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General Alexander Archer
Vandegrift, who earned the Medal of Honor in World War II, served as the
eighteenth Commandant of the Marine Corps, from January 1, 1944 to January 1,
1948. The general commanded the First Marine Division, Reinforced, in the
battle for Guadalcanal, and the First Marine Amphibious Corps in the landing
at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, during World War II. For outstanding
services as Commanding General of the First Marine Division, Reinforced,
during the attack on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Gavutu in the Solomon Islands
on August 7, 1942, 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. His citation for the latter reads in part: "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 the 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." General Vandegrift
was born on March 13, 1887, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He attended the
University of Virginia and was commissioned in the Marine Corps as a second
lieutenant on January 22, 1909. Following instruction as 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, where he participated in the bombardment, assault and capture
of Coyotepe in Nicaragua. He further participated in the engagement and
occupation 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 Brigade and participated in
action against hostile Cacos bandits at LeTrou and Fort Capois.
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, 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 3d Marine Brigade 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 outbreak of 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 7 August 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 7 August to 9 December 1942, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
In July 1943, he assumed command of the I Marine Amphibious Corps and
commanded this organization in the landing at Empress Augusta Bay,
Bougainville, Northern Solomon Islands, on 1 November 1943. Upon establishing
the initial beachhead, he relinquished command and returned to Washington,
D.C. as Commandant-designate.
On 1 January 1944, as a lieutenant general, he was sworn in as the 18th
Commandant of the Marine Corps. On 4 April 1945, he was appointed general,
with date of rank from 21 March 1945, the first Marine officer on active duty
to attain four-star rank.
For outstanding service as Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1 January 1944
to 30 June 1946, Gen Vandergrift was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
He left active service on 31 December 1947 and was placed on the retired list
1 April 1949.
General Vandegrift died 8 May 1973 at the National Naval Medical Center,
Bethesda, Maryland, after a long illness. He was 86. His interment was 10 May
1973 at Arlington National Cemetery.
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 addition to the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, and Distinguished Service
Medal, his decorations and medals included: the Presidential Unit Citation
with one bronze star; Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze star;
Expeditionary Medal with three bronze stars; Nicaraguan Campaign Medal;
Mexican Service Medal; Haitian Campaign Medal with one star; World War I
Victory Medal with West Indies Clasp and one star; Yangtze Service Medal;
American Defense Service Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four
bronze stars; American Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.
He received the following foreign decorations: Haitian Distinguished Service
Medal; Medaille Militaire with one silver star; Honorary Knight Commander,
Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;
Companion (Honorary) of the Military Division of the Most Honorable Order of
the Bath; Cruz de Aviacion de Primera Clase, Peruvian Government; Abdon
Calderon of the 1st Class; Knights Grand Cross in the Order of the
Orange-Nassau with Swords; the Order of Pao-Tine (Precious Tripod) with
Special Clasp; and the Legion of Honor (Grand Officer).
Medal of Honor citation of Major General Alexander Archer Vandegrift (as
printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The
Navy", page 271):
"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. 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."
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USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG 48), named for
Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, U.S. Marine Corps, was built at Todd Pacific
Shipyards in Seattle, Washington,
and was commissioned on 24 November
1984. The ship's inaugural cruise began on 5
January 1987. During the course of this around-the-world cruise,
it sailed three oceans, seven seas and visited four continents. The plank
owners also crossed the international dateline, equator, Greenwich
meridian, and sailed through the straits of Gibraltar,
and the Suez and Panama
canals. VANDEGRIFT conducted operations with USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) in the Arabian
Sea and Indian Ocean. These operations
were highlighted by an air and sea power demonstration for the President of
Pakistan. Port visits included Pearl Harbor; Subic Bay in the Republic of the
Philippines; Karachi, Pakistan; Mombasa, Kenya; Maxime, France; Roosevelt
Roads, Puerto Rico; and St. Croix and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
VANDEGRIFT returned home to Long Beach
in June, 1987.
The ship's second deployment began in June, 1988, returning it to operations
in the Arabian Gulf shortly after the cease-fire
between Iran
and Iraq.
VANDEGRIFT's mission while on patrol in the northern Arabian Gulf
focused on providing protection and logistic support for joint forces in the
area. VANDEGRIFT also participated in numerous Earnest Will missions,
escorting U.S.
and reflagged Kuwaiti tankers. Port visits included Pearl Harbor;
Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines;
Bahrain; Pattaya
Beach, Thailand
and Hong Kong. VANDEGRIFT returned home in December,
1988.
The ship's third deployment to the Arabian Gulf began
in March, 1990. VANDEGRIFT patrolled the Northern Arabian Gulf
and conducted Earnest Will escort missions. As the senior ship on station in
the Arabian Gulf during the invasion of Kuwait,
VANDEGRIFT served as the Anti-Air Warfare Commander and Electronic Warfare
Coordinator. VANDEGRIFT participated in Operation Desert Shield's Maritime
Interception Operations with units from United
Kingdom, Saudi
Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates and France.
Ports of call included Pearl Harbor; Subic
Bay; Phuket, Thailand;
Singapore and
Hong Kong.
VANDEGRIFT returned home after an extended deployment in October, 1990. On April
22, 1992, VANDEGRIFT began its fourth deployment to the Arabian
Gulf. VANDEGRIFT participated in exercises with India,
Qatar and Pakistan,
helping to strengthen U.S.
relations in that area. Ports of call included Doha, Qatar; Dubai, Jebel Ali
and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Karachi, Pakistan; Phuket, Thailand;
Goa, India; Bahrain; Hong Kong; Singapore and Guam, and earned the Chief of
Naval Operations LAMPS Helicopter Safety Award. VANDEGRIFT returned home on 22
October 1992.
VANDEGRIFT changed homeport to San Diego
in February, 1993, and earned the COMNAVSURFPAC Food Service Award in March,
1994. The fifth deployment to the Arabian Gulf began
on 25 October 1994.
VANDEGRIFT's mission was the enforcement of U.N. sanctions against Iraq
in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The most memorable event
was conducting a non-permissive boarding of a sanctions violator on Christmas
Day. During the return transit, VANDEGRIFT played host to a major diplomatic
reception in Muscat, Oman,
to better diplomatic relations. Ports of call included Sasebo,
Japan; Manila,
Republic of the Philippines;
Jebel Ali, United Arab
Emirates; Bahrain;
Singapore and
Hong Kong. VANDEGRIFT returned home on 25
April 1995.
The ship's decorations include the Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense
Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Southwest Asia Service
Medal, and five Sea Service Ribbons.
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