Alexander Archer Vandegrift (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps four-star general, Medal of Honor recipient, and a Commandant of the Marine Corps. During World War II, he commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive of the war, the Battle of Guadalcanal. For his actions on August 7, 1942 in the Solomon Islands, he was awarded the Navy Cross; and, for his actions from August 7 to December 9, 1942, during the Solomon Islands campaign, he received the Medal of Honor. From January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1947, Vandegrift served as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, becoming the first active-duty U.S. Marine to be promoted four-star general in April 1945.

Later in Vandegrift's tenure as Commandant of the Marine Corps, the U.S. Marines became caught up in a political struggle as the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army Air Forces fought over roles and responsibilities in the aftermath of World War II. Proponents of disbanding the Marines in favor of the U.S. Army absorbing their mission and specialties included President Harry S. Truman and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On May 6, 1946, Vandegrift appeared before the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs to make what became known as the "Bended Knee Speech," arguing that a dedicated marine service cannot be replaced by a conventional army. His testimony was successful in swaying enough members of the U.S. Congress, and subsequently the idea of disbanding the U.S. Marine Corps was dropped.

Vandegrift retired from active duty on April 1, 1949, by which time he had been in the Marines for 40 years. In his retirement, Vandegrift prepared and published his memoirs, Once A Marine, in 1964. He died in 1973 at the age of 85, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life and education

Alexander Archer Vandegrift was born on March 13, 1887, in Charlottesville, Virginia, where his father was an architect and contractor. Vandegrift was of Dutch ancestry, all of which had been in North America since the 1600s. It was once facetiously remarked that he "never had a Catholic ancestor." The young Vandegrift, known as "Archer" in his boyhood, He graduated from Charlottesville High School. During his childhood, he was a big fan of G.A. Henty novels and history. In particular, he read a lot about the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Waterloo and described himself as a "big fan" of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and Horatio Nelson. He left (without a degree) after two years to accept his commission into the Marine Corps.

Career

Vandegrift received his commission in the U.S. Marine Corps through a week-long competitive examination in 1908.

During his early years in the Marine Corps, as a second lieutenant, Vandegrift was very nearly dismissed from the Marine Corps for disciplinary infractions and negative evaluations. In his first Marine Corps evaluation, dated June 30, 1909, Vandegrift received an overall rating of "Not Good" with these remarks from the Commander of the Marine Officers School:

In Vandegrift's next evaluation, in December 1909, he received a "Good and Tolerable" rating. The next was rated as "Excellent" upon reporting to the Marine Corps Barracks, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1910.

Banana Wars

thumb|upright|Vandegrift as a first lieutenant, around 1915

Following instruction at the Marine Officers' School at Port Royal, South Carolina, his first tour of duty was at the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1912, he went to foreign shore duty in the Caribbean, first to Cuba and then to Nicaragua, where he participated in the bombardment, assault, and capture of Coyotepe Fortress. In 1914, he participated in the engagement and occupation of Veracruz, Mexico.

In December 1914, after his promotion to first lieutenant, he attended the Advance Base Course at the Marine Barracks, Philadelphia. Upon completion of training, he sailed for Haiti with the 1st Marines Regiment and participated in action against Cacos bandits at Le Trou and Fort Capois, Haiti.

In August 1916, he was promoted to captain and became a member of the Haitian Constabulary at Port-au-Prince, where he remained until he was detached to the United States in December 1918. He returned to Haiti again in July 1919, to serve with the Gendarmerie d'Haiti as an Inspector of Constabulary. He was promoted to major in June 1920.

1920s – 1930s

Major Vandegrift returned to the U.S. in April 1923 and was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor "for outstanding and heroic accomplishment above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the First Marine Division in operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands during the period 7 August to 9 December 1942." He had commanded the initial landings and the subsequent occupation ... that "resulted in securing a valuable base for further operations of our forces against the enemy." Vandegrift was presented the Medal of Honor on February 5, 1943, from President Franklin Roosevelt during a ceremony in the White House.

In July 1943, Vandegrift commanded the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps in the landing at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, in the northern Solomon Islands, on November 1, 1943. Upon establishing the initial beachhead, he relinquished command and returned to Washington, D.C., as commandant-designate.

During his tenure as commandant, the Marine Corps faced institutional threats from U.S. Army efforts to absorb the mission of the Marines. The U.S. Navy was sympathetic to the Marine Corps's predicament but was ready to accept the diminishment of the Corps in exchange for keeping naval aviation from consolidation with the U.S. Air Force. The post-war discussions on the restructuring of the American defense establishment opened the door to diminishing the mission and role of the Marine Corps in the new defense structure. Proponents of such cuts included President Harry Truman and General Dwight Eisenhower. In that power struggle, the Marine Corps aligned itself with U.S. Congress in warning against the encroachment on civilian oversight within the Army proposals.

To clinch the support of Congress, Commandant Vandegrift delivered the famous "Bended Knee Speech" on May 6, 1946, to the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs and ended it thus:

For outstanding service as Commandant of the Marine Corps from January 1, 1944, to June 30, 1946, General Vandegrift was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Later life

Together with Robert B. Asprey, General Vandegrift co-authored a book chronicling his experiences in World War II. The book is titled Once a Marine: The Memoirs of General A. A. Vandegrift Commandant of the U.S. Marines in WW II, and was published in 1964.

General Vandegrift died on May 8, 1973, at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, after a long illness. His interment was on May 10, 1973, at the Arlington National Cemetery.

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!1st Row

|Medal of Honor

|Navy Cross

|Navy Distinguished Service Medal

|Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ one 3/16" bronze star

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!2nd Row

|Navy Unit Commendation w/ one 3/16" bronze star

|Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal w/ three 3/16" bronze stars

|Nicaraguan Campaign Medal

|Mexican Service Medal

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!3rd Row

|Haitian Campaign Medal w/ one 3/16" bronze star

|World War I Victory Medal w/ West Indies clasp & one 3/16" bronze star

|Yangtze Service Medal

|American Defense Service Medal

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!4th Row

|American Campaign Medal

|Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four 3/16" bronze stars

|World War II Victory Medal

|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau w/ swords, Netherlands

|-

!5th Row

|Order of Abdon Calderon, 1st Class, Ecuador w/ one 3/16" gold star

|Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, United Kingdom (Honorary)

|Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, France

|Companion of the Order of the Bath, United Kingdom (Honorary)

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!6th Row

|Order of Pao Ting (Precious Tripod) w/ Special Cravat, China

|Haitian Distinguished Service Medal

|Médaille militaire w/ one 3/16" silver star, Haiti

|Cruz de Aviación de Primera Clase, Peru

|}

Medal of Honor citation

Vandegrift's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

:For outstanding and heroic accomplishment above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the 1st Marine Division in operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands during the period from 7 August to 9 December 1942. With the adverse factors of weather, terrain, and disease making his task a difficult and hazardous undertaking, and with his command eventually including sea, land, and air forces of Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Maj. Gen. Vandegrift achieved marked success in commanding the initial landings of the U. S. forces in the Solomon Islands and in their subsequent occupation. His tenacity, courage, and resourcefulness prevailed against a strong, determined, and experienced enemy, and the gallant fighting spirit of the men under his inspiring leadership enabled them to withstand aerial, land, and sea bombardment, to surmount all obstacles, and leave a disorganized and ravaged enemy. This dangerous but vital mission, accomplished at the constant risk of his life, resulted in securing a valuable base for further operations of our forces against the enemy, and its successful completion reflects great credit upon Maj. Gen. Vandegrift, his command, and the U.S. Naval Service.

/S/ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Citation: