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- Henry also known as "Hank" Was a Major General in the United States Marine Corps. Born in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York, he was the son of Alfred S. Paige and Ella M. Reed.
Henry's middle name was Reed, it was misspelled on military records as Reid and was kept as the official spelling from that time on.
Henry was the oldest of four sons. Alfred Paige, Henry's father, owned the brickyard in Ogdensburg and Henry found work there as a young man . Henry would recall that he earned his first few dollars pulling weeds at 5 cents a row, at the age of 6.
Alfred & Ella were determined that no matter how hard times got they would make sure that the boys got a college education and this was quite a task in the midst of the depression and the closing of the brickyard. After attending the Ogdensburg free academy Henry completed a year at St. Lawrence University. While at the University he met his wife to be Gladys Mary Louise Brundage of Canton, New York.
In 1923 Henry was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. In addition to his academic pursuits at the academy Henry also played on the Navy football team, track team, and was a member of the crew team. Unfortunately he broke his leg during the 1927 football season and was designated "goat tender" the remainder of that championship season.
Henry married Gladys following graduation on July 9, 1927 in Potsdam, New York. After completion of the Marine Officers Basic School in Philadelphia Henry returned to Annapolis to try out for the 1928 Olympic team and made it to the finals in the hammer throw. He also made it to the finals in 1932.
After a brief period at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, D.C. he joined the 2nd Marine Brigade in Nicaragua and was awarded the Nicaraguan Medal of Merit with Citation for his participation against rebel bandits in that country. After returning to the U.S. he lived at Parris Island, South Carolina and then went to the Naval Academy and the anti aircraft direction school in New York. In October of 1932, Lt. Paige began a year at sea as Commander of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Indianapolis.
On July 1, 1933, during this assignment Henry was sent to pick up the newly elected President, Franklin D. Roosevelt at his home in Campobello and brought him aboard the USS Indianapolis to Annapolis, Maryland. While at Campobello he played softball with 3 of the Roosevelt sons and had a hot dog cooked for him by Eleanor Roosevelt at a bonfire following the game.
In 1934, he Commanded the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Idaho and was promoted to Captain. He then joined the 10th Marine Regiment and was a part of the Caribbean maneuvers of 1935 and 1936.
From 1937 to 1939 he was stationed in Guam and helped plan for airstrips and air bases there.
After returning to the U.S. he went to Parris Island and commanded batteries of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Defense Battalions and was promoted to Major in May,1941.
In June of 1941 he took command of the 3-inch Anti Aircraft Group 5 Defense Battalions and sailed for Iceland that same month. While in Iceland his troops were reviewed by Winston Churchill who stopped over after a conference with President Roosevelt in Nova Scotia. In August of 1942 Henry was promoted to Lt. Colonel and from January, 1943 to November that same year he commanded the Artillery Battalion at the Training Center Marine Barracks at Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina. He left Camp Le Jeune to command the 7th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion in the Pacific area.
For his service in the Palou Campaign and elsewhere in the Pacific Henry was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and was promoted to Colonel in October of 1944.
Following service in both Hawaii and Guam he returned to the U.S. in October, 1945 and began a number of assignments over the next four years in Washinton DC with the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department and the Joint Army & Navy Chemical Warfare Coordination Committee and was awarded the Army Commendation Ribbon.
After completion of the course at the National War College in Washington he served as the first President of the Tactics and Techniques Board at the Marine Corps Development Center.
In September, 1953 Henry was promoted to Brigadier General and served as Assistant Commander of the 2nd Marine Division and in 1954 he joined the 1st Marine Division in Korea. For exceptional meritorious service in Korea, he was awarded the Army's Oak Leaf Cluster.
He returned to Camp Pendleton in 1955 and then moved to Quantico, Virginia and served as the director of the Marine Corps Educational Center, and was promoted to Major General in November of 1955.
In July of 1957 Henry was named Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 (Logistics) at Marine Headquarters in Washington, D.C.. In November, 1959 he assumed the leadership of the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California and retired from this post in 1961.
Other medals and awards Henry earned during his career are; the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal,the American Service and Defence Medal with Base clasp, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze star, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Republic of Korea's Ulchi Medal.
After retirement from the military Henry remained very active in civic affairs as a member of the local Rotary club serving as it's president in 1966-1967 and at the same time he was the director of the Board of Management of the North Coast YMCA and of the Oceanside Camber of Commerce. He also served as director of the San Diego County Armed Services Center (formerly the USO), Chairman of the Oceanside Building Authority and was a member of the "Friends of the Tri-City Hospital".
Henry also enjoyed playing the stock and bond markets and parlayed a somewhat meager retirement sum into a substantial amount of money.
Relaxation activities included playing golf and occasional trips to the horse track in addition to the social activities he pursued mentioned above.
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Davis Uriah I | Born 1707
1904 - 1989 (85 years)