List of 2nd Marine Division Commanders

2nd Marine Division Insignia

The 2nd Marine Division is a Marine infantry division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It is the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF).

Together with 1st Marine Division, it is the oldest and largest active duty division in the United States Marine Corps, representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. It is one of three active duty divisions in the Marine Corps today and is a multi-role, expeditionary ground combat force. It is nicknamed "The Silent Second".

The 2nd Division participated in World War II, Operation in Panama, Gulf War, Iraq War or War in Afghanistan.

During its history, three commanding generals became the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Randolph M. Pate, Alfred M. Gray Jr. and James L. Jones) and another three commanding generals became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (Samuel Jaskilka, Kenneth McLennan and Richard I. Neal).

Commanding Generals

# Picture Name Rank Start End Notability Ref
1 Clayton B. Vogel Major General February 1, 1941 December 7, 1941 "Father" Navajo code talker program; Commanding General of I Marine Amphibious Corps and also served as Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island [1]
2 Charles F. B. Price Major general December 8, 1941 March 23, 1942 Commanded the Defense Forces, Samoan Group and Marine Corps Training and Replacement Command during World War II; Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit [2]
3 Joseph C. Fegan (Acting) Brigadier General March 24, 1942 March 31, 1942 Veteran of Banana Wars; First commanding general of Camp Pendleton; Later commanded Department of the Pacific; father of Lieutenant general Joseph C. Fegan Jr.
4 John Marston Major General April 1, 1942 April 30, 1943 Veteran of Banana Wars; Later commanded Department of the Pacific and Camp Lejeune [3]
5 Julian C. Smith Major General May 1, 1943 April 10, 1944 Veteran of Banana Wars and Battle of Tarawa; Later commanded Department of the Pacific and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; Navy Cross and two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal [4] [5]
6 Thomas E. Watson Major General April 11, 1944 June 22, 1945 Veteran of Banana Wars and Marianas Islands Campaign; Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and served as Director of Personnel; Two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal [6]
7 LeRoy P. Hunt Major General June 23, 1945 July 9, 1946 Veteran of World War I, Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign or Battle of Okinawa; Later commanded Department of the Pacific or Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic; Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, three awards of Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, two awards of Purple Heart [7]
8 Gregon A. Williams (Acting) Colonel July 10, 1946 July 20, 1946 Veteran of Banana Wars, Battle of Okinawa and Korean War; Later commanded Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and served as Inspector General Marine Corps; Navy Cross, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
9 Thomas E. Watson Major General July 21, 1946 January 31, 1948 Veteran of Banana Wars and Marianas Islands Campaign; Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and served as Director of Personnel; Two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal [8]
10 Franklin A. Hart Major General February 1, 1948 June 30, 1950 Veteran of Banana Wars, Dieppe Raid, Marianas Islands Campaign and Battle of Iwo Jima; Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [9]
11 Ray A. Robinson Major General July 1, 1950 December 6, 1951 Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Recapture of Guam and Battle of Iwo Jima; Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Camp Lejeune; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal [10]
12 Edwin A. Pollock Major General December 7, 1951 September 2, 1952 Veteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Cape Gloucester, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [11]
13 Randolph M. Pate Major General September 3, 1952 May 29, 1953 Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; The 21st Commandant of the Marine Corps, also commanded 1st Marine Division or Marine Corps Reserve; Army Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Purple Heart [12]
14 Robert E. Hogaboom (Acting) Brigadier General May 30, 1953 June 23, 1953 Veteran of Banana Wars, Marianas Islands Campaign, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; Later served as Chief of Staff, HQMC; Three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal [13]
15 George F. Good Jr. Major General June 24, 1953 July 1, 1954 Veteran of Banana Wars, Defense of Funafuti, Battle of Okinawa; Later commanded Department of the Pacific or Camp Pendleton; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" [14]
16 Lewis B. Puller Major General July 2, 1954 February 7, 1955 The most decorated Marine in American history; Veteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Peleliu and Korean War; Commanded Troop Training Unit Pacific at Coronado, California; Five awards of Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", three awards of Air Medal, Purple Heart [15]
17 Edward W. Snedeker Major General February 8, 1955 July 1, 1955 Veteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Bougainville Campaign, Battle of Okinawa and Korean War; Later commanded Marine Corps Schools, Quantico or 1st Marine Division; Five awards of Navy Cross, Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" [16]
18 Reginald H. Ridgely Jr. Major General July 2, 1955 June 2, 1957 Veteran of Banana Wars, Philippines Campaign (Prisoner of War); Later commanded Camp Pendleton; Two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart
19 Joseph C. Burger Major General June 3, 1957 October 24, 1959 Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Guadalcanal Campaign and Korean War; Commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island during Ribbon Creek incident; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal
20 Odell M. Conoley (Acting) Brigadier General October 25, 1959 November 5, 1959 Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Guadalcanal Campaign and New Britain Campaign; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Army Commendation Medal [17][18]
21 James P. Berkeley Major General November 6, 1959 November 3, 1961 Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; Commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Lejeune; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" [19]
22 Frederick L. Wieseman Major General November 4, 1961 June 23, 1963 Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Bougainville Campaign, Recapture of Guam and Korean War; Later commanded Marine Corps Schools, Quantico; Two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [20]
23 Rathvon M. Tompkins Brigadier General (Acting) June 24, 1963 September 26, 1963 Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Korean War or Battle of Khe Sanh; Later commanded 3rd Marine Division or Camp Lejeune; Navy Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [21][22]
24 William J. Van Ryzin Major General September 27, 1963 April 11, 1965 Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Later served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; Navy Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [23]
25 Ormond R. Simpson Major General April 12, 1965 November 21, 1967 Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Later served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Navy Commendation Medal [24][25]
26 Edwin B. Wheeler Major General November 22, 1967 May 18, 1969 Marine Raider, veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Later commanded 1st Marine Division; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit [26][27]
27 Michael P. Ryan Major General May 19, 1969 June 4, 1971 Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tarawa and Vietnam War; Also served as Director of Marine Corps Reserve; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" [28]
28 Robert D. Bohn Major General June 5, 1971 September 28, 1971 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Later commanded Camp Lejeune; two awards of Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Purple Hearts [29]
29 Fred E. Haynes Jr. Major General September 29, 1971 January 9, 1973 Veteran of Battle of Iwo Jima, Korean War and Vietnam War; Later commanded Camp Lejeune; four awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [30][31]
30 Arthur J. Poillon (Acting) Brigadier General January 10, 1973 July 1, 1973 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Later commanded Camp Lejeune; two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal
31 Samuel Jaskilka Major General July 2, 1973 December 19, 1973 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Retired as General and later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Joint Service Commendation Medal [32]
32 William H. Lanagan Jr. (Acting) Brigadier General December 20, 1973 May 15, 1974 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Later served as Assistant Commander of 2nd Division; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
33 William G. Joslyn Major General May 16, 1974 June 30, 1976 Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Also commanded Marine Corps Base 29 Palms; three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and Purple Heart
34 Kenneth McLennan Major General July 1, 1976 May 17, 1978 Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" [33]
35 Edward J. Bronars Major General May 18, 1978 June 27, 1979 Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as Deputy chief of staff for Manpower; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Air Medal
36 David M. Twomey Major General June 28, 1979 June 4, 1981 Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as Deputy chief of staff for Manpower; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Air Medal
37 Alfred M. Gray Jr. Major General June 5, 1981 August 28, 1984 Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Retired as General and later served as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1987–91; two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", four awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and three awards of Purple Heart
38 Dennis J. Murphy Major General August 29, 1984 October 29, 1987 Veteran of Vietnam War; previously served as Deputy Commander, Fleet Marine Force Pacific; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"
39 Orlo K. Steele Major General October 30, 1987 September 26, 1989 Veteran of Vietnam War; later served as Inspector of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
40 William M. Keys Major General September 27, 1989 June 24, 1991 Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as Director, Personnel Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department at Headquarters Marine Corps; Navy Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
41 Paul Van Riper Major General June 25, 1991 April 3, 1993 Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as Commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Quantico; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart
42 Richard I. Neal Major General April 4, 1993 July 28, 1994 Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Retired as General and later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1996 to 1998; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart
43 James L. Jones Major General July 29, 1994 June 23, 1995 Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Retired as General and later served as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003; four awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
44 Lawrence H. Livingston Major General June 24, 1995 July 24, 1997 Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Previously served as Commanding general of Camp Lejeune; Navy Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit, four awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", five awards of Purple Heart
45 Emil R. Bedard Major General July 25, 1997 June 29, 1999 Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Later served as Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
46 Robert R. Blackman Major General June 30, 1999 July 30, 2001 Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War; Later served as III Marine Expeditionary Force; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
47 John F. Sattler Major General July 31, 2001 June 30, 2003 Veteran of Vietnam War and Iraq War; Later served as Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
48 Stephen T. Johnson Major General July 1, 2003 November 9, 2004 Veteran of Iraq War; Later served as Commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit
49 Richard A. Huck Major General November 10, 2004 June 16, 2006 Veteran of Iraq War; Later served as Commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
50 Walter E. Gaskin Major General June 16, 2006 June 20, 2008 Veteran of Kosovo mission; Also served as Deputy Chairman, NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"
51 Richard T. Tryon Major General June 20, 2008 July 30, 2010 Veteran of Gulf War and Kosovo mission; Later served as Deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit
52 John A. Toolan Major General August 1, 2010 March 1, 2012 Veteran of Gulf War and War in Afghanistan; Later served as Deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit
53 James W. Lukeman Major General March 2, 2012 August 7, 2014 Veteran of Iraq War; Later served as Commanding General, Training and Education Command; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit
54 Brian D. Beaudreault Major General August 8, 2014 June 16, 2016 Veteran of Iraq War; Later served as Deputy Commandant Plans, Policies, and Operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal
55 John K. Love Major General June 17, 2016 August 1, 2018 Veteran of Iraq War; Previously served as the Chief of Staff, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO in Naples, Italy; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal
56 David J. Furness Major General August 2, 2018 Incumbent Veteran of Iraq War; Previously served as the Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ↑ http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cbvogel.htm
  2. ↑ "Lieutenant General Charles F. B. Price, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Maj. Gen. Marston New Department of Pacific Commander". Marine Corps Chevron. 4 September 1943.
  4. ↑ "Julian Constable Smith, lieutenant general, United States Marine Corps". USMC Military History Division. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Lieutenant General Julian C. Smith, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Lieutenant General Thomas E. Watson, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "General LeRoy P. Hunt, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Lieutenant General Thomas E. Watson, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "General Franklin A. Hart, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "General Ray A. Robinson, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "General Edwin A. Pollock, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "General Randolph M. Pate, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "General Robert E. Hogaboom, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "George F. Good Jr. Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  15. ↑ "General Robert E. Hogaboom, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Edward W. Snedeker Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  17. ↑ "Arlington Cemetery Websites". arlingtoncemetery.net. Arlington Cemetery Websites. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Texas A&M University, Association of former students". aggienetwork.com. Texas A&M University Student Association Websites. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Fortitudine 25, Part 1" (PDF). marines.mil. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  20. ↑ "MARINE CORPS GENERAL FREDERICK WIESEMAN DIES". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post Websites. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Rathvon McClure Tompkins, Major General, United States Marine Corps". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  22. ↑ "Gen. Rathvon M. Tompkins - DEATHS ELSEWHERE". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post Websites. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  23. ↑ Aquilina, Robert V. (2003). "LtGen William J.Van Ryzin Passes" (PDF). Fortitudine. Marine Corps Historical Center. XXIX (4). Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  24. ↑ "Who's Who in the Marine Corps History - LTG Ormond R. Simpson". usmcu.edu. United States Marine Corps University Websites. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Marine Corps Oral History Collection" (PDF). USMC Military History Division. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Edwin B. Wheeler; Major General, USMC". Arlington Cemetery Websites. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Gen. Wheeler, Led Marines In Vietnam". articles.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune Websites. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  28. ↑ "Fortitudine 31, Part 4" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Fortitudine 30, Part 1" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Fortitudine 35, Part 2" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Legends of the 5TH MARINE DIVISION". 5thmarinedivision.com. 5th Marine Division Websites. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  32. ↑ "General Samuel Jaskilka, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  33. ↑ "General Kenneth McLennan, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
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