Alexander Vandegrift
| Alexander Archer Vandegrift Sr. | |
|---|---|
| March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973 (aged 86) | |
  18th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1944-1947) |
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| Nickname | Archie[1] |
| Place of birth | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Place of death | Bethesda, Maryland |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1909-1949 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 1st Marine Division 1st Marine Amphibious Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | Capture of Cayotepe United States occupation of Veracruz The Banana Wars World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Empress Augusta Bay |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
Alexander Archer Vandegrift (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) was a General in the United States Marine Corps. He commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in the Battle of Guadalcanal; for his actions at Guadalcanal, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Vandegrift later served as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps; and was the first U.S. Marine to hold the rank of four-star general while on active duty.[2]
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Alexander Archer Vandegrift was born on March 13, 1887 in Charlottesville, Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia and was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on January 22, 1909.
Following instruction at the Marine Officers' School, Port Royal, South Carolina, and a tour of duty at the Marine Barracks, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he went to foreign shore duty in the Caribbean area. He participated in the bombardment, assault, and capture of [[Masaya#Coyotepe Coyotepe]] in Nicaragua. He further participated in the engagement and United States occupation of Veracruz of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
In December 1914, following his promotion to first lieutenant, he attended the Advance Base Course at the Marine Barracks, Philadelphia. Upon completion of schooling, he sailed for Haiti with the 1st Marines and participated in action against hostile Cacos bandits at Le Trou and Fort Capois, Haiti.
In August 1916, he was promoted to captain and became a member of the Haitian Constabulary at Port Au Prince, where he remained until detached to the United States in December 1918. He returned to Haiti again in July 1919 to serve with the Gendarmerie d'Haiti as an Inspector of Constabulary. He was promoted to major in June 1920.
Major Vandegrift returned to the U.S. in April 1923 and was assigned to the Marine Barracks, MCB Quantico, Virginia. He completed the Field Officers' Course, Marine Corps Schools in May 1926. He then was transferred to the Marine Corps Base San Diego, California as Assistant Chief of Staff.
In February 1927, he sailed for China where he served as Operations and Training Officer of the 3rd Marines with Headquarters at Tientsin. He was ordered to Washington, D.C., in September 1928 where he became Assistant Chief Coordinator, Bureau of the Budget.
Following duty in Washington, he joined the Marine Barracks, Quantico, where he became Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1 Section, Fleet Marine Force (FMF). During this assignment, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in June 1934.
Ordered to China in June 1935, LtCol Vandegrift served successively as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment at the American Embassy in Peiping. Promoted to colonel in September 1936, Col Vandegrift reported to Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), Washington, D.C. in June 1937, where he became Military Secretary to the Major General Commandant. In March 1940, he was appointed Assistant to the Major General Commandant, and the following month was promoted to brigadier general.
Brigadier General Vandegrift was detached to the 1st Marine Division in November 1941, shortly before the United States of America entered World War II. He was promoted to major general in March 1942 and sailed for the South Pacific Area that May as commanding general of the first Marine division to ever leave the shores of the United States. On August 7, 1942, in the Solomon Islands, he led ashore the 1st Marine Division in the first large-scale offensive action against the Japanese. For outstanding service as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division during the attack on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Gavutu in the Solomon Islands, he was awarded the Navy Cross and for the subsequent occupation and defense from August 7, to December 9, 1942, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
In July 1943, he assumed command of the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps and commanded this organization in the landing at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Northern Solomon Islands, on November 1, 1943. Upon establishing the initial beachhead, he relinquished command and returned to Washington, D.C. as Commandant-designate.
On January 1, 1944, as a lieutenant general, he was sworn in as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps. On April 4, 1945, he was appointed general, with date of rank from March 21, 1945, the first Marine officer on active duty to attain four-star rank.
During his tenure as Commandant, the Marine Corps faced institutional threats from Army efforts to absorb the mission of the Marines. Though the Navy was sympathetic to the Marine Corps's predicament, it was ready to accept the diminishment of the Corps in exchange for keeping Naval Aviation from consolidation attempts by the Air Force. The post-war discussions on the restructuring of the American defense establishment opened the door to diminishing the mission and role of the Marine Corps in the new defense structure. Proponents of such cuts included President Harry Truman and General Dwight Eisenhower. In this power struggle, the Marine Corps aligned itself with Congress, warning against the encroachment on civilian oversight within the Army proposals.[3]
To cinch the support of Congress, Commandant Vandegrift delivered the famous "bended knee speech" on May 6, 1946. In it, he stated
The Marine Corps, then, believes that it has earned this right—to have its future decided by the legislative body which created it—nothing more. Sentiment is not a valid consideration in determining questions of national security. We have pride in ourselves and in our past, but we do not rest our case on any presumed ground of gratitude owing us from the Nation. The bended knee is not a tradition of our Corps. If the Marine as a fighting man has not made a case for himself after 170 years of service, he must go. But I think you will agree with me that he has earned the right to depart with dignity and honor, not by subjugation to the status of uselessness and servility planned for him by the War Department.[4].
For outstanding service as Commandant of the Marine Corps from January 1, 1944 to June 30, 1946, Gen Vandegrift was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He left active service on December 31, 1947 and was placed on the retired list on April 1, 1949.
General Vandegrift died May 8, 1973 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, after a long illness. His interment was on May 10, 1973 at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Vandegrift was awarded the following:[5]
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The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER VANDEGRIFT
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
- For outstanding and heroic accomplishment above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the 1st Marine Division in operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands during the period August 7, to December 9, 1942. With the adverse factors of weather, terrain, and disease making his task a difficult and hazardous undertaking, and with his command eventually including sea, land, and air forces of Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Major General Vandegrift achieved marked success in commanding the initial landings of the United States forces in the Solomon Islands and in their subsequent occupation. His tenacity, courage, and resourcefulness prevailed against a strong, determined, and experienced enemy, and the gallant fighting spirit of the men under his inspiring leadership enabled them to withstand aerial, land, and sea bombardment, to surmount all obstacles, and leave a disorganized and ravaged enemy. This dangerous but vital mission, accomplished at the constant risk of his life, resulted in securing a valuable base for further operations of our forces against the enemy, and its successful completion reflects great credit upon Major General Vandegrift, his command, and the United States Naval Service.
General Vandegrift held an honorary degree of Doctor of Military Science from Pennsylvania Military College, and honorary degrees of Doctor of Law from Harvard, Colgate, Brown, Columbia, and Maryland Universities and John Marshall College.
In 1982, the frigate, USS Vandegrift (FFG-48) was named in his honor.
The main street that runs through Camp Pendleton is named Vandegrift Blvd in his honor.
Vandegrift married Mildred Strode (1886-1952) on June 29, 1909.[6] They had one son — Alexander Archer Vandegrift, Jr. (1911-1969 ),[6] who was a Marine Corps colonel who fought in World War II and in the Korean War. [7] He married after Mildred's death — to Kathryn Henson (1903-1978).[8]
- ^ Crocker 2006, p. 298
- ^ "USMC 4 Star Generals". The Warfighter's Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2006-10-06.
- ^ Krulak, Victor H. (1984). "Chapter 7, The Marines' Push Button". First To Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 113-119. ISBN 0-87021-785-2.
- ^ Vandegrift, Alexander (2006-05-06). "Bended Knee Speech". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-07-18.
- ^ "General Alexander A. Vandegrift, USMC (1887-1973).". Naval Historical Center. United States Department of the Navy. Retrieved on 2008-12-19.
- ^ a b "VANDEGRIFT Alexander Archer, Senior". Vandegrift Genealogy. Retrieved on January 1, 2009.
- ^ "General Alexander A. Vandegrift by Robert V. Aquilina". First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal. Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Washington, D.C.: Marine Corps Historical Center, United States Marine Corps. 1992.
- ^ "Alexander A. Vandegrift , General, United States Marine Corps". ArlingtonCemetery.net. Retrieved on 1 January 2009.
- Crocker, H.W. (2006). Don't Tread on me: A 400-year history of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting. Crown Forum. ISBN 1-40005-363-3.
- "General Alexander A. Vandegrift, USMC (1887-1973). 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1 January 1944 - 1 January 1948". Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
- "General Alexander Archer Vandegrift, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 1 January 2009.
- "MajGen ALEXANDER VANDEGRIFT, Medal of Honor, 1942, CO 1stMarDiv. Solomon Islands". Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-02-21.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by LtGen. Thomas Holcomb |
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps 1943—1947 |
Succeeded by Gen. Clifton B. Cates |
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Vandegrift, Alexander |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 13, 1887 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 8, 1973 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Bethesda, Maryland |
