hugh B. Hester graduated from U.N.C. in 1916 and volunteered for the Army officer's candidacy school in 1917. He served in France during World War I and was involved in five major operations before the end of the war. After the war he spent a year in Germany with the occupation forces. During the 1920s and 1930s Hester served in a variety of posts both stateside and abroad. During World War II he was assigned to the South Pacific where he was responsible for provisioning General Doublas MacArthur's army out of Australia. In 1945 he was assigned to the occupation forces in Germany and remained there for two and one half years. After retirement in 1953, Hester became an outspoken critic of American foreign policy. He has traveled in the Soviet Union, Communist China, and Cuba. He has lectured extensively concerning U.S. policy toward Communist countries, U.S. policy on Vietnam, and other related topics.Hugh Bryan Hester (1895-1983), a native of Hester, N.C., served as a 2nd lieutenant in the artillery during World War I. For his war service, he received the Silver Star, the Croix de Guerre, and the French Legion of Honor. A career officer, he served in the Pacific Theater under General Douglas MacArthur during World War II, was director of the United States Food and Agriculture Program in Germany, and became military attache to Australia. Hester served as commanding general of the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot until his retirement as a brigadier general. An outspoken opponent of United States foreign policy, Hester was a special correspondent for "The Nation, The Churchman," and "U.S. Farm News," as well as a speaker on the lecture circuit.