List of 2nd Marine Division commanders explained

The 2d Marine Division is a Marine infantry division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It is the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF).

Together with 1st Marine Division, 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 Silent Second".

The 2d Marine Division participated in World War II, Operation in Panama, Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.

During its history, three commanding generals became the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Randolph M. Pate, Alfred M. Gray Jr. and James L. Jones) and another three commanding generals became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (Samuel Jaskilka, Kenneth McLennan and Richard I. Neal).

Commanding generals

PictureNameRankStartEndNotabilityRef
1VogelClayton B. VogelO-04 Major general"Father" Navajo code talker program; commanding general of I Marine Amphibious Corps and also commanded Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
2PriceCharles F. B. PriceO-04 Major generalCommanded the Defense Forces, Samoan Group and Marine Corps Training and Replacement Command during World War II; Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit[1]
3FeganJoseph C. Fegan (Acting)O-04 Brigadier generalVeteran of Banana Wars; First commanding general of Camp Pendleton; later commanded Department of the Pacific; father of Lieutenant general Joseph C. Fegan Jr.
4MarstonJohn MarstonO-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars; later commanded Department of the Pacific and Camp Lejeune[2]
5SmithJulian C. SmithO-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars and Battle of Tarawa; later commanded Department of the Pacific and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; Navy Cross and two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal[3]
6WatsonThomas E. WatsonO-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars and Marianas Islands Campaign; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and served as director of personnel; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal[4]
7HuntLeRoy P. HuntO-04 Major generalVeteran of World War I, Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign or Battle of Okinawa; later commanded Department of the Pacific or Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic; Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, three awards of Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, two awards of Purple Heart[5] [6]
8WilliamsGregon A. Williams (Acting)O-04 ColonelVeteran of Banana Wars, Battle of Okinawa and Korean War; later commanded Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and served as Inspector General Marine Corps; Navy Cross, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
9WatsonThomas E. WatsonO-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars and Marianas Islands Campaign; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and served as director of personnel; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal
10HartFranklin A. HartO-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars, Dieppe Raid, Marianas Islands Campaign and Battle of Iwo Jima; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"[7]
11RobinsonRay A. RobinsonO-04 Major generalVeteran of Yangtze Patrol, Recapture of Guam and Battle of Iwo Jima; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Camp Lejeune; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal[8]
12PollockEdwin A. PollockO-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Cape Gloucester, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"[9]
13PateRandolph M. PateO-04 Major generalVeteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; The 21st Commandant of the Marine Corps, also commanded 1st Marine Division or Marine Corps Reserve; Army Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Purple Heart[10]
14HogaboomRobert E. Hogaboom (Acting)O-04 Brigadier generalVeteran of Banana Wars, Marianas Islands Campaign, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; later served as Chief of Staff, HQMC; Three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal[11]
15GoodGeorge F. Good Jr.O-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars, Defense of Funafuti, Battle of Okinawa; later commanded Department of the Pacific or Camp Pendleton; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"[12]
16PullerLewis B. PullerO-04 Major generalThe most decorated Marine in American history; veteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Peleliu and Korean War; commanded Troop Training Unit Pacific at Coronado, California; Five awards of Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", three awards of Air Medal, Purple Heart[13]
17SnedekerEdward W. SnedekerO-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Bougainville Campaign, Battle of Okinawa and Korean War; later commanded Marine Corps Schools, Quantico or 1st Marine Division; Navy Cross, Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V"[14]
18RidgelyReginald H. Ridgely Jr.O-04 Major generalVeteran of Banana Wars, Philippines Campaign (Prisoner of War); later commanded Camp Pendleton; Two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart
19BurgerJoseph C. BurgerO-04 Major generalVeteran of Yangtze Patrol, Guadalcanal Campaign and Korean War; commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island during Ribbon Creek incident; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal
20ConoleyOdell M. Conoley (Acting)O-04 Brigadier generalVeteran of Yangtze Patrol, Guadalcanal Campaign and New Britain Campaign; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Army Commendation Medal[15]
21BerkeleyJames P. BerkeleyO-04 Major generalVeteran of Yangtze Patrol, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Lejeune; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V"[16]
22WiesemanFrederick L. WiesemanO-04 Major generalVeteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Bougainville Campaign, Recapture of Guam and Korean War; later commanded Marine Corps Schools, Quantico; Two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"[17]
23TompkinsRathvon M. TompkinsO-04 Brigadier general (Acting)Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Korean War or Battle of Khe Sanh; later commanded 3rd Marine Division or Camp Lejeune; Navy Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"[18]
24Van RyzinWilliam J. Van RyzinO-04 Major generalVeteran of World War II and Vietnam War; later served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"[19]
25SimpsonOrmond R. SimpsonO-04 Major generalVeteran of World War II and Vietnam War; later served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Navy Commendation Medal[20] [21]
26WheelerEdwin B. WheelerO-04 Major generalMarine Raider, veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded 1st Marine Division; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit[22]
27RyanMichael P. RyanO-04 Major generalVeteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tarawa and Vietnam War; Also served as director of Marine Corps Reserve; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat "V"[23]
28BohnRobert D. BohnO-04 Major generalVeteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded Camp Lejeune; two awards of Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Purple Hearts[24]
29HaynesFred E. Haynes Jr.O-04 Major generalVeteran of Battle of Iwo Jima, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded Camp Lejeune; four awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"[25] [26]
30PoillonArthur J. Poillon (Acting)O-04 Brigadier generalVeteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded Camp Lejeune; two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal
31JaskilkaSamuel JaskilkaO-04 Major generalVeteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Retired as General and later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Joint Service Commendation Medal[27]
32LanaganWilliam H. Lanagan Jr. (Acting)O-04 Brigadier generalVeteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as assistant commander of 2nd Division; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
33JoslynWilliam G. JoslynO-04 Major generalVeteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Also commanded Marine Corps Base 29 Palms; three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and Purple Heart[28]
34McLennanKenneth McLennanO-04 Major generalVeteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"[29]
35BronarsEdward J. BronarsO-04 Major generalVeteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as deputy chief of staff for manpower; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Air Medal
36TwomeyDavid M. TwomeyO-04 Major generalVeteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as deputy chief of staff for manpower; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Air Medal
37GrayAlfred M. Gray Jr.O-04 Major generalVeteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Retired as General and later served as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1987–91; two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", four awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and three awards of Purple Heart
38MurphyDennis J. MurphyO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War; previously served as deputy commander, Fleet Marine Force Pacific; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
39SteeleOrlo K. SteeleO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War; later served as Inspector of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
40KeysWilliam M. KeysO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as director, Personnel Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department at Headquarters Marine Corps; Navy Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
41Van RiperPaul Van RiperO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Quantico; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart
42NealRichard I. NealO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Retired as General and later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1996 to 1998; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart
43JonesJames L. JonesO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Retired as General and later served as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003; four awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
44LivingstonLawrence H. LivingstonO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Previously served as commanding general of Camp Lejeune; Navy Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit, four awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", five awards of Purple Heart
45BedardEmil R. BedardO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as deputy commandant for plans, policies, and operations at Headquarters Marine Corps; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
46BlackmanRobert R. Blackman Jr.O-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War; later served as III Marine Expeditionary Force; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
47SattlerJohn F. SattlerO-04 Major generalVeteran of Vietnam War and Iraq War; later served as director for strategic plans and policy, Joint Staff; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
48JohnsonStephen T. JohnsonO-04 Major generalVeteran of Iraq War; later served as commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit
49HuckRichard A. HuckO-04 Major generalVeteran of Iraq War; later served as commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
50GaskinWalter E. GaskinO-04 Major generalVeteran of Kosovo mission; Also served as deputy chairman, NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
51TryonRichard T. TryonO-04 Major generalVeteran of Gulf War and Kosovo mission; later served as deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
52ToolanJohn A. ToolanO-04 Major generalVeteran of Gulf War and War in Afghanistan; later served as deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit
53LukemanJames W. LukemanO-04 Major generalVeteran of Iraq War; later served as commanding general, Training and Education Command; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit
54BeaudreaultBrian BeaudreaultO-04 Major generalVeteran of Iraq War; later served as deputy commandant plans, policies, and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal
55LoveJohn K. LoveO-04 Major generalVeteran of Iraq War; Previously served as the Chief of Staff, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO in Naples, Italy; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal
56FurnessDavid J. FurnessO-04 Major generalVeteran of Iraq War; Previously served as the Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal
57FurnessFrancis L. DonovanO-04 Major generalPreviously Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command
58WorthCalvert L. Worth Jr.O-04 Major general
59OdomDavid L. OdomO-04 Major generalIncumbent

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lieutenant General Charles F. B. Price, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  2. Maj. Gen. Marston New Department of Pacific Commander . 4 September 1943 . 2 . 35 . Marine Corps Chevron.
  3. Web site: Lieutenant General Julian C. Smith, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Lieutenant General Thomas E. Watson, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  5. Web site: The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Hunt, LeRoy P.. Kent G.. Budge.
  6. Web site: General LeRoy P. Hunt – Who is Who in the Marine Corps History. Marine Corps University.
  7. Web site: General Franklin A. Hart, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  8. Web site: General Ray A. Robinson, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  9. Web site: General Edwin A. Pollock, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  10. Web site: General Randolph M. Pate, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  11. Web site: General Robert E. Hogaboom, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  12. Web site: George F. Good Jr. Papers – USMC Military History Division. USMC Military History Division. 2018-01-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20130801090544/http://usmcu.edu/. 2013-08-01. dead.
  13. Web site: General Robert E. Hogaboom, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  14. Web site: Edward W. Snedeker Papers – USMC Military History Division. USMC Military History Division. 2018-01-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20130801090544/http://usmcu.edu/. 2013-08-01. dead.
  15. Web site: Texas A&M University, Association of former students . May 8, 2018 . aggienetwork.com . Texas A&M University Student Association Websites.
  16. Web site: Fortitudine 25, Part 1 . January 19, 2018 . marines.mil . Militarytimes Websites.
  17. Web site: Marine Corps General Frederick Wiesman Dies . January 19, 2018 . Washington Post .
  18. Web site: Gen. Rathvon M. Tompkins – Deaths Elsewhere . January 19, 2018 . Washington Post .
  19. Aquilina. Robert V.. LtGen William J.Van Ryzin Passes. Fortitudine. 2003. XXIX. 4. 19 January 2018. Marine Corps Historical Center.
  20. Web site: Who's Who in the Marine Corps History – LTG Ormond R. Simpson . May 6, 2018 . usmcu.edu . United States Marine Corps University Websites . https://web.archive.org/web/20170126025253/https://www.usmcu.edu/content/general-ormond-r-simpson . January 26, 2017 . dead .
  21. Web site: Marine Corps Oral History Collection. USMC Military History Division. May 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170131111513/https://www.usmcu.edu/sites/default/files/HD/Publications/Frank_Marine%20Corps%20Oral%20History%20Collection%20Catalog.pdf. January 31, 2017. dead.
  22. Web site: Gen. Wheeler, Led Marines In Vietnam . 10 February 2018 . articles.chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune Websites.
  23. Web site: Fortitudine 31, Part 4 . January 19, 2018 . marines.mil . Marines Websites.
  24. Web site: Fortitudine 30, Part 1 . January 19, 2018 . marines.mil . Marines Websites.
  25. Web site: Fortitudine 35, Part 2 . June 29, 2018 . marines.mil . Marines Websites.
  26. Web site: Legends of the 5TH MARINE DIVISION . June 29, 2018 . 5thmarinedivision.com . 5th Marine Division Websites.
  27. Web site: General Samuel Jaskilka, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.
  28. Web site: MG William G. Joslyn Obituary . 24 March 2018 . legacy.com . January 15, 2012 . The San Diego Union Tribune Websites.
  29. Web site: General Kenneth McLennan, USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. 19 January 2018.

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