Lewis B. Hershey
| Lewis Blaine Hershey | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 12, 1893 Steuben County, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | May 20, 1977 (aged 83) Angola, Indiana, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1911-1920 (National Guard) 1920-1973 (Army) |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Unit |
 Indiana National Guard
|
| Commands held | Director, Selective Service System |
| Battles/wars |
Border War (1910–19) World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Lewis Blaine Hershey (September 12, 1893 – May 20, 1977) was a United States Army general who served as the second Director of the Selective Service System, the means by which the United States administers its military conscription.
He was born in Steuben County, Indiana. He attended the local public schools and graduated from Tri-State College (now Trine University) in 1914 receiving a degree in education. He taught at local elementary schools and served as a school principal in Indiana.
He married Ellen Dygert (1892–1977) and had four children: Kathryn, Gilbert, George, and Ellen.
He enlisted in the Indiana National Guard in 1911. Hershey received a direct commission as a second lieutenant in 1913. In 1916, his guard unit was called to active duty on the Mexican border. The unit was relieved in December 1916. His unit was again called to federal service during World War I and sent to France with the American Expeditionary Force.
After the war, Hershey remained in the National Guard until he received a regular commission as a captain in the Regular Army in 1920. He attended the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. Hershey taught military science at the Ohio State University and then served in the general staff as G-4 at the Department of Hawaii.
In 1936, he was assigned to the General Staff in Washington, DC. In October 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt promoted him to brigadier general and named him executive officer of the Selective Service System. On July 31, 1941, President Roosevelt named Hershey director of the Selective Service. In 1942, Hershey was promoted to major general. In 1943, he received an honorary degree in Doctor of Laws from Oglethorpe University. While officially retiring on December 31, 1946, he was retained on active duty starting the next day.
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