Clifton B. Cates

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Clifton B. Cates
August 31, 1893 - June 4, 1970

19th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1948-1951)
Place of birth Tiptonville, Tennessee
Place of death Annapolis, Maryland
Allegiance USMC
Years of service 1917-1954
Rank General
Commands 6th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Regiment
4th Marine Division
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/wars Battle of Belleau Wood
Battle of Guadalcanal
Battle of Iwo Jima
Awards Navy Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Service Cross
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Legion of Honor
Croix de Guerre

General Clifton Bledsoe Cates (31 August 1893 - 4 June 1970), USMC, (served January 1, 1948 - December 31, 1951) was the 19th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. He was honored for his heroism during World War I at Belleau Wood and in World War II for inspired combat leadership at Iwo Jima.

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[edit] Military career

After graduating from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Law degree in 1916, he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves. He began active duty on June 13, 1917.

[edit] World War I

During World War I, Cates served with the 6th Marine Regiment, fighting in France. For his heroism in the Aisne defensive at Boursches and Belleau Wood, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross and Oak Leaf Cluster, in addition to the Purple Heart. He was awarded a Silver Star for his gallantry at Soissons. In addition to his medals from the U.S. military, he was recognized by the French government with the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star and two palms.

[edit] Post-war service

Cates returned to the United States in September 1919, and he served in Washington, D.C. as a White House aide and Aide-de-Camp to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. In 1920, he served in San Francisco, California, as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Department of the Pacific. From 1923 to 1925, he served a tour of sea duty as commander of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS California.

In 1929, Cates was deployed to Shanghai, China, where he rejoined the 4th Marines, where he served for three years. He then returned to the U.S. for training at the Army Industrial College and in the Senior Course in the Marine Corps Schools. In 1935, was assigned to the War Plans Section of the Division of Operations and Training at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC). In 1936, he returned to Shanghai as a battalion commander with the 6th Marine Regiment. In 1938, he rejoined the 4th Marines in Shanghai.

In 1940, and he was named the Director of the Marine Officers Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. In 1942, Col Cates took command of the 1st Marines.

[edit] World War II

Colonel Cates led the 1st Marine Regiment at Guadalcanal, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V". He then took command of the 4th Marine Division in the Marianas operation, the Tinian campaign and the seizure of Iwo Jima. For his services at Tinian he received the Distinguished Service Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal for his service at Iwo Jima.

After his first tour of duty in the Pacific, returned to the United States to serve as Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico until 1944. He then returned to the Pacific theater until the end of the war as commander of the 4th Marine Division.

[edit] Commandant

On January 1, 1948, he was promoted to the rank of General and sworn in as Commandant of the Marine Corps. He served as Commandant for four years and then returned to serve again as Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools. He retired on June 30, 1954.

[edit] See also

Portal:United States Marine Corps
 United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift		 Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
1948—1951		 Succeeded by
Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.
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