| United States Marine Corps History Division | |
|---|---|
The progenitor to the modern Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, this insignia was first used by Marines in 1804.[1] Seen today on uniform buttons, it also serves as the History Division's unofficial logo. |
|
| Active | September 8, 1919 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | historical |
| HQ | Marine Corps Base Quantico |
| Commanders | |
| Director | Dr. Charles Patrick Neimeyer[2] |
The United States Marine Corps History Division is a branch of Headquarters Marine Corps tasked with researching, writing, and maintaining the History of the United States Marine Corps. It also provides reference and research assistance; preserves personal experiences and observations through oral history interviews; and deploys field historians to record history in the making. It is headquardered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
Contents |
The History Division was formed on 8 September 1919, by Order Number 53 of Commandant of the Marine Corps George Barnett as the Historical Section of the Department of the Adjutant and Inspector.[3] After World War II, the organization was known as "Marine Corps History and Museums Division" until the current name was instituted in the early 2000s.
The United States Marine Corps History Division is a staff organization with the primary task of researching and writing the Marine Corps’ official history. The unit is not a division-sized military formation.[4] It is organized into four branches:[5]
Since its inception, the following individuals have served as director:[3]
| # | Rank | Name | Tenure began | Tenure ended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Major | Edwin N. McClellan | 8 September 1919 | 31 May 1925 |
| 2 | Major | Edward W. Sturdevant | 1 June 1925 | 15 August 1928 |
| 3 | Captain | Lucian W. Burnham | 16 August 1928 | 31 July 1929 |
| acting | Mr. | James C. Jenkins | 1 August 1926 | 26 September 1929 |
| 4 | Captain | Jonas H. Platt | 27 September 1929 | 19 June 1930 |
| 5 | Major | Edwin N. McClellan | 20 June 1930 | 2 March 1933 |
| 6 | Captain | Harry A. Ellsworth | 3 March 1933 | 30 August 1934 |
| 7 | Major | Alphonse DeCarre | 31 August 1934 | 5 February 1935 |
| 8 | Lieutenant colonel | Clyde H. Metcalf | 6 February 1935 | 31 December 1938 |
| acting | Mr. | James C. Jenkins | 1 January 1939 | 4 October 1942 |
| 8 | Colonel | Clyde H. Metcalf | 5 October 1942 | 15 April 1944 |
| acting | Captain | Philips D. Carleton | 16 April 1944 | 2 May 1944 |
| 9 | Colonel | John Potts | 3 May 1944 | 2 January 1946 |
| 10 | Colonel | Howard N. Kenyon | 3 January 1946 | 15 October 1946 |
| 11 | Lieutenant colonel | Ellsworth N. Murray | 16 October 1946 | 20 December 1946 |
| 12 | Lieutenant colonel | Robert D. Heinl Jr. | 21 December 1946 | 12 June 1949 |
| 13 | Lieutenant colonel | Gordon D. Gayle | 13 June 1949 | 13 August 1951 |
| 14 | Lieutenant colonel | Francis O. Hough | 14 August 1951 | 8 June 1952 |
| 15 | Lieutenant colonel | Harry W. Edwards | 9 June 1952 | 17 July 1955 |
| 16 | Colonel | Charles W. Harrison | 18 July 1955 | 24 July 1959 |
| 17 | Major | Hubard D. Kuokka | 25 July 1959 | 17 August 1959 |
| 18 | Major | Gerald Fink | 18 August 1959 | 7 January 1960 |
| 19 | Colonel | William M. Miller | 8 January 1960 | 31 July 1961 |
| 20 | Colonel | Thomas G. Roe | 1 August 1961 | 30 June 1962 |
| acting | Major | John H. Johnstone | 1 July 1962 | 8 November 1962 |
| 21 | Colonel | Joseph F. Wagner Jr. | 9 November 1962 | 31 August 1963 |
| 22 | Lieutenant colonel | Richard J. Schening | 1 September 1963 | 14 November 1963 |
| 23 | Colonel | Frank C. Caldwell | 15 November 1963 | 30 November 1970 |
| 24 | Brigadier general | Edwin H. Simmons | 1 December 1971 | 1 July 1978 |
| 24 | Brigadier general (ret.) | Edwin H. Simmons | 21 October 1978 | 3 January 1996 |
| 25 | Colonel | Michael F. Monigan | 4 January 1996 | 11 July 1999 |
| 26 | Colonel (ret.) | John W. Ripley | 12 July 1999 | 31 August 2005 |
| acting | Mr. | Charles D. Melson | 1 September 2005 | 8 January 2006 |
| acting | Colonel (ret.) | Richard D. Camp Jr. | 9 January 2006 | 10 December 2006 |
| 27 | Dr. | Charles P. Neimeyer | 11 December 2006 | incumbent |
The History Division maintains several publications, including the quarterly newsletter Fortitudine (ISBN 0-16-010404-1), which was a traditional motto of the Corps before semper fidelis was adapted in 1883. They also maintain an archive of all historical publications published since its founding.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
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