Wendell Cushing Neville

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Wendell C. Neville
May 12, 1870 - July 8, 1930
14th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1929-1930)
Place of birth	Portsmouth, Virginia
Place of death	Edgewater Beach, Maryland
Allegiance	USMC
Years of service	1892-1930
Rank	Major General
Commands	Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/wars	Spanish American War World War I * Battle of Belleau Wood Boxer Rebellion
Awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Medal (2) Brevet Medal Legion of Honor Croix de Guerre

Wendell Cushing Neville (12 May 1870–1930) was a major general of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was Medal of Honor recipient and 14th Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1929 and 1930.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Honors 3 Medal of Honor citation 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Biography

Neville was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1886 chiefly because no one else in his district desired an appointment to Annapolis that year. After graduating in 1890 and following a two-year cruise aboard a warship, as was the practice of the era, was commissioned a Marine Corps second lieutenant.

At the outbreak of the Spanish American War, 2nd Lt. Neville was assigned to the 1st Battalion, hurriedly organized under Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Huntington for service in Cuba. The battalion staged a daring attack under heavy gunfire at Guantanamo Bay, established a beachhead and routed enemy forces in that area. For outstanding valor and leadership in that action, Lt. Neville was awarded the Brevet Medal, highest Marine Corps decoration at that time, and was promoted to the brevet rank of captain.

Promoted to the permanent rank of captain a few months after the war, he was assigned to a battalion of Marines ordered to China to relieve the hard-pressed garrison at Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. He took part in four battles in that area and was again commended for his gallantry.

In the Philippine Islands not long afterwards, he was appointed military governor of Basilan Province. Following that assignment he served in Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and Hawaii. While in command of Marines landing at Verz Cruz, Mexico, on 21 April 1914, he displayed conspicuous gallantry. In that operation, Lt. Col. Neville was awarded the Medal of Honor for his distinguished conduct.

Prior to his embarkation for France in 1917, Colonel Neville returned to China where he was chosen to command the combined Allied guard at Peking.

On 1 January 1918, he was placed in command of the 5th Regiment in France and in May moved his regiment into action at Belleau Wood where Germany’s big drive was decisively halted. In July, Brigadier General Neville’s command was enlarged to include the 4th Marine Brigade, which he directed during the remaining days of the war and during its occupation service in Germany.

After service with the Army of Occupation in Germany, Brig. Gen. Neville and his brigade returned to the United States in July 1919. Promoted to major general in March 1920, he served as Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and later became Commanding General, Department of the Pacific with headquarters in San Francisco. He also commanded the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.

Maj. Gen. Neville succeeded Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune as Commandant of the Marine Corps on 5 March 1929. Maj. Gen. Neville’s sudden death on 8 July 1930 at Edgewater Beach, Maryland, while in office as Major General Commandant, closed one of the most brilliant military careers of his day. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

[edit] Honors

During the 38 years he spent as a U.S. Marine, Majar General Neville received the Medal of Honor, Brevet Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Cross of the Legion of Honor, five Croix de Guerre with three stars and two palms, five citation and eight campaign and expeditionary awards.

The USS Neville, a Heywood-class U.S. Navy transport is named honor of Major General Neville.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

NEVILLE, Wendell Cushing
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
G.O. Navy Department, No. 177
December 4, 1915

CITATION:
For distinguished conduct in battle engagements of Vera Cruz 21 and 22 April 1914. In command of the Second Regiment Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Neville was in both days' fighting and almost continually under fire from soon after landing, about noon on the 21st, until we were in possession of the city, about noon of the 22d. His duties required him to be at points of great danger in directing his officers and men, and he exhibited conspicuous courage, coolness and skill in his conduct of the fighting. Upon his courage and skill depended, in great measure, success of failure. His responsibilities were great and he met them in a manner worthy of commendation.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Marine Corps History and Museum web site.

• Major General Wendell C. Neville, USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps.
• LtCol Wendell Cushing Neville, Medal of Honor, 1914, 2d Reg Marines, Vera Cruz, Medal of Honor recipient.
• Wendell Cushing Neville, Major General, United States Marine Corps, Arlington National Cemetery profile. (URL accessed on June 3, 2006)

Preceded by MajGen. John A. Lejeune

Commandant of the United States Marine Corps 1929–1930

Succeeded by MajGen. Ben H. Fuller