Clifton B. Cates

Clifton B. Cates
General Clifton B. Cates
Nickname(s)"Lucky"[1]
Born(1893-08-31)August 31, 1893
Tiptonville, Tennessee, US[2]
DiedJune 4, 1970(1970-06-04) (aged 76)
Annapolis, Maryland, US
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1917–1954
RankGeneral
CommandsCommandant of the Marine Corps
4th Marine Division
1st Marine Regiment
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
Battles / warsWorld War I

World War II

AwardsNavy Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (2)
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star (4)
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Knight of the Legion of Honor (France)
Croix de Guerre (France)
Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
Spouse(s)Jane McIlhenny[1]
Other workNational Campaign Chairman, United Service Organizations

Clifton Bledsoe Cates (August 31, 1893 – June 4, 1970) served as the 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1948 to 1951, holding the rank of a United States Marine Corps four-star general. He earned recognition for his heroism during World War I at the Battle of Belleau Wood and for his exceptional leadership during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Cates is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished young officers of World War I.[3] His remarkable career included commanding a platoon, a company, a battalion, a regiment, and a division, making him one of the few officers across all branches of service to have achieved this feat in combat.[4][5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b Allan Reed Millett; Jack Shulimson, eds. (2004). Commandants of the Marine Corps. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 311–327. ISBN 978-0-87021-012-9.
  2. ^ "US People--Cates, Clifton B., General, USMC". Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Board of Trustees of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta (January 17, 1920). The Phi Gamma Delta. Vol. 45. Knoxville Sentinel. p. 612. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  4. ^ United States Marine Corps History Division. "General Clifton B Cates, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  5. ^ Harwood, Richard (1994). A Close Encounter: The Marine Landing on Tinian. Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Transcribed and formatted by Jerry Holden for the HyperWar Foundation. Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC: Marine Corps Historical Center. p. 5.
  6. ^ Alexander, Col. Joseph H., UMC (Ret) (1994). "The Assault Commanders at Iwo Jima". Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima. Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Transcribed and formatted by Emily Brickhouse for the HyperWar Foundation. Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC: Marine Corps Historical Center. p. 10.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Flowers, Mark (2004). "The Dress Blue Uniform Image Gallery". World War II Gyrene. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2014.