Offered a direct commission in the United States Army, Drum was appointed a second lieutenant of Infantry.

He continued to advance through positions of more rank and responsibility in the early 1900s, and took part in the Veracruz and Pancho Villa Expeditions.

[3] Under the provisions of a recently passed law allowing recognition for sons of officers who displayed exceptional bravery during the Spanish–American War, Drum was offered a direct commission as a second lieutenant on September 9, 1898, which he accepted.

[11] Drum later served as aide-de-camp to Frank Baldwin before returning to a series of assignments in the United States.

[10] He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1912,[10] and later served there as an instructor.

[14] It was serving at these locations that brought Drum into contact with Major General John J. Pershing, who thought highly of him, and "saw that he had talent as a staff officer".

[17][18][19][20] The citation for his Army DSM reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Hugh Aloysius Drum, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I.

His tact, zeal, and high professional attainments had a marked influence on the success that attended the operations of the 1st Army.

[24] During their repeated confrontations, which stretched over several years, Drum successfully lobbied Congress not to have the Air Service organized separately from the army.

[29] Drum returned to Washington in 1933 to serve as deputy to the Army's Chief of Staff, Douglas MacArthur.

[10] It was during Drum's posting in Hawaii that he renewed acquaintance with another ambitious officer, George S. Patton, who served as his assistant chief of staff for intelligence (G2), and with whom he had a contentious professional relationship.

[32][35] Though disappointed at not being selected, Drum was still highly enough regarded that he received promotion to lieutenant general in August 1939.

[40][a] After the Carolina Maneuvers, Drum was disappointed with an offer from Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to go on what he perceived to be a low-profile assignment as chief of staff for the Chinese army of Chiang Kai-Shek.

Drum has, by his leadership, judgment and high professional attainments, rendered exceptionally meritorious service during the period of the declared national emergency and the present war.

[56] They were the parents of a daughter, Anna Carroll Drum (1916–1996), nicknamed "Peaches," who was the wife of Army officer Thomas H. Johnson Jr.[57][58] The Hugh A.

Drum Papers collection includes correspondence, diaries, newspaper clippings, memorandums and other official documents.

[68][69] In 1940, he received the Laetare Medal, awarded by the University of Notre Dame annually to recognize individuals who have contributed to the goals of the Roman Catholic church.