Ralph Hospital

Ralph Hospital (January 27, 1891 – December 20, 1972) was an American career military officer who served during World War I and World War II and attained the rank of brigadier general.

Ralph Hospital
Born	(1891-01-27)January 27, 1891 Washington, D.C.
Died	December 20, 1972(1972-12-20) (aged 81)
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1913–1951
Rank	Brigadier General
Service number	03625
Unit	Field Artillery Branch
Commands	1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment 75th Field Artillery Brigade
Battles / wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Silver Star
Alma mater	George Washington University
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Lilian Craig ​ ​ (m. 1914; div. 1926)​ Louise Tarbell ​ (m. 1929)​
Children	3
Relations	Earl Flansburgh (son-in-law) John Flansburgh (grandson) Paxus Calta (grandson)
Other work	Cornell University faculty

Military career

Hospital graduated from George Washington University in 1913. He was commissioned in the United States Army in November 1913 as a field artillery officer and saw service with the 15th Cavalry Regiment during the Mexican Campaign in Douglas, Arizona, and Sierra Blanca, Texas. He served as an artillery officer in France during World War I and then took an instructor role at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, until the mid-1920s.

Hospital, at the rank of major, served with the 15th Field Artillery Regiment during its period under the Hawaiian Division in 1925, and returned to the United States in 1926 to attend Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a distinguished graduate and soon returned to Ithaca to instruct Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) again. He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1935.

Hospital was promoted to colonel in 1941 and saw service in World War II, first as commander of the 75th Field Artillery Brigade and then was frocked to brigadier general and placed as commanding general of the 91st Division Artillery. In the spring of 1944, they sailed for North Africa and then Italy, making the push for the Po River Valley and the Gothic Line. Hospital was awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in the Italian campaigns. He retired in January 1951, and was promoted to brigadier general on the U.S. Army Retired List in February 1951. He returned to Cornell as Professor of Military Studies and Tactics until the mid-1960s.

Awards

Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

Hospital's awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Italian Medal for Military Valor.

His campaign awards include the Mexican Campaign, World War I Victory, American Defense, American Campaign, European-Middle Eastern-North Africa Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars, the Army of Occupation Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Personal life

Hospital was married twice, and had three daughters. He was the father of Polly Flansburgh, owner of Boston by Foot, and was father-in-law to Earl Flansburgh, a notable Boston architect.

Hospital died on December 20, 1972, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Hospital is the maternal grandfather of musician John Flansburgh, one half of the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, and Paxus Calta (born Earl S. Flansburgh), an anti-nuclear activist. They Might Be Giants included a picture of Hospital on the cover art for their album Lincoln.