Mark L. Hersey

Mark Leslie Hersey
Major General Mark L. Hersey
Born	(1863-12-01)December 1, 1863 Stetson, Maine
Died	January 22, 1934(1934-01-22) (aged 70) Tampa, Florida
Place of Burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1887–1924
Rank	Major General
Unit	Philippine Constabulary 4th Division
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War Santiago Campaign Philippine–American War Boxer Rebellion World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Légion d'honneur (France) Croix de guerre (France)

Spanish–American War

Mark Leslie Hersey (December 1, 1863 – January 22, 1934) was a Major General in the United States Army who commanded the 4th Infantry Division during World War I.

Hersey was born in Maine on December 1, 1863 and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1883 to 1887. Prior to attending West Point, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College. He graduated West Point on June 12, 1887 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant the same day. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1894.

He was a veteran of the Spanish–American War and served as a quartermaster for the 12th Infantry in the Fifth Army Corps in the Santiago Campaign.

Hersey was promoted to captain in 1899 and served as part of the China Relief Expedition during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1902 he received a Master of Arts degree from Bates College. Following the Philippine Insurrection, Hersey served as a colonel with the Philippine Constabulary for ten years.

Hersey was promoted to major in 1911 and to lieutenant colonel in 1916. He served under General John J. Pershing during the punitive expedition in Mexico in 1916.

Hersey was promoted to colonel in May 1917, shortly after the United States declaring war on Germany. He was promoted to brigadier general in National Army (i.e. a temporary promotion) in August 1917 and assigned as the commander of the 155th Infantry Brigade which was part of the 78th Division. The 78th Division was deployed to France in May and June 1918. He commanded the 155th Infantry Brigade during the later stages of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and led it in a successful assault on German positions in the Bois des Loges.