List of historically notable United States Marines

The following is a list of the essential names in U. S. Marine Corps lore — the people who make up what the Marines call "Knowledge". Names in this list are notable for actions made as a Marine; individuals whose notability is unrelated to service in uniform can be found at List of United States Marines.

• Vernice Armour — first female African-American combat pilot in United States military
• John Basilone — only enlisted Marine Medal of Honor recipient to return to combat and be killed^[1]
• John Bolt — only Marine aviator to achieve the title of ace in both WWII and the Korean War; remains to this day the only Marine jet aircraft ace^[2]
• Gregory "Pappy" Boyington — Medal of Honor recipient who commanded the famous "Black Sheep Squadron" (VMA-214) during WWII^[3]
• Frederick C. Branch — first African-American Marine officer
• Smedley Butler — awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts of heroism;^[4] outspoken critic of war profiteers, testified in Congress regarding a plot to overthrow the government
• Evans Carlson — commanded the WWII Marine Raiders

• Alfred Cunningham — patron of Marine Corps aviation;^[5] innovative thinker in introducing air support; helped create the Advanced Base Force^[6]
• Louis Cukela — awarded both Navy and Army Medals of Honor^[4]
• Dan Daly — awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts of heroism^[4][7]
• Pedro del Valle — played an instrumental role in defeating Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa (1945)
• Lou Diamond — "Mr. Leatherneck," namesake of the actor Lou Diamond Phillips
• Merritt A. Edson — Medal of Honor recipient and commander of the 1st Marine Raiders Battalion
• Earl H. Ellis — conducted espionage missions in Micronesia that influenced the planning of the island-hopping campaigns of World War II
• Guy Gabaldon — captured (or persuaded to surrender) about 1,000 Japanese soldiers and numerous civilians during the Battle of Saipan (1944)
• Carlos Hathcock — renowned Marine sniper with 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War
• Ira Hayes — Iwo Jima flag raiser

• Archibald Henderson — "Grand old man of the Marine Corps," longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps (1820–1859)^[8][9]
• Opha Mae Johnson — recognized officially as the first female Marine^[9]
• James L. Jones, Sr. — commanded the Observer Group, the first amphibious reconnaissance unit in the United States; father of James L. Jones, Jr., the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps.
• Victor H. Krulak — developed new concepts in expeditionary warfare, such as use of Higgins landing craft and helicopters^[10]
• John A. Lejeune — 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps and author of the birthday message read aloud at every Marine Corps Birthday Ball ceremony
• John F. Mackie — first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor^[9]
• Samuel Nicholas — first Commandant of the Marine Corps^[9]
• Presley O'Bannon — famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War
• Peter J. Ortiz^[11] — parachuted into France to aid the Resistance
• Peter Pace — first Marine to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005–2007), previously the Vice Chairman (2001–2005)
• Chuck Mawhinney — Marine sniper with most confirmed kills, all occurring during the Vietnam War
• Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller — most-decorated Marine in history including five Navy Crosses^[12] and the Army Distinguished Service Cross
• Félix Rigau Carrera — first Hispanic Marine fighter pilot^[13]
• John Ripley — highly decorated Marine, only living person (at the time) to be memorialized in the Naval Academy's museum, first "all-Marine" inducted into the Ranger hall of fame.
• Dion Williams — patron of naval and amphibious reconnaissance; hoisted the first American flag raised over Spanish soil in the Spanish-American War

See also

• List of notable United States Marines - Marines whose fame is not related to service
• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of United States Marine Corps astronauts
• List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals

Notes

References

Bibliography