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Department of the Pacific (USMC)

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Department of the Pacific
ActiveNovember 15, 1920 – July 1, 1960
Country United States of America
AllegianceUnited States
Branch United States Marine Corps
RoleTraining and Administration
Part ofFleet Marine Force, Pacific
Garrison/HQSan Francisco
EngagementsBanana Wars
World War II
Korean War

Department of the Pacific (MarPac) was a United States Marine Corps ground training and administrative command established on November 15, 1920, which was responsible for the administration, training and equipment of the Marine Corps Units on the West Coast, 14th Naval District (Hawaii and outlying Pacific islands), 16th Naval District (the Philippines), 17th Naval District (Alaska and Aleutian Islands) and Marine Forces in Northern China (China Marines).[1]

History

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The Department of the Pacific was activated as Marine Corps subheadquarters on November 15, 1920 in San Francisco with former Commandant of the Marines, Major general George Barnett, in command. During the World War II, the staff and administrative units consisted of: Headquarters Company, Office of the Paymaster, Personnel Section (G-1), Intelligence Section (G-2), Operations Section (G-3) and Supply Section (G-4). Department of the Pacific administered all marine units and activities on the West Coast of the United States include Supply depots in San Francisco.[1]

Following the end of War, responsibilities of Department of the Pacific were expanded to administration of all non Fleet Marine Force units in the Pacific Ocean Area. Department of the Pacific was deactivated on July 1, 1960 and its responsibilities were transferred to Fleet Marine Force Pacific and Headquarters Marine Corps.[1]

Commanding generals

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# Photo Name Rank Start of tenure End of tenure Retired rank Notes References
1 George Barnett Major general November 15, 1920 August 11, 1923 Major General Served as the 12th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps between 1914 and 1920
2 Wendell C. Neville Major general August 12, 1923 May 15, 1927 Major General Medal of Honor recipient and 14th Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1929 and 1930.
3 Eli K. Cole Major general July 2, 1927 July 4, 1929 Major General Navy Cross recipient and 1st Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1911 and 1915.
4 Logan Feland Major general July 19, 1929 February 25, 1933 Major General Distinguished Service Cross recipient and veteran of World War I and Banana Wars.
5 John T. Myers Major general March 5, 1933 January 29, 1935 Lieutenant General Marine Corps Brevet Medal recipient and veteran of Boxer Rebellion and Banana Wars.
6 James C. Breckinridge Major general January 30, 1935 May 23, 1937 Lieutenant General Navy Cross recipient and veteran of World War I and Banana Wars.
7 Douglas C. McDougal Brigadier general May 24, 1937 June 30, 1937 Major General Veteran of Banana Wars and 10th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1934 and 1935.
8 Charles H. Lyman II Major general July 2, 1937 July 31, 1939 Major General Veteran of Banana Wars, father of late Rear admiral Charles H. Lyman III.
9 Richard P. Williams Brigadier general September 20, 1939 January 31, 1940 Brigadier General Navy Distinguished Service Medal recipient and veteran of Banana Wars.
10 Charles F. B. Price Brigadier general February 15, 1941 November 1, 1941 Lieutenant General Navy Distinguished Service Medal recipient and veteran of Banana Wars.
11 William P. Upshur Major general January 1, 1942 July 21, 1943 Major General Medal of Honor recipient, died in Air Crash while in the Office.
12 John Marston Major general August 1, 1943 April 20, 1944 Brigadier General Previously commanded the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade during the Occupation of Iceland and 2nd Marine Division at Guadalcanal. [2]
13 Joseph C. Fegan Major general May 1, 1944 December 2, 1944 Major General Veteran of Banana Wars and father of late Lieutenant general Joseph C. Fegan Jr.
14 Julian C. Smith Major general December 3, 1944 February 1, 1946 Lieutenant General Navy Cross recipient and previously commanded 2nd Marine Division at Tarawa and Peleliu. [3]
15 Earl C. Long Major general February 1, 1946 May 17, 1946 Major General Veteran of Banana Wars, previously commanded the Service Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
16 Henry L. Larsen Major general May 18, 1946 September 1946 Lieutenant General Two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars, the second Military Governor of Guam. [4]
17 Keller E. Rockey Major general September 1946 January 1, 1947 Lieutenant General Distinguished Service Cross recipient and two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. [5]
18 LeRoy P. Hunt Major general January 1, 1947 July 1, 1949 General Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross recipient, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. [6][7]
19 Keller E. Rockey Major general July 1, 1949 September 1, 1950 Lieutenant General Distinguished Service Cross recipient and two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. [5]
20 Graves B. Erskine Major general December 1950 July 1951 Lieutenant General Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars, later served with Department of Defense.
21 Alfred H. Noble Major general July 1951 August 1952 General Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross recipient, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.
22 Ray A. Robinson Major general August 1952 June 1953 General Veteran of Yangtze Patrol and Banana Wars. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.
23 Henry D. Linscott Major general June 1953 September 30, 1955 Lieutenant General Veteran of World War I, Banana Wars and Pacific War. Later commanded Camp Lejeune.
24 Robert H. Pepper Major general September 30, 1955 May 1, 1957 Lieutenant General Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
25 George F. Good Jr. Major general May 1, 1957 July 1958 Lieutenant General Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War. Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V". [8]
26 James P. Berkeley Major general July 1958 November 1959 Lieutenant General Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. A son of Major general Randolph C. Berkeley. [9]
27 Francis M. McAlister Major general January 1960 July 1, 1960 Major General Veteran of Banana Wars, Pacific War and Korean War. Silver Star and three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V". [10]

See also

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References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ^ a b c Rottman, Gordon (2001). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945. Greenwood. p. 608. ISBN 0313319065. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 2, Number 35, 4 September 1943". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 3, Number 48, 2 December 1944". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 5, Number 18, 17 May 1946". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 5, Number 37, 11 October 1946". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  6. ^ Budge, Kent G. "The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Hunt, LeRoy P."
  7. ^ "General LeRoy P. Hunt – Who is Who in the Marine Corps History". Marine Corps University.
  8. ^ "Fortitudine 21, Part 2 – Mentioned in Passing" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  9. ^ "Fortitudine 25, Part 1" (PDF). marines.mil. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  10. ^ "Francis M. McAlister Papers". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
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