Alexander Vandegrift

General Alexander Archer Vandegrift, USMC (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. During World War II, he commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive of the war, the Battle of Guadalcanal. For his actions on August 7 to December 9, 1942, in the Solomon Islands campaign, he received the Medal of Honor.[2] Vandegrift later served as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was the first four-star general on active duty in the Marine Corps.[3]

Alexander Vandegrift
18th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1944–1947)
Birth nameAlexander Archer Vandegrift
Nickname(s)Archie,[1] Sunny Jim
Born(1887-03-13)March 13, 1887
Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMay 8, 1973(1973-05-08) (aged 86)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1909–1949
Rank General
Commands held1st Marine Division
I Marine Amphibious Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/warsBanana Wars

Mexican Revolution

Second Caco War
World War II

  • Battle of Guadalcanal
  • Battle of Bougainville
AwardsMedal of Honor
Navy Cross
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom)
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom)
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)

Biography

Alexander Archer Vandegrift was born on March 13, 1887, in Charlottesville, Virginia, where his father of Dutch descent was an architect and contractor.[4] Vandegrift was of Dutch, English and Swedish ancestry, all of which had been in North America since the 1600s. It was once facetiously remarked that he "never had a Catholic ancestor".[5] Young Vandegrift, known as "Archer" in his boyhood,[4] had an interest in the military – both from reading military history novels and from stories of ancestors who fought in various wars.[6] He graduated from Charlottesville High School.[7] During his childhood was a big fan of G.A. Henty novels and history, in particular he read a lot about the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Waterloo, and he described himself as "big fan" of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and Horatio Nelson.[8]

He attended the University of Virginia for three years from 1906 to 1908;[9] then received his commission in the U.S. Marine Corps through a week-long competitive examination in 1908,[10][11] becoming a second lieutenant on January 22, 1909.

While at the Marine Corps Schools in 1909, he wrote a prophetic article entitled "Aviation, the Cavalry of the Future".[12] As Commandant, he appointed the Hogaboom Board, named for Major General Hogaboom, the chairman, that began the USMC's development of vertical envelopment, the use of helicopters for air assault. During his early years as a second lieutenant, General Vandegrift was also very nearly dismissed from the Marine Corps due to disciplinary infractions and negative evaluations.[13] In his first Marine Corps evaluation, dated June 30, 1909, Vandegrift received an overall rating of "Not Good" with these remarks from the Commander of the Marine Officers School.

"This officer has not shown that he appreciates the responsibilities of his position as an officer, and unless there is a decisive improvement, his relations will not be to the advantage of the service."

In Vandegrift's next evaluation, dated December 1909, he received a "Good and Tolerable" rating and next was rated as "Excellent" upon reporting to the Marine Corps Barracks, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1910.[14]

Banana Wars
See also: Banana Wars
Vandegrift as a first lieutenant, around 1915

Following instruction at the Marine Officers' School at Port Royal, South Carolina, his first tour of duty was at the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1912, he went to foreign shore duty in the Caribbean, first to Cuba and then to Nicaragua, where he participated in the bombardment, assault, and capture of Coyotepe Fortress. In 1914, he participated in the engagement and occupation of Veracruz, Mexico.

In December 1914, following his promotion to first lieutenant, he attended the Advance Base Course at the Marine Barracks, Philadelphia.[11] 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.

1920s–1930s

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, D.C., he joined the Marine Barracks, Quantico, where he became assistant chief of staff, G-1 Section, Fleet Marine Force (FMF). During this assignment, in June 1934, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

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, 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.

World War II
MajGen Vandegrift, 1942, in his command tent on Guadalcanal

Brigadier General Vandegrift was ordered to the 1st Marine Division in November 1941. Shortly before the United States entered World War II on December 7, he became the assistant commander of the First Marine Division.

In March and April 1942, Vandegrift was promoted to major general and assumed command of the First Marine Division. In May, the First Marine Division and the South Pacific Amphibious Force sailed for the South Pacific Area. The first Marine Division was the first Marine Corps division to ever leave the shores of the United States. On August 7, Vandegrift led the 1st Marine Division in the first large-scale offensive action against the Japanese, in the Solomon Islands.[15] He was awarded the Navy Cross "for extraordinary heroism and distinguished devotion to duty as Commanding General of the First Marine Division and all ground troops action with enemy Japanese forces during the attack on the Solomon Islands 7 August 1942" (attack on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Gavutu);[16] following that, he was awarded the Medal of Honor "for outstanding and heroic accomplishment above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the First Marine Division in operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands during the period 7 August to 9 December 1942" (commanded the initial landings and the subsequent occupation ... that "resulted in securing a valuable base for further operations of our forces against the enemy") ...[17] Vandegrift was presented the Medal of Honor on February 5, 1943, from President Franklin Roosevelt during a ceremony at the White House.

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.

Commandant of the Marine Corps
Vandegrift as Commandant of the Marine Corps.

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' predicament, it was ready to accept the diminishment of the Corps in exchange for keeping naval aviation from consolidation with 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.[18]

To clinch the support of Congress, Commandant Vandegrift delivered the famous "Bended Knee Speech" on May 6, 1946, to the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs, which he ended with:

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.

— Alexander Vandegrift, "Bended Knee Speech", [19]

For outstanding service as Commandant of the Marine Corps from January 1, 1944, to June 30, 1946, General 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.

Later life

Together with Robert B. Asprey, General Vandegrift co-authored a book chronicling his experiences in World War II. The book is titled Once a Marine: The Memoirs of General A. A. Vandegrift Commandant of the U.S. Marines in WW II, and was published in 1964.

General Vandegrift died on 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.

Summary of military career

Dates of rank
Insignia Rank Dates
No insignia in 1909
 Second lieutenant January 16, 1909
 First lieutenant November 10, 1914
 Captain August 29, 1916
 Major
(Temporary for war service)		 July 1, 1918
 Captain
(Peacetime reversion)		 July 31, 1919
 Major July 4, 1920
(Backdated to June 4, 1920)
 Lieutenant colonel November 15, 1934
(Backdated to May 29, 1934)
 Colonel September 1, 1936
 Brigadier general April 11, 1940
 Major general March 20, 1942
 Lieutenant general July 28, 1943
 General April 4, 1945
(Backdated to March 21, 1945)

Military awards

Vandegrift received the following decorations and awards:[20]

1st Row Medal of Honor Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ one 3/16" bronze star
2nd Row Navy Unit Commendation w/ one 3/16" bronze star Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal w/ three 3/16" bronze stars Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Mexican Service Medal
3rd Row Haitian Campaign Medal w/ one 3/16" bronze star World War I Victory Medal w/ West Indies clasp & one 3/16" bronze star Yangtze Service Medal American Defense Service Medal
4th Row American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four 3/16" bronze stars World War II Victory Medal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau w/ swords, Netherlands
5th Row Order of Abdon Calderon, 1st Class, Ecuador w/ one 3/16" gold star Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, United Kingdom (Honorary) Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, France Companion of the Order of the Bath, United Kingdom (Honorary)
6th Row Order of Pao Ting (Precious Tripod) w/ Special Cravat, China Haitian Distinguished Service Medal Médaille militaire w/ one 3/16" silver star, Haiti Cruz de Aviación de Primera Clase, Peru

Medal of Honor citation

Vandegrift's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:[21]

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 from 7 August to 9 December 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, Maj. Gen. Vandegrift achieved marked success in commanding the initial landings of the U. S. 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 Maj. Gen. Vandegrift, his command, and the U.S. Naval Service.
/S/ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major General Alexander Archer Vandegrift (MCSN: 0-1009), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished devotion to duty as Commander of the FIRST Marine Division and all ground troops in action with enemy Japanese forces during the attack on the Solomon Islands on 7 August 1942. Though subjected to intense enemy opposition, Major General Vandegrift led his command in superbly coordinated operations with the result that all objectives were captured and opposing enemy Japanese forces destroyed. His fine spirit of leadership and his courageous determination throughout the engagement were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[16]

Namesake and other honors

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.

A former military housing complex, now civilian housing, for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio, has streets named for World War II commanders including Gen Vandegrift, Gen Eisenhower, Adm Nimitz and others.

Family

Vandegrift married Mildred Strode (1886–1952) on June 29, 1909.[22] They had one son, Alexander Archer Vandegrift, Jr. (1911–1969),[22] a Marine Corps colonel who fought in both World War II and in the Korean War.[15] He married, after Mildred's death, to Kathryn Henson (1903–1978).[23]

Vandegrift was portrayed in the 1960 film The Gallant Hours by Raymond Bailey, the 2006 film Flags of Our Fathers by Chris Bauer, and the 2010 miniseries The Pacific by Stephen Leeder.

A fictionalized account of Vandegrift and the U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal is featured in The Corps series by W.E.B. Griffin.

Vandegrift appears in the 2004 anime series Zipang.

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See also

Notes
  1. Crocker (2006). Don't Tread on me. p. 298.
  2. "Vandegrift, Alexander Archer MOH Citation". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  3. "USMC 4 Star Generals". The Warfighter's Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on November 5, 2004. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
  4. Hoffman, Col. Jon T., USMCR (2004). "Chapter 18: Alexander A. Vandegrift, 1944–1948". In Millett-Shulimson (ed.). Commandants of the Marine Corps. p. 282.
  5. Once a Marine: The Memoirs of General A.A Vandegrift, United States Marine Corps by Alexander Archer Vandegrift, 1964/1982. Pg. 11
  6. Hoffman (2004). "Chapter 18: Alexander A. Vandegrift, 1944–1948". In Millett-Shulimson (ed.). Commandants of the Marine Corps. p. 283.
  7. Maurer, David (May 27, 2012). "Yesteryears;Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift". The Daily Progress. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  8. Once a Marine: The Memoirs of General A.A Vandegrift, United States Marine Corps by Alexander Archer Vandegrift, 1964/1982. Pg. 11
  9. Maurer, David (May 27, 2012). "Yesteryears;Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift". The Daily Progress. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  10. Millett, Allan R. (2004). "Acknowledgements". In Millett-Shulimson (ed.). Commandants of the Marine Corps. p. xiv.
  11. Hoffman (2004). "Chapter 18: Alexander A. Vandegrift, 1944–1948". In Millett-Shulimson (ed.). Commandants of the Marine Corps. p. 284.
  12. Vandegrift & Osprey, A.A. & Robert B. (1964). Once A Marine. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 63.
  13. Archival Service Record of Alexander Vandegrift (Fitness Report Folder), Military Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri
  14. Fitness Reports of General Alexander Vandegrift (February 1909 – October 1910), Military Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri
  15. Aquilina, Robert V. "General Alexander A. Vandegrift". in Shaw (1992), First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  16. "Alexander Archer Vandegrift, Navy Cross". The Hall of Valor Project. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  17. "World War II, Medal of Honor Recipients, A-Z, Vandegrift, Alexander Archer". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  18. Krulak (1984). "Chapter 7: The Marines' Push Button". First To Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps. pp. 113–119.
  19. Alexander Vandegrift (May 6, 1946). "Bended Knee Speech". Historical Documents, Orders and Speeches. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  20. "General Alexander A. Vandegrift, USMC (1887–1973)". Naval Historical Center. United States Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
  21. "Vandegrift, Alexander. Citation". Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  22. "Vandegrift Alexander Archer, Senior". Vandegrift Genealogy. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  23. "Alexander A. Vandegrift, General, United States Marine Corps". ArlingtonCemetery.net. Archived from the original on January 13, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2009.

References

Book

Web

Media related to Alexander Vandegrift at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by
Philip H. Torrey		 Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division
March 23, 1942 – July 8, 1943		 Succeeded by
William H. Rupertus
Preceded by
Lt. Gen. Thomas Holcomb		 Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
1943–1947		 Succeeded by
Gen. Clifton B. Cates
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