LeRoy P. Hunt

LeRoy Philip Hunt

General LeRoy P. Hunt
Born March 17, 1892(1892-03-17)
Newark, New Jersey
Died February 8, 1968(1968-02-08) (aged 75)
San Francisco, California
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1917-1951
Rank General
Commands held 5th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
*Battle of Guadalcanal
*Battle of Okinawa
Awards Navy Cross
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Croix de Guerre
French Fourragere

General LeRoy P. Hunt (March 17, 1892 - February 8, 1968) was a United States Marine Corps general who commanded the 2nd Marine Division at the end of World War II.

Contents

Biography

Hunt was born in 1892 in Newark, New Jersey, and was a graduate of the University of California. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1917 and served with great distinction with the 5th Marines during World War I, receiving the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross for repeated acts of heroism. Postwar assignments were varied, ranging from sea duty to commanding officer of the Western Mail Guard Detachment and work with the Work Projects Administration's Matanuska Colonization venture in Alaska.

Following a short tour in Iceland, he was given command of the 5th Marines which he led during the early stages of the Battle of Guadalcanal. As the 2nd Marine Division's assistant division commander he participated in mopping-up operations on Saipan and Tinian and in the Okinawa Campaign. Appointed division commander, he led the division in the occupation of Japan and for a period was Commanding General, I Army Corps. Returning to the United States, Hunt assumed duties as Commanding General, Department of Pacific and then Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.

General Hunt died in 1968.

Awards and decorations

  
1st Row Navy Cross Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star w/ 2 oak leaf clusters French Fourragère
2nd Row Legion of Merit w/ 1 oak leaf cluster Bronze Star Purple Heart w/ 1 oak leaf cluster Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star
3rd Row Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal World War I Victory Medal w/ Aisne, St. Mihiel, Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, & the Defensive Sector clasps Army of Occupation of Germany Medal Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933)
4th Row Yangtze Service Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 service stars
5th Row World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal Croix de guerre (WWI) w/ 2 gilt stars & palm Nicaraguan Medal of Distinction and Diploma

See also

World War I portal
World War II portal
United States Marine Corps portal

References

External links