Henry Everett "Hank" Emerson (May 28, 1925 – February 4, 2015) was a United States Army lieutenant general. He is best known for having been the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in South KoreaThe Art of Command: Military Leadership from George Washington to Colin Powell, edited by Laver, Harry S. and Jeffrey J. Matthews, University Press of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky (2009). during the mid-1970s, when Colin Powell served as a battalion commander. Emerson was a 1947 graduate of the United States Military Academy.
Military career Henry Everett Emerson gained recognition during the Vietnam War for his tactical ability on the battlefield. His tactics as a commander were novel.Chales, James R., The God Machine: From Boomerangs to Black Hawks: The Story of the Helicopter, Bantam Dell, New York (2007), He conceived aerial reconnaissance and combat methods that were employed effectively against the Viet Cong. These included a "checkerboard concept" that involves small groups covering grid squares to seek out an enemy, "jitterbug" tactics which are complex manoeuvres using helicopters to surround an enemy. To the uninitiated this would seem jittery like the dance, and "Eagle Flights" which were helicopters loaded with local soldiers and flown in quickly to assist foreign troops in certain situations. He demonstrated that American soldiers could effectively "out-guerrilla" the Viet Cong. Emerson also developed the "seal-and-pile-on technique" (the rapid build-up of combat power to surround and destroy an enemy force). These highly complex tactics shattered many large enemy units.
Emerson was known for his somewhat eccentric personality, from his training methods to carrying a cowboy-style revolver in place of a regulation M1911 semi-automatic pistol. He was a believer in reverse-cycle training, during which troops trained at night and slept during the day. He also required that they watch the television film Brian's Song, to promote racial harmony. Colin Powell, who would later go on to become a four-star general and the U.S. Secretary of State, has stated that he and Emerson were very close and that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare. When Powell wrote his autobiography, "My American Journey", he dedicated an entire chapter to Emerson. Powell said that Emerson's leadership philosophy was "if we don't do our jobs right Soldiers will not win". In many instances when he was the XVIII Airborne Corps commander he would turn in the tag numbers of excessively speeding vehicles. The next morning, the violator(s) would be escorted by the company and battalion commanders from their unit and a verbal reprimand would be delivered by the brigade commander.
Emerson suffered severe burns after his helicopter was shot down in the Mekong Delta. He had commanded forces during the Vietnam War prior to being stationed in South Korea. He later served as commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, from July 1975 to June 1977. He died at the age of 89 on February 4, 2015.
Awards and honors His awards include:
Combat Infantryman Badge(2nd Award)Master Parachutist BadgeDistinguished Service Crosswith bronze oak leaf clusterArmy Distinguished Service Medalwith two bronze oak leaf clustersSilver Starwith four bronze oak leaf clustersLegion of Meritwith bronze oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying CrossBronze Starwith Valor device and two bronze oak leaf clustersPurple Heartwith bronze oak leaf cluster Air Medalwith Valor device and Award numerals 14Joint Service Commendation MedalArmy Commendation Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterAmerican Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation Medalwith 'Japan' claspNational Defense Service Medalwith bronze service starKorean Service Medalwith four bronze campaign starsArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medalwith four bronze campaign starsKorea Defense Service Medal(retroactive)Knight of the National Order of VietnamVietnam Cross of Gallantrywith two palmsFourth Class of the Order of Military Merit(Hwarang Medal)United Nations Korea MedalVietnam Campaign MedalRepublic of Korea War Service Medal(retroactive)
Army Presidential Unit Citationwith bronze oak leaf clusterValorous Unit AwardArmy Meritorious Unit CommendationRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
References
External links
9th Infantry Division: Old Reliables, edited by John Sperry, Turner Publishing Company, 2000, p. 35. AARP interview with Colin Powell Profile on MilitaryTimes Authorized biography of General Hank Emerson at the U.S. Army Military Institute website