List of 1st Marine Division commanders

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1st Marine Division Insignia

The 1st Marine Division is a Marine infantry division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).

Founded in 1941, with individual units dating back before then, it is the oldest and largest active duty division in the United States Marine Corps, representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. It is one of three active duty divisions in the Marine Corps today and is a multi-role, expeditionary ground combat force. It is nicknamed "The Old Breed".

The 1st Division saw combat service during almost all major conflicts during the 20th century. It participated in World War I (only 5th and 11th Marine Regiments of the future Division served in France), World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Somali Civil War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.

Commanding generals

# Picture Name Rank Start End Notability Ref
1 SmithHolland Smith O-04 Major general February 1, 1941 June 13, 1941 "Father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare; Navy Distinguished Service Medal with four 5⁄16 inch gold stars; commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and also served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps [1]
2 TorreyPhilip H. Torrey O-04 Major general June 14, 1941 March 22, 1942 Director of Marine Corps Reserve and later Commanding general of the Marine Corps Base Quantico during World War II [2]
3 VandergriftAlexander Vandegrift O-04 Major general March 23, 1942 July 7, 1943 Commander of I Marine Amphibious Corps and later served as 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, first U.S. Marine to hold the rank of four-star general while on active duty. ; Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal [3]
4 RupertusWilliam H. Rupertus O-04 Major general July 8, 1943 November 1, 1944 Commander of 4th Marine Regiment and he is the author of the Rifleman's Creed. ; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal
5 del VallePedro del Valle O-04 Major general November 2, 1944 August 8, 1945 Veteran of Guadalcanal and Okinawa Campaigns. Del Valle became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of Lieutenant general. ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merit and Navy and Marine Corps Medal
6 PeckDewitt Peck O-04 Major general August 9, 1945 June 9, 1946 Served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commanding officer of 4th Marine Regiment in Shanghai, China; Legion of Merit with Gold star
7 RockeyKeller E. Rockey O-04 Major general June 10, 1946 September 17, 1946 Served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, 5th Marine Division, III Amphibious Corps ; Navy Cross with Gold star, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal
8 HowardSamuel L. Howard O-04 Major general September 18, 1946 June 17, 1947 Captured by the Japanese at Corregidor and held as a POW until 1945. Later served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps ; Navy Cross
9 LasswellAlva B. Lasswell (Acting) O-04 Colonel June 18, 1947 July 6, 1947 Served with the Naval Communications during World War II ; Legion of Merit
10 ErskineGraves B. Erskine O-04 Major general July 7, 1947 July 25, 1950 Veteran of the Pacific War, commanded 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Pendleton ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit (2) with Combat "V"
11 SmithOliver P. Smith O-04 Major general July 26, 1950 February 23, 1951 Veteran of Battles at Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Cape Gloucester and Okinawa and Korean War. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commander of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Pendleton ; Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal
12 PullerChesty Puller (Acting) O-04 Brigadier general February 24, 1951 March 4, 1951 Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War, commander of the 1st Marine Regiment and 2nd Marine Division ; Five awards of Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross
13 SmithOliver P. Smith O-04 Major general March 5, 1951 April 26, 1951 Veteran of Battles at Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Cape Gloucester and Okinawa and Korean War. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commander of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Pendleton ; Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal
14 ThomasGerald C. Thomas O-04 Major general April 27, 1951 January 10, 1952 Veteran of World War I, World War II and Korean War. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal
15 SeldenJohn T. Selden O-04 Major general January 11, 1952 August 28, 1952 Veteran of World War I, World War II and Korean War, commanding general of Camp Pendleton; Army Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
16 PollockEdwin A. Pollock O-04 Major general August 29, 1952 June 15, 1953 Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War. Commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic ; Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal
17 PateRandolph M. Pate O-04 Major general June 16, 1953 May 11, 1954 Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War. Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959. ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal
18 PepperRobert H. Pepper O-04 Major general May 12, 1954 July 23, 1954 Veteran of World War I, World War II and Korean War. Commanded 3rd Marine Division and Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
19 HogaboomRobert E. Hogaboom O-04 Major general July 24, 1954 January 18, 1955 Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War. Assistant Division Commander of the 2nd Marine Division ; Three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
20 TwiningMerrill B. Twining O-04 Major general January 19, 1955 August 17, 1956 Veteran of World War II and Korean War. Commanded 3rd Marine Division ; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
21 BareRobert O. Bare O-04 Major general August 18, 1956 June 30, 1957 Veteran of World War II and Korean War ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
22 ShoupDavid M. Shoup O-04 Major general July 1, 1957 January 2, 1958 Veteran of World War II and Korean War, Commandant of the Marine Corps ; Medal of Honor, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
23 TschirgiHarvey C. Tschirgi (Acting) O-04 Brigadier general January 3, 1958 February 4, 1958 Veteran of World War II and Korean War, chief of staff of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island ; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
24 ShoupEdward W. Snedeker O-04 Major general February 5, 1958 October 7, 1959 Veteran of World War II and Korean War; commanded 7th Marine Regiment during Okinawa Campaign ; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Later served as Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico in 1959–1963. [4][5]
25 ShoupThomas F. Riley (Acting) O-04 Brigadier general October 8, 1959 November 13, 1959 Veteran of World War II and Korean War, VMI alumni; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal; Later served as Orange County Supervisor 1974-1994. [6]
26 ShoupHenry R. Paige O-04 Major general November 14, 1959 June 6, 1961 Veteran of World War II and Korean War; two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal [7][8]
27 ShoupFrederick E. Leek O-04 Brigadier general June 7, 1961 July 30, 1961 Veteran of World War II; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Distinguished Flying Cross
28 ShoupJames M. Masters, Sr. O-04 Major general July 31, 1961 June 14, 1962 Veteran of the Pacific War; United States Naval Academy alumnus; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal
29 ShoupHerman Nickerson Jr. O-04 Major general June 15, 1962 April 9, 1963 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Distinguished Service Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal [9]
30 ShoupWilliam T. Fairbourn O-04 Major general April 10, 1963 July 9, 1965 Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", later Nuclear arms race activist [10]
31 ShoupEdward H. Hurst (acting) O-04 Brigadier general July 10, 1965 August 10, 1965 Veteran of Battle of Okinawa and Battle of Peleliu; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [11]
32 ShoupLewis J. Fields O-04 Major general August 11, 1965 September 30, 1966 Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
33 ShoupHerman Nickerson Jr. O-04 Major general October 1, 1966 May 31, 1967 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Distinguished Service Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal [9]
34 ShoupDonn J. Robertson O-04 Major general June 1, 1967 June 26, 1968 Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
35 ShoupCarl A. Youngdale O-04 Major general June 27, 1968 December 20, 1968 Veteran of Battles at Roi Namur, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Korean War and Vietnam War; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, six awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" [12]
36 ShoupOrmond R. Simpson O-04 Major general December 21, 1968 December 14, 1969 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal [13]
37 ShoupEdwin B. Wheeler O-04 Major general December 15, 1969 April 26, 1970 Marine Raider, veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", [14]
38 ShoupCharles F. Widdecke O-04 Major general April 27, 1970 April 29, 1971 Veteran of Battle of Guam, Battle of Eniwetok and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", [15]
39 ShoupRoss T. Dwyer O-04 Major general April 30, 1971 August 10, 1972 Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", [16]
40 ShoupAdolph G. Schwenk O-04 Major general August 11, 1972 April 30, 1973 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V",
41 ShoupKenneth J. Houghton O-04 Major general May 1, 1973 August 12, 1974 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, two awards of Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V",
42 ShoupWilliam L. McCulloch O-04 Brigadier general August 13, 1974 June 1, 1975 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
43 ShoupCharles D. Mize O-04 Major general June 2, 1975 July 29, 1976 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Purple Heart [17]
44 ShoupEdward A. Wilcox O-04 Major general July 30, 1976 July 5, 1977 Veteran of World War II
45 ShoupMarc A. Moore (acting) O-04 Brigadier general July 6, 1977 August 7, 1977 Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit
46 ShoupCharles G. Cooper O-04 Major general August 8, 1977 August 8, 1979 Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; United States Naval Academy alumni; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit
47 ShoupFrancis X. Quinn O-04 Major general August 9, 1979 July 31, 1980 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Purple Heart
48 ShoupJames L. Day O-04 Major general August 1, 1980 August 12, 1982 Medal of Honor recipient; veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", six awards of Purple Heart
49 ShoupErnest C. Cheatham Jr. O-04 Major general August 13, 1982 June 13, 1985 Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
50 ShoupClyde D. Dean O-04 Major general June 14, 1985 April 23, 1986 Veteran of Vietnam War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
51 ShoupMatthew T. Cooper O-04 Brigadier general April 24, 1986 August 13, 1986
52 ShoupJames J. McMonagle O-04 Major general August 14, 1986 July 19, 1988 Veteran of Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
53 ShoupJohn P. Monahan O-04 Major general July 20, 1988 August 7, 1990 Veteran of Vietnam War; United States Naval Academy alumni; Defense Distinguished Service Medal
54 ShoupJames M. Myatt O-04 Major general August 8, 1990 July 8, 1992 Veteran of Vietnam War; Silver Star
55 ShoupCharles E. Wilhelm O-04 Major general July 9, 1992 December 8, 1992 Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Somali Civil War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
56 ShoupJerry C. McAbee (acting) O-04 Brigadier general December 9, 1992 March 23, 1993 Veteran of Gulf War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, four awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
57 ShoupCharles E. Wilhelm O-04 Major general March 24, 1993 June 22, 1994 Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Somali Civil War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
58 ShoupFrank Libutti O-04 Major general June 23, 1994 June 6, 1996 Veteran of Vietnam War and Somali Civil War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit and three awards of Purple Heart
59 ShoupJohn H. Admire O-04 Major general June 7, 1996 July 24, 1998 Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
60 ShoupMichael Hagee O-04 Major general July 25, 1998 July 24, 1999 Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War; three awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
61 ShoupGregory S. Newbold O-04 Major general July 24, 1999 July 11, 2000 Veteran of Gulf War; two awards of Legion of Merit; Openly critical of Donald Rumsfeld's plans for the invasion of Iraq
62 ShoupJames T. Conway O-04 Major general July 11, 2000 August 8, 2002 Served as the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps; veteran of Gulf War and Iraq War; three awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
63 ShoupJames Mattis O-04 Major general August 9, 2002 August 1, 2004 the 26th United States Secretary of Defense; veteran of Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
64 ShoupRichard F. Natonski O-04 Major general August 2, 2004 June 1, 2006 Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
65 ShoupJohn M. Paxton Jr. O-04 Major general June 2, 2006 May 22, 2007 the 33rd Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal
66 ShoupRichard P. Mills O-04 Brigadier general May 22, 2007 September 1, 2007 Later commanded Marine Corps Reserve; veteran of Iraq War; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal
67 ShoupThomas D. Waldhauser O-04 Major general September 1, 2007 July 1, 2009 Later commanded the United States Africa Command; veteran of Gulf War and Iraq War; two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal
68 ShoupRichard P. Mills O-04 Major general July 1, 2009 August 1, 2010 Later commanded Marine Corps Reserve; veteran of Iraq War; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal
69 ShoupMichael R. Regner O-04 Major general August 1, 2010 June 30, 2011 Later served as staff director for Headquarters Marine Corps; veteran of Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal
70 ShoupRonald L. Bailey O-04 Major general June 30, 2011 June 10, 2013 Later served as deputy commandant plans, policies, and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
71 ShoupLawrence D. Nicholson O-04 Major general June 10, 2013 July 30, 2015 Later commanded III Marine Expeditionary Force; veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and Purple Heart
72 ShoupDaniel D. Yoo O-04 Brigadier general July 30, 2015 September 10, 2015 Later commanded Special Operations Command Pacific; veteran of War in Afghanistan; Legion of Merit and two awards of Bronze Star Medal
73 ShoupDaniel J. O'Donohue O-04 Major general September 10, 2015 June 23, 2017 Veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
74 ShoupEric M. Smith O-04 Major general June 23, 2017 July 6, 2018 Veteran of Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and Purple Heart
75 ShoupRobert F. Castellvi O-04 Major general July 6, 2018 September 22, 2020 Veteran of War in Afghanistan; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
76 TurnerRoger B. Turner Jr. O-04 Major general September 22, 2020 July 8, 2022 Veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; Defense Superior Service Medal with “C,” two awards of Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device
77 WatsonBenjamin T. Watson O-04 Major general July 8, 2022 July 2, 2024 Veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; Defense Superior Service Medal with “C,” Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" 78 FulfordRobert C. Fulford O-04 Major general July 2, 2024 Incumbent Veteran of Iraq War; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ^ p.87 Hearn, Chester G. Marines: An Illustrated History : The U.S. Marine Corps from 1775 to the 21st Century Zenith Imprint, 15/11/2007
  2. ^ "Famous Leader of Marines Guest Here". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  3. ^ "USMC 4 Star Generals". The Warfighter's Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on November 5, 2004. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
  4. ^ "Edward W. Snedeker Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  5. ^ "Edward W. Snedeker Papers – USMC genealogytrails". Genealogy Trails Websites. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  6. ^ "Thomas F. Riley; Former Orange County Supervisor - L.A. Times". Los Angeles Times. 20 February 1998. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  7. ^ "Henry Reid Paige, 85, dies; decorated Marine general". Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) – Tuesday, April 25, 1989. RootsWeb's Websites. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Henry R. Paige Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  9. ^ a b "Fortitudine 29, Part 2 - Herman Nickerson Jr., Obituary" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  10. ^ "Fortitudine 16, Part 4/2" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  11. ^ "Edward H. Hurst Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  12. ^ "Fortitudine 22, Part 4 – Carl A. Youngdale" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Marine Corps Oral History Collection" (PDF). USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "Gen. Wheeler, Led Marines In Vietnam". Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune Websites. 16 October 1985. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  15. ^ "U.S. Marines In Vietnam: Vietnamization And Redeployment, 1970-1971" (PDF). USMC Military History Division. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  16. ^ "Class Notes: Obituaries". Stanford Magazine. March–April 2003. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  17. ^ "Charles D. Mize Papers - USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
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